Immunizations

For many years children have immunized to prevent diseases beginning at birth to prevent infectious diseases. Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.

Immunizations and vaccinations is a safe and effective way to prevent these diseases. According to the World Health Organization, 6.6 million children under the age of five died in 2012. More than half of these early child deaths are due to conditions that could be prevented or treated with access to simple, affordable interventions. Leading causes of death in under-five children are pneumonia, preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, diarrhea and malaria. About 45% of all child deaths are linked to malnutrition.

In Australia, the last ten years more than 137 people have died and many more have become ill from contagious and infectious diseases. This is a tragedy because all these diseases are preventable through immunizations.Children in sub-Saharan Africa are about over 16 times more likely to die before the age of five than children in developed regions. A child's risk of dying is highest in the neonatal period, the first 28 days of life. Safe childbirth and effective neonatal care are essential to prevent these deaths. 44% of child deaths under the age of five take place during the neonatal period.

Immunizations are important to me because I am working with children. I have had a few parents that do not immunize their children for religious reasons or the fear that these immunizations may cause some type of disability. When children are not immunized they are likely to spread diseases such as whooping cough or measles or they more prone to diseases that may lead to death.

Advocacy for immunization is essential to raise awareness on the role of immunization in improving the health of individuals throughout the world.

http://www.who.int/vaccines/en/advocacy.shtml

http://www.world organization.org

My Birth Experience

My Birth Experience

I remember on Sunday March 10^th, 1991 I was 8 months pregnant when I started to have pains in my stomach. My auntie told me it was probably something I ate but I said, “I think it’s time”.  Half an hour later the pains were 2 minutes apart and I was in the back seat of my auntie’s car moaning and groaning, trying to keep calm. One month prior I had packed a bag for my hospital stay and headed to the hospital. We then arrived at the hospital at 11: 30 pm and they took me back and realized I had dilated 3 centimeters but my water had not broken. The midwife told me my little bundle of joy was ready to make her grand entrance. At that moment I was full of different emotions, crying, screaming, laughing etc. They induced my labor and broke my water. Twenty one hours later on Monday March 11, 1991 at 9:05 pm, my beautiful little baby girl was born. She was taken from me immediately because she had jaundice, a yellow-colored pigment of red blood cells. The nurse later broke her to me so I could feed her and bond with her. I went back the next day and spent the day and on Wednesday I took her home.

I chose my birth experience because it was one of the most painful yet beautiful things I have ever experienced. When I saw her head popping out, I was so amazed. She was so tiny and all I wanted to do was hold her close to me because she so special. She was so perfect.

I feel child development is very important because my daughter was born with low birth weight. I did not gain any weight instead I loss because I was sick for the first seven months. I was depressed and I never knew what I was going through would affect my daughter’s development. Even though I went to my regular doctor’s appointment I didn't always follow what the doctor said nor did I always eat healthy.  It's important to keep yourself with information about the many ways to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.

Births in Holland

Births in Holland are a little different from births here in the United States. Women in Holland do not use obstetricians they use their family doctor refers them to a local midwife and doctors only intervene if there are complications. Women also choose between home birth and going to a hospital and over half of the women give birth at home. All expectant mothers in Holland are required to pick up a kraampakket that includes all of the medical supplies necessary for a home birth. (Schalken)

Reference

Schalken, L. (n.d.). Birth customs around the world.