Personal child birthing experience

It was one beautiful morning in Port Harcourt, when I received a call from a friend Jane to help take her sister Ijeoma who was reportedly in labour to hospital.   I hurriedly drove to their house but did not see anybody. On further enquiry, I was directed to a traditional midwife’s home where she has been since the previous night struggling to deliver the baby through the vagina. On getting there she was already bleeding lying down in a small house with leaves and herbs all around her. She was rushed into my car and to the hospital where an emergency caesarean section was done and both baby and mother were saved. Luckily she had registered with this hospital otherwise, It would have taken more time to get a hospital that will accept her without prior antenatal care. Naturally this situation would have decreased her chances of survival.  I chose this experience to show the level of ignorance and effect of environment (culture) on an unborn child and mother. Ijeoma is nurse but in my country Nigeria, some people still see giving birth through caesarean section as a consequence of handiwork of devil.  ‘I will deliver like the Hebrew women’ is a popular bible quote from some pregnant women. Ijeoma later told us that she was advice by her doctor not to attempt delivering the baby vaginally due to the size of the baby (4.8kg) and her narrow pelvic. However she chose to demonstrate her faith in ‘God’ using the traditional delivery method. Thank God the child survived but that was an unnecessary risk that could have cost the life of either the mother, baby or both. I will not forget the site of a very week woman Ijeoma, heavily stained with her own blood. For us it was a miracle.  Ignorance is indeed a big disease.

Prenatal development forms the foundation for child development and it is very important that proper care is taken.

CHILD BIRTH IN AFRICA

In some parts of Africa, child birth is still happening in a traditional setting through the traditional midwives that have no formal training on child delivery. This situation has resulted in Africa to be ranked 10^th in the world highest mortality rate.  A United Nation’s  report dated 16 May 2012 showed that 14% of the world’s deaths related to childbearing are in Nigeria followed by Somalia and chad. (Obinye Esther). Nigeria’s population is about 150 million and in every 100,000 live births there are 630 deaths. However poverty, lack of information, isolation, traditions and lack of access to health care are among the causes for high death rate of women during childbirth. Child birth complications are common because there are no hospitals in some villages and even where there are Health Centres there may be no Doctor, right Equipment or Drugs. Even bad roads and cost of transport poses great challenge for these women in accessing hospitals situated in the city. Antenatal care is often not given to mothers and their. In Africa, some births take place at home or with traditional Midwifes compare to US where only 1percent of births take place at home, mainly by choice or unexpected labour (Berger 2009). In developed countries, new-born babies are routinely tested to detect and manage any unpleasant condition, hence early intervention but in underdeveloped countries there are usually very little interventions and often Plasticity is rarely utilized.

A Nurse checking vital signs  in a Health Center

Thank you note

To all my course mates, it’s been a wonderful eight weeks of brain storming and interaction. I am thankful to all of you especially to Towanda, Keena, Chesa, Manning and Wright that usually take time to review my postings.  I quite appreciate your encouraging comments.. I hope we will continue to work together as we share each other’s knowledge.  I wish that all we have learnt in this course and others to come, will aid us to bring positive changes in our world and that of children.

Once again, thank you very much. Vivian

Examining Codes of Ethics

After reviewing the Codes of Ethics from NAEYC and DEC,  I found these ideal, guidance and counsel very meaningful to me:

From NAEYC Code of Ethics;

I-1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child. 

I know that moving with the trend is as important as the right information. To do this I need to stay connected and continue to acquire relevant knowledge in and outside the education industry.  Also knowing each child and the cultural context is vital and it is in line with developmentally appropriate approach since every child has a unique personality. I believe that each child has an individual pattern and timing of growth development as well as an individual style of learning.

I-2.2—To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve. Relationship is about getting involved. Families are our key partner and nurturing a relationship with trust will make the work easier for us and the children.  

Recently studies have shown that getting families involved in their children’s education helps the children achieve higher grades, have better attendance at school, complete more homework, and demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviour. Getting them involved could be through feedbacks from teachers and school administer or generally being part of the school event. Therefore this relationship must be an intentional act because it is important in my professional life

From DEC's Codes of Ethics:

Professional and Interpersonal Behaviour

4.  We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that enhance the quality of their lives. 

This is particularly important to me because I believe that every child has ability, irrespective of ‘the disabilities’. It is a matter of having the right tools. My children advocacy is not for selected ones but for all.  They all deserve opportunity to learn and grow to the best of their abilities. Influencing policies to suit their challenges will enable people to serving them easily.

Professional Collaboration

1. We shall honour and respect our responsibilities to colleagues while upholding the dignity and

autonomy of colleagues and maintaining collegial interprofessional  and intraprofessional relationships.

 We have a duty to respect our colleagues as this will make other people outside the industry to respect us and it will uphold the value and dignity of the profession which is very important to be effective as a professional. We need to network and collaborate with each other.

Finally I will like to always remember that Childhood is a unique and valuable stage in the

human life cycle.

Some beautiful quotes about children:

“A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.”

― Carl Sandburg

“Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself.”

― George Bernard Shaw

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

― Margaret Mead

"Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."-- Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa

"I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams!"-- David Vitter, U.S. senator

"Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right to life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold."-- Brad Pitt, actor