Child Development and Public Health

 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

    I wouldn't say that SIDS is necessarily meaningful to me, but I do find myself perplexed by this awful syndrome. SIDS is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby of less than a year old (Mayo Clinic, nd). Although the cause is unknown there are several physical and sleep environmental factors that could make an infant more vulnerable (Mayo Clinic, nd). The physical factors are: brain defects, low birth weight, and respiratory infections; sleep environmental factors: sleeping on stomach/side, sleeping on a soft surface, sharing a bed w/parents, overheating; risk factors include: sex, age, race, family history, secondhand smoke, being premature; maternal risk factors include: being younger than 20, smoking cigarettes, using drugs/alcohol, and inadequate prenatal care (Mayo Clinic, nd). Prevention suggested by the May Clinic includes putting baby on their back to sleep, keep crib as bare as possible, don't overheat the baby, have baby sleep in your room (not in your bed), breastfeed if possible, and offer a pacifier. In 2017 about 1,400 infants died due to SIDS in the US (Rakicevic, M., 2020). 

In the 1980's New Zealand had the highest rate of SIDS (Cot Death) than any other developed country. The government initiated the National Cot Death Prevention Programme in 1991. Their goal for this program was to reduce the number of SIDS deaths among Caucasians and Maori (native people to New Zealand). The program focused on reducing the number of pregnant women who smoked, to increase breastfeeding, and maintain side and back sleep positions for infants (Centre for Public Impact, 2016). The programme reported that the fall in SIDS mortality rates were dramatic, and have continued to decline (Centre for Public Impact, 2016).  

References:

Centre for Public Impact, (2016). New Zealand's National Cot Prevention Programme

    New Zealand’s National Cot Death Prevention Programme - Centre for Public Impact (CPI)

Mayo Clinic, (n.d.). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. 

    Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Rakicevic, M., (2020). 23 SIDS Statistics and Facts Every Parent Should Know.

    23 SIDS Statistics and Facts Every Parent Should Know (disturbmenot.co)

    

The Birth of my God Daughter

 On December 10, 2005 my best friend went into labor. When I got the call from her husband I immediately went into panic mode thinking "No, this can't be happening, not now, it's too early", and I rushed to the hospital. The thing is...she was only 26 weeks pregnant, Jozlyn wasn't due for another 3 months. I was able to go into her room when I arrived at the hospital. Adrian (my best friend) was a little loopy with everything they were giving her to try and stop labor. As I stood by her bed side looking at all the machines that were hooked up to her, and the doctors and nurses buzzing about, I was terrified but knew I had to remain strong for Adrian. I'm not sure how long she had been in labor when I heard someone say "We lost the baby's heartbeat, we have to go now." At that point I was ushered out of the delivery room as they prepped Adrian for an emergency c-section. After what seemed like forever, we were told Jozlyn was here weighing only 1 pound 10 ounces, and she was being flown down to a hospital in Phoenix, we lived in Flagstaff at the time and they were not equipped to handle a preemie so young. Mom was doing well, and was being moved to a room to recover. We were able to see Jozlyn before they air lifted her to Phoenix, she was so tiny and fragile, and I immediately fell in love with this little girl like she was my own. Jozlyn was able to come home before he due date without any oxygen, and was meeting her milestones and progressing better than anyone could have hoped. Jozlyn is now 15 years old, the kindest most loving person you will ever meet. She is in numerous clubs in school, and excels academically. She has no health issues, and you would never know that she was born at 26 weeks. Jozlyn is a true miracle baby in my eyes. 

Here is a picture of Jozyln when she was 1 day old. 

New Zealand

 I chose to see how births happen in New Zealand. I was shocked to find out that 90% of women give birth in a hospital, about 3% at home, and the remaining give birth in a birth centre. I also learned that maternity care is free in New Zealand, but women do have the option of choosing a private physician which can cost up to $4,000. For those who don't choose a private physician, they have a midwife. New Zealand has 3 different choices for where to give birth. The primary places are birth units or birth centres, secondary is regional hospitals, and third are the larger hospitals in the main centres (Scherer, J., 2016). Not all these are available throughout the region, so which one women have access to depends on the region they live in. The birth units are in hospitals and run by midwifes, and the birth centres are stand alone facilities that have a more holistic approach (Scherer, J., 2016). Both of these primary birth facilities offer unmedicated/natural births (no epidurals or surgery is offered), they provide birthing aids, and partners are allowed to spend the night. Below is a picture of a typical room at a birth centre.

References

Scherer, J., (2016). What options are there for having a baby in New Zealand. 

    What options are there for having a baby in New Zealand? | Stuff.co.nz