CHILD ABUSE BY ROCHELLE JAMISON

Child abuse is something that has not been recognized or addressed near enough as it should be. child abuse is more than just hitting its metal, sexually, and physical abuse. no child should be abused in any kind of way, statistics show that in every 3 children one is sexually or physically abused.

Physical abuse is an injury deliberately inflicted upon a child by any person, including adults. physical abuse includes fractured or broken bones, burns severe and or frequent bruises, and major physical harm. physical abuse is usually identified by physical marks on the child's body but children can also suffer emotional damage from abuse. some physical signs of physical abuse would be, bruises, welts on face, neck, chest and back. and injuries in shapes of objects like belts, cords and any other objects on child's body. fractures on a body or broken bones that can not be explained or match what the story was on how they received the injury.

sexual abuse is another source of child abuse that might b a lot harder to detect in some situation. sexual abuse is any contact between a child and adult for the adults sexual stimulation this includes inappropriate touching, showing pornography, sex and exposure of body parts to the child. sometimes a child can be physically hurting during the act, but even if there are no marks, a child can be traumatized by sexual abuse. ways to recognize or catch sexual abuse would be a bit different than physical because the physical signs of sexual abuse are not obvious and with some children there are no signs at all. often emotional behavioral signs are more commonly seen. if there are signs. some physical signs would be pain, swelling, itching in genital area, bruises, bleeding, discharge, in genital area. And difficulty waking or sitting, frequent urination or pain, stained or bloody underclothes would be another sign to. teachers often look for refusal to take part in gym or other exercises.

Child neglect is the most common for of child maltreatment. neglect is when a parent, guardian, or other caregiver does not provide for a child's basic needs. neglect includes not providing food, shelter, supervision, health care, schooling, affection or support. This can be characterized as both physical and emotional abuse. some signs would be poor hygiene, not dressed right for weather, lack of medical care , hunger, acts as a parent to siblings arrives early or stays late at school.

http://kidsmatterinc.org/gethelp/abuseneglect/neglect.html

Keeping your Baby Safe in Bed. By Marie Santana

                The image of a baby and parent dozing off together isn’t an uncommon one, but the practice of co sleeping, or sharing a bed with your infant, is controversial in the US.  Supporters of co sleeping believe that a parent’s bed is just where an infant belongs; but is it safe?

                Co sleeping is a widespread practice, it has its pros and cons.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says it is a huge risk to put an infant to sleep in an adult bed because a risk of suffocation and strangulation.   The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agrees.

                In many non- Western cultures, differences in mattresses, bedding, and other cultural practice may account for a lower risk in suffocation or strangulation compared with the U.S.

                Co sleeping advocates say it isn't inherently dangerous and that the CPSC went too far in recommending that parents never sleep with children under 2 years of age. According to supporters of co sleeping, parents won't roll over onto a baby because they're conscious of the baby's presence — even during sleep.

                In addition to the potential safety risks, sharing a bed with a baby can sometimes prevent parents from getting a good night's sleep. And infants who co sleep can learn to associate sleep with being close to a parent in the parent's bed, which may become a problem at naptime or when the infant needs to go to sleep before the parent is ready.

                But can co sleeping cause SIDS? The connection between co sleeping and SIDS is unclear and research is ongoing. Some co sleeping researchers have suggested that it can reduce the risk of SIDS because co sleeping parents and babies tend to wake up more often throughout the night. However, the AAP reports that some studies suggest that, under certain conditions, co sleeping may increase the risk of SIDS, especially co sleeping environments involving mothers who smoke.

Facts:

·         121 of the deaths of infants were attributed to a parent, caregiver, or sibling rolling on top of or against a baby while sleeping.

·         More than 75% of the deaths involved infants were younger than 3 months old.

·         suffocation when an infant gets trapped or wedged between a mattress and headboard, wall, or other object

·         suffocation resulting from a baby being face-down on a waterbed, a regular mattress, or on soft bedding such as pillows, blankets, or quilts

·         strangulation in a bed frame that allows part of an infant's body to pass through an area while trapping the baby's head

                Why should you co sleep with your baby? 

·         It encourages breastfeeding by making night time breastfeeding more convenient.

·         It helps parents whom are separated from their babies during the day to regain the closeness with their infant that they feel they missed.

·         It helps babies fall asleep more easily, especially during their first few months ad when they wake up in the middle of the night.

·         Makes it easier for a nursing mother to get her sleep cycle in sync with her baby’s.

·         It helps babies get more night time sleep (because they awake more frequently with shorter durations of feeds, which can add up to a greater amount of sleep throughout the night).

