Maternal-Child Care

http://www.co.kewaunee.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=2266&locid=194

The class discussed the importance of maternal-child care. The topic was separated into various categories: High risk/Normal risk, pre- and post-health, relationship with the baby, baby development/epigenetic, the role of partner, PPD, keeping kid active, education, and mental health. The part I'm focused on the importance of bonding with a newborn. 

Why do we need to build a relationship with our babies? He/She is just a baby. He/She is too young. That's what most people think. Research supports that our interactions with our child during its first year sets the foundation of a child's ability to develop relationships with others. There are different ways to bond with our kids such as 

• Listening to a baby's feeling: A baby's cry is his major form of communication. Figure out what each cry means and what's different about each cry. Sometimes the baby needs to be changed, or fed, or take a nap, or just vent [like adults do]. Bond with your baby by holding her and continually reassuring the kid. 
• Treating your child(ren) with love and kindness only then will they learn to do the same to others. 
• Showing physical affection by touch. Caring for your kid and portraying positive attitudes. 
• Erik Erikson talked about trust vs. mistrust in the first years of a baby's development. Tend to your baby on time to build that trust that's necessary for both you and the child. Caring for the child's needs on time forms attachment and they learn to trust those caring for them. 
• Go exercising with your child. Go for a walk. Dance together. Smiling at your child builds a positive warmth. As they get older, it becomes a habit, which is important in social interactions.

Basically, pay attention to your child(ren). Pay attention to their physical, mental, social, emotional needs. When parents bond with their child, it enables the kid to feel secure and foster a sense of positive self-esteem. Paying attention to your kid is the most important thing because so many things are missed, and by the time it's realized, it is too late. Here's a site that elaborates more on the topic: 

https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/e-family-news/2011-building-relationships-with-babies

MENTAL HEALTH

The class performed the first service-learning presentation this week on Mental Health. We discussed what mental health is, mentioned some statistics, elaborated on the stigma, discussed treatment and advocacy, and the role of physical health related to mental health. 

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Examples of mental issues incorporate the accompanying: ADHD, Bipolar disorder, Depression, and Schizophrenia. One in five adults has a mental illness. 90% of those who commit suicide have an underlying mental illness. Another known statistics that 1 in 5 youth aged, 13 - 18, experience a severe mental disorder at some point in their life. We all live in a society where there's a lot of stigma towards individuals with mental ailment. People often say, "It's a sign of bad character," or "That's the way he was raised," or "She's nuts," or "He's dangerous and a tard" or "Just snap out of it." Labels are meant for objects, not people. I encourage you to fight the negative beliefs towards mental health. We need to learn to speak openly about mental health, volunteer, donate to an organization, show compassion to those living with it, and educate yourself and others., There's so much we all don't know on mental disorders, and how it affects those suffering from it. Most people learn about mental health from their cultural backgrounds and social media. Such perceptions cause those with the disorders to internalize and stigmatizing stereotype and hinder the public's understanding of mental illness. 

Mental illness requires ongoing treatment. These conditions are effectively treated with the combination of psychotherapy and medications. They stimulate the brain and boosts the hormones that are associated with happiness and aids with defenses against depression and anxiety. There are various organizations such as NAMI, support groups, community-based companies that provide emotional support to those living with these disorders. I would like to persuade you all to be an advocate for them. It matters how we talk and think about mental health. Get it wrong, and people can be misled and hurt. You can make a difference simply by acknowledging that mental illness is no one's fault. Live Stigma-Free. 

Reference

• Greenstein, L. (2017, October 11). NAMI. Retrieved February 09, 2018, from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/October-2017/9-Ways-to-Fight-Mental-Health-Stigma

Service Learning Project

Latest update on the service-learning project on Behavioral Health: So far everyone's doing the parts that were assigned. I'm in charge of the treatment, advocacy, and resources. Under treatment, I discussed the psychotherapy, in combinations with medications resulting in a more efficient solution. In addition to that, I mentioned residential facilities, and most importantly, support groups that aid in emotional support decreasing anxiety and depression. 

Under advocacy was how to speak for the voiceless, volunteer, and educate others on facts about mental health. There are so many resources for mental disorders such as Montgomery County Crisis Center, National Alliance Mental Illness (NAMI), and even health insurance. 

However, since there are so many factors that lead to mental illness such as domestic violence/abuse, substance abuse, drugs & alcohol, etc, I added numbers of hotlines for substance abuse, alcohol, and domestic abuse. This is just a summary of what my slides go deeper into. On Friday, we're all rehearsing and I believe recording our first draft. 

Besides that, this week, I learned about the nuclear export and import signals, and also the nuclear lamina defect that results in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome--a case where an individual stays the same height and other symptoms involving alopecia and cachexia. I learned about other disorders as well. Another example is the CF. The cause of this mutation is a defect in the protein folding of CFTR, which is responsible for the transport of chloride ion across the plasma membrane of epithelial cells, including those in the lining of the respiratory tract. Which explains the obstruction of the respiratory tract by thick sticky mucus and shortness of breath.