Coping with Childhood Stress

A very close friend of mine had to deal with chaos and poverty as she was growing up. She was the youngest of three children and her mother was a single parent for most of her childhood. She told me that the worst part was the uncertainty - the uncertainty of wondering if she would be going to the same school from week to week, wondering if she would have friends wherever they lived, and wondering what there would be to eat every day. She and her big brothers would steal bread from the local bakery that was put out to cool, and milk from deliveries in their neighbor's milk boxes. Her mother was fired from a job for stealing money from the company's petty cash so she could buy food for her children. They would live in one place for a few months, until they got so behind on the rent that they were evicted, and no place ever felt like home. Because she was the youngest, she also got the smallest and worst bedroom. In one house she slept in a walk-in closet, and another where she slept in a shed adjacent to the house-no lights and no heat. They coped by sticking together as a tight-knit unit, supporting one another in every way that they could. The children did most of the cooking and cleaning so that the mother could work two jobs, and they all got jobs and helped with the rent as soon as they were old enough. They are still a very close family today and, although there is more stability and financial security, each member of the family knows they can rely on the others for help in any way needed.

In South Africa, over 50% of families live below the poverty line and experience homelessness on a continual basis. In 1998 an act of parliament established the Child Support Grants. These are funds that are given to any caregiver who is directly responsible for the welfare of a child. This funding reaches 10 million children, and is considered to be one of the governments most successful poverty reduction programs. Because of programs like the Child Support Grants fewer children per capita are living in poverty than 15 years ago.

Source: International Labour Organization- https://www.ilo.org/gimi/gess/RessFileDownload 

Maternal Depression and Domestic Violence

The topic of my blog this week is the affect of maternal depression, in victims of domestic violence, on their children. I became interested in this subject during the time that I was the Director of the child care facility at a domestic violence shelter. Research shows that any woman can develop depression, but women who are in domestic violence situations are more likely than other women to suffer from this type of mental health issue (World Health Organization, 2013). I found this to be true in the families that I worked with, because women who are escaping domestic violence situations have to deal with a lot of loss, which causes depression. When they are with their abuser they become depressed at the thought of being abused, or having the abuser hurt the children. When they leave the abusive situation they can become even more depressed because they usually lose their partner, sometimes their home and possessions, and often other members of their friends and family. They are often barely able to take care of themselves, not to mention caring for the needs of their children. Studies have shown that women who have been through significant amounts trauma actually don't even enjoy parenting much (Banyard, J.,Williams, V., &Siegal, L., 2003). Young children rely on their mothers to be there for them, and when the mothers are so overwhelmed and depressed, the children don't get what they need. 

Maternal depression overall has become a topic of interest in many countries, and has become an issue of concern in Canada. Canadian doctors observe that depressed mothers are often not able to pick up on the cues of their babies and respond to their needs (Medical News Today, 2004). They are working with these mothers to help them recognize their infants signals and respond appropriately in an effort to help create attachment and avoid future issues.

I believe that this information will impact my work as I collaborate with the Infant Toddler Specialists who work with providers in high risk programs. Becoming a new mother can be especially overwhelming for a woman in crisis, and by sharing this information with the IT Specialists, they can coach the providers to be a support to these mothers in their program who may be experiencing depression.


Resources
Banyard, J., Williams, V., & Siegal, L. (2003). The impact of complex trauma and depression on parenting: An exploration of mediating risk and protective factors.Child welfare information gateway, 8(4), 334-349. Retrieved from http://library.childwelfare.gov

Medical News Today.(2004). Maternal depression can seriously affect a child's development.   Retrieved from www.medicalnewstoday.com

World Health Organization. (2013). Maternal mental health and child development. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/MaternalMH/en/index.html

The Importance of the Birthing Experience

New class means it's time for a new post. I was very excited to see the topic of this post because it is something that has always been of interest to me; the effect of the birthing experience on a child's development.

I am adopted, and my birthing experience was very different from that of my granddaughter's. The room that I was born in was white, bright, and sterile. No one was in the room with my mother, with the exception of the doctor, and they were separated by a sheet. My mother was given something to sedate her, but even sedated there was a great tension in the room. My birth was routine, and I was born a healthy infant, but there was not a welcome feeling in the room when I arrived. I was quickly taken into another room where I was cleaned and placed in a bassinet, and I never did get to see my mother or have her hold me.

When I got pregnant with my oldest daughter I was living in Spain and I was very nervous because I was not used to the public health care system. I had an experience, before I got pregnant, where I needed medical care, and it was very difficult for me. When I researched what to expect if I had the baby in Madrid I found out that it would be very similar to my previous medical experience. I wanted to make sure that the birth of my baby was comfortable for both of us, so my husband and I moved back home before the baby was born.

My granddaughter's entrance into the world was a completely different story. My husband, my other daughters and I spent the day with the mother to be, rubbing her feet, feeding her ice, laughing and talking. The room was very comfortable, with soft lights, a rocking chair, and a television. When it was time for Paetyn to be born my husband and I stood on either side of the bed and were a support to my daughter. The whole family was right there watching Paetyn being born and celebrating her arrival into the world. The instant she was born the doctor placed her in her mother's arms, and except for the few minutes that it took her to get an Apgar test and get cleaned up a little, she was never out of her family's arms. They even let a family member give her first bath.

I chose these examples because they are in such stark contrast to each other. Early childhood research has shown the importance of early bonding, and I was not able to receive that in my birthing experience (Childpsych, n.d.). I was fortunate to have a loving family adopt me when I was five weeks old, but I have struggled with abandonment issue throughout my life. Paetyn seems to be very well attached with all of the people present in the room on the day she was born. 

I believe that, because western society knows so much more about child development now than they did 40+ years ago, having a loving birthing experience is now being seem as a critical piece of helping start a child on a positive developmental journey. 

Childpsych. (n.d.). Changes in child psychology;John Bowlby. Retrieved from http://childpsych.umwblogs.org/attachment-theory/john-bowlby-2/