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/cosleeping.html#

male Birth Control KEVIN JOHNSON

Kevin Johnson

                                                                     Griff 5^th

                             Male birth Control



              In 1960, an invention changed female sexuality and paved the way for a women's movement. It was the birth-control pill, or simply "the pill" as it became popularly known. An estimated 18 million women in the United States use the birth-control pill today, making it the most popular form of reversible birth control in the country. For four decades, the pill has put women primarily in the driver's seat. But an increasing number of people both men and women want men to take a more active role in contraception use

For the past four decades, women have a wide array of birth-control options available to them, including the pill, ring, patch and injection, that are all more than 99% percent effective, yet as far as science has moved with female birth control, there are still only a couple of birth-control options available to men in which are primarily the condom and vasectomy in which is the removing of males testicles. A vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure that sterilizes the man.

                 Basically, he can't get anyone pregnant since there's no sperm in his semen. Only about 15 out of 10,000 couples get pregnant the first year after the vasectomy, and the chances of becoming pregnant decreases each year after the procedure. Vasectomies can be reversed, but the procedure is painful, expensive and most men still have difficulty getting their mates pregnant. The vasectomy does not protect against STDs.


                               For years, scientists have been trying to create a male  birth control that uses hormones to decrease a man's sperm count. The idea is similar to the female birth control pill. A male birth control pill will control the hormones testosterone and progesterone, thereby lowering the sperm count in a man's semen. It appears men will have a variety of opions, including a pill, a skin patches, an injection given every 3 months or an implant that must be replaced every year. Researchers are still testing the effectiveness and potential side effects of male hormonal options and have not released them onto the market for the general population. The male birth control pill won't protect against STDs.


           Contraception means preventing pregnancy, also called birth control. Most people know about options such as birth control pills and condoms. However, there are also other options. If you're thinking about birth control, talk with your family doctor. Your choice will depend on your health, your desire for protection against disease and your personal beliefs and preferences. As always, when looking at birth control, keep in mind that any method only works if you use it consistently and correctly.

Personality of Children

Everyone has a distinct personality but how do we get them? I believe that outside influenceices and relationships are the biggest influence on ones personality. For instance a child that is ignored by their parents will most likely grow up to be a self sufficient loner and a child with a "Helicopter Mom" may not have all their skills when they turn 18.

Parents have to be careful what they say to their kids because even the simplest comment can affect a child's growth psychologically. The quality of relationship with ones parents is just as important as having a relationship to began with.Parents who overly discipline their children will have children who will try to rebel against their parents rules. This can led to bad behavior and people with "party animal personalities", however parents that are too easy on there kids will end up with the same results if not very careful.

Although parenting is important another factor that is important when determining your personality is your genes.Your genetic structure can also be an important factor in your personality.Some children have mental disabilities that can alter their personalities.Some disorders can be changed by both genes and environment such as Borderline Personality Disorder. This is also known as nature vs. nurture.

Twins are an unusual situation. Even if they have identical DNA their personality's can be (and usually are) completely different. Some twins can only be recognized by their personalities because their appearances are so similar to each other. Parents are sometimes the only ones who can recognize their twins physical and personality differences because twins are so unusual that people outside their family are so amazed by the similarities not their differences.

Personality is one of the factors that makes us human. Its detumrmined before we're born and molded during childhood. No one knows or can prove EXACTLY why people act the way they do in general but there are a lot of philosophies. Everyone thinks they know how to raise children, but who knows who is right? I and all other people can only hope and wish that we are doing our best and can raise solid responsible children.

http://www.ionpsych.com/does-parenting-matter
http://www.bpddemystified.com/index.asp?id=18

Teen Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy Research Project


Teenage pregnancy is formally defined as a pregnancy in a young woman
who has not reached her 20th birthday when the pregnancy ends, regardless of
whether the woman is married or is legally an adult. Pregnant teenagers face many of the same obstetrics issues as women in their 20s and 30s. However, there are additional medical concerns for mothers age 14 or younger.

Causes

In some societies, early marriage and traditional gender roles are important factors in the rate of teenage pregnancy. For example, in some sub-Saharan African countries, early pregnancy is often seen as a blessing because it is proof of the young woman's fertility.[12] In the Indian subcontinent, early marriage and pregnancy is more common in traditional rural communities compared to the rate in cities.[13] The lack of education on safe sex, whether it’s from parents, schools, or otherwise, is a cause of teenage pregnancy. Many teenagers are not taught about methods of birth control and how to deal with peers who pressure them into having sex before they are ready. Many pregnant teenagers do not have any cognition of the central facts of sexuality. Some teens have said to be pressured into having sex with their boyfriends at a young age, and yet no one had taught these teens how to deal with this pressure or to say "no".

