Child Prostition in Thailand

Recently, my sister visted Thailand. She told me it was a "life-changing" experience for her. There were many positive experiences she was able to enjoy. However, seeing the enormous amount of poverty and all the homeless children was "heart-breaking". My sister told me that every single day she was there, many children (some who appeared to be as young as five) would approach her group and offer to sell "sex" for food or money. Prostitution in Thailand is illegal. Although it is tolerated and seldom regulated (unicef, 2011). This includes the estimated 800,000 minors under the age of 18. (unicef,2011).

The stressors that impact  the development of children in this country are enormous. Children living in this environment are already faced with extreme poverty. Many of them are orphans living on the streets. Hiv/Aids is extremly high among sex workers in Thailand. Child prostitution correlates with illiteracy, limited employment opportunities and little financial means.These children are at extreme risks of disease and severe emotional disabilities.

Recently, the Thai Government was placed in Tier 2 in the 2007 U.S. Department of State's Trafficking for not complying with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's standards for the elimination of trafficking. New prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Women and Children Act have been inacted. The government is now actively supporting and collaborating with the International Organization for Mirgration. They are alos becoming more active in supporting an array of projects to prevent human trafficking for sexual and labor exploitation and sex tourism.

(an orphanage in Thailand, allowing some children a chance to get off the streets)

Source: My sister-Cruce, J. (2010).

http://www.justice.gov/criminal. Child Exploitation and Obscenity Scetion (CEOS).

www.humantrafficking.org/countries/thailand.



Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Mother Nature's Perfect Food-Breast Milk

A mother of four children, I am a firm believer that breast-feeding is the healtiest and most natural way of bonding and satistying the needs of your baby.  There are always exceptions and a mother should never have to be ashamed about the choice they make on how to feed their infants. The World Health Organization (WHO), along with various other organizations have recognized the importance of encouraging mothers to breastfeed across the world.. Many national startegies promoting breastfeeding have been created. Public facilities across the world now have baby changing facilities and/or private places for mothers to nurse. There has been increased in parental training and awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding worldwide. In many countries, particularly those with a pool level of health, malnutrition is the leading cause of death for children under the age of five. There is an increasing level of training for many of these countries to educate mothers on the health benefits of breastfeeding their infants.

How infants are feed vary greatly from country to country. In some countries such as Ghana and Afghanistan, it is not uncommon for new mothers to feed their babies tea, at least until their breast milk comes in. They have not been educated on how valuable the nutrients are in the colostrum that precides the mother's milk. The water in the tea may contain bacteria leading to diarrhea for the infants. This practise also discourages breast milk stimulation and bleeding to slow down after giving birth.

Many times a new-mother will attempt to breastfeed their infant. With a lack of training, they may find it too difficult and give up. Breastfeeding isn't something that always comes natural, a mother really needs to be open to asking for help if needed. For example, I had my first child when I was barely out of high school. I made the choice to breast-feed her before she was born. I was under the impression my breast milk would be ready when I delivered her. After a few days of her and I struggling to get it right, I was tired (recovering from a C-section), and worried she was not getting any food. I was just about to give up and use formula instead, when a close family friend gave me some pointers and showed my how to hold my baby correctly etc. After that, it began to come naturally. Two years later she was weaned.

My second baby was born 18 years later (yep! 18). At that time, I requested the nursing specialist from the hospital to come in and work with me and give me some new pointers. All those years later, I still learned things about feeding my baby. Then when baby number 3 and 4 arrived, I was a pro by then and breastfeeding finally came natural to me.It makes me so happy that I did not give up and all four of my children were fortunate enough to start life with such healthy nutrition and close mother/child bonding. It may just be a coincidence, but NONE of my children were ever seen by a doctor for an illness until they started going to pre-school. My family lives a very active life, so please don't think I kept them sheltered all those years before school. I credit the breast-feeding with having such healthy children.

References:
www.who.int/entity/child_adolescent_health/documents/9241595230/en/
http://www.llli.org/

Birthing experience in The Netherlands

According to everything I read, most expectant mothers do not see an obstetrician. Unless, they are high-risk, expectant mothers in The Netherlands are referred to a mid-wife by the family doctor. All expectant mothers in Holland are required to pick up a kraampakket. This packet includes all the necessary supplies for a homebirth. Most deliveries take place in the home. If you do choose to deliver your baby at the hospitial, the mid-wife takes care of all the arrangements.

Naturally delivery without any medication is what the majority of woman in The Netherlands have. If there are no complications with the delivery and/or the baby, they can go home within a few hours of delivery. Quickly after the mother and baby arrive home the Dutch system of Kraamhulp (Maternity home care) is set in place. For seven days after the delivery, a home nurse comes and cares for the mother and baby. She also cooks, and cleans the house. Insurance covers this expense.

The home nurse also monitors the visitors and provides them with the traditional snack to celebrate the birth: beschuit met muisjes (biscuite with mice). The mice are miniature licorice bits with blue/white or pink/white coating.

This sounds like a dream come true for expectant mothers and their babies. What a warm and welcoming way to bring a baby into the world. I wonder if I can convince my husband that our next baby will be born in The Netherlands (whooooops, there will be NO more babies, our hands are full!).

reference: http://www.mothers&babies.com/. Birthing Customs Around the World (June 2010).

My Personal Birthing Experience.......

After seven years of trying to get pregnant, my husband and I went through IVF (invitro-fertilization). Our first attempt at IVF and we were pregnant! It was a scary and exciting time. By the time we were ready to deliver our baby, I was a nervous wreck. It just didn't seem like it was really going to happen and baby Rocco would really be here. It was a scheduled C-section (I've had 4 now). My husband and older daughter (who was 18 at the time) were allowed to be in the room with me.  I was unable to see what was going on, but my husband gave me "play-by-play". The Doctor was happily talking about his recent fishing trip to some of the nurses. There were also a few student-nurses in the room to observe. They had asked for my permission beforehand. The anesthesiologist talked to be throughout the procedure. At one point I got very nauseated and he quickly gave me medicine to take the nausea away.  Baby Rocco was out in less than 15 minutes after the start of surgery. They brought him over to me and let me touch and kiss him. He was then taken over to the scales to be weighed, rated, cleaned up etc. After my c-section I was placed in recovery for about an hour. After recovery, I was put in a private room where my extended family and friends could immediately start coming in for visitation. Baby Rocco was with me the entire 3 days I was at the hospital with the exception of a few tests that were made on him. A breast feeding specialist came in and worked with me on nursing, and the nurses gave me round-the-clock care. It was a pleasant experience. We have since had two more babies, one through IVF and one just happened! BIG SURPRISE & BLESSING! My children are 25,6, 4, & 2.

Welcome to kidgreen blog.....

My sister and I (in yellow) hosting a slumber party for my niece last weekend. House full of 14 year old girls-it was crazy and so much fun! I'm sure this class will have many adventures and enjoyment as well. Looking forward to blogging with my classmates.