Contraception

Adolescents may lack knowledge of, or access to, conventional methods of preventing pregnancy, as they may be too embarrassed or frightened to seek such information. Contraception for teenagers presents a huge challenge for the clinician. In 1998, the government of the United Kingdom set a target to halve the under-18 pregnancy rate by 2010. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (TPS) was established to achieve this. The pregnancy rate in this group, although falling, rose slightly in 2007, to 41.7 per 1000 women. Young women often think of contraception either as 'the pill' or condoms and have little knowledge about other methods. They are heavily influenced by negative, second-hand stories about methods of contraception from their friends and the media. Prejudices are extremely difficult to overcome. Over concern about side-effects, for example weight gain and acne, often affect choice. Missing up to three pills a month is common, and in this age group the figure is likely to be higher. Restarting after the pill-free week, having to hide pills, drug interactions and difficulty getting repeat prescriptions can all lead to method failure.

Age discrepancy in relationships

According to the conservative lobbying organization Family Research Council, studies in the US indicate that age discrepancy between the teenage girls and the men who impregnate them is an important contributing factor. Teenage girls in relationships with older boys, and in particular with adult men, are more likely to become pregnant than teenage girls in relationships with boys their own age. They are also more likely to carry the baby to term rather than have an abortion

Sexual abuse

Studies have found that between 11 and 20 percent of pregnancies in teenagers are a direct result of rape, while about 60 percent of teenage mothers had unwanted sexual experiences preceding their pregnancy. Before age 15, a majority of first-intercourse experiences among females are reported to be non-voluntary; the Guttmacher Institute found that 60 percent of girls who had sex before age 15 were coerced by males who on average were six years their senior. One in five teenage fathers admitted to forcing girls to have sex with them.

Media influence

A study conducted in 2006 found that adolescents who were more exposed to sexuality in the media were also more likely to engage in sexual activity themselves.
According to www.time.com, "teens exposed to the most sexual content on TV are twice as likely as teens watching less of this material to become pregnant before they reach age 20".


STATISTICS
o 18% of U.S teens have experienced sex prior to the age of fifteen
o 66% of unmarried teens have sex by the age of nineteen years
o By age twenty 75% of American females and 86% of American males are
sexually

active
o United States has the highest rates of pregnancy
o By age twenty 40%of white women and 64% of black women will have experienced

at least one pregnancy
o 80% of teen women who get married most likely get divorced
* About 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year, and more than 530,000
give birth
o 3 million out of 12 million teens are affected by sexually transmitted
diseases these diseases can cause complications with the baby
o 9% of teenage girls have low-birth weight babies
o 50% of adolescents who have a baby become pregnant again within two years of

the first birth
o The second baby born to an adolescent mother is at risk than the first baby
to be low birth weight
o The children of adolescent mothers are at increased risk than the first baby

to be low birth weight
o The children of adolescent mothers are at risk for being a teen parent
themselves
o Every 26 seconds another adolescent becomes pregnant
o Every 56 seconds another adolescent gives birth
o 85% of all teenage pregnancies are unplanned
o 13% of all U.S. births are to teenagers
o 80% of teenage pregnancies occur outside of marriage
o 9 million children living in welfare families
o The fathers born to teenage mothers are likely to be older than the women
o Teenagers account for 31% of all non-marital births
o The younger the mother the greater the risks of complications for both
mother

and child
o 2/3 of never married mothers now raise their children in poverty
o Children of teen mothers are far more likely than the children of older, two

parent families to fall behind and drop out of school. Their also at risk of
getting into trouble with the law, to abuse drugs and join gangs, to have
children of their own out of wedlock, and to become dependant on welfare.
o The majority of all teens in the U.S. have sexual intercourse by the time
they reach 12th grade
o 1/4 of all unintended teen pregnancies occur to adolescents using no birth
control
o Approximately 70% of all pregnant adolescents do not receive adequate
prenatal care, when in reality, they are the group that needs care the most
o Recent studies reveal that up to 2/3 of teen mothers have a history of
sexual

abuse
o School failure (not in all cases) often follows early childbearing,
pregnancy, and sexual intercourse
o Teens often have poor eating habits and may smoke, drink alcohol, and take
drugs, increasing the risk that their babies will be born with health problems
o Pregnant teens are least likely of all maternal are groups to get early and

regular parental care
o 1/3 of teens moms drop out of school


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_pregnancy


By: Rebekah Behrens

Early Childhood Brain Development

            Many studies have shown how important early childhood development is in the brain. Doctors are emphasizing not only how important it is to know how to better stimulate your child’s brain after birth, but also how important it is that while in the whom your child’s brain is also being stimulated.

A child’s brain begins developing at about three weeks after they are conceived. That is why it is important from the start of your pregnancy to take care of yourself and your unborn child. The emotional state of the mother and her surroundings are critical to the baby while still in the whom. Learning accelerates in some areas such as reflexes and movement after the child is born.

                While children are in the whom, they are experiencing their biggest growth spurt. It is important that you provide stimulation for your baby to start learning while in the whom. Since babies are mostly aware of the outside environment due to sounds, it is important that you have a welcoming and calming, you can achieve this by doing things such as playing music. It is also important that while your child is still in the whom you get them used to daily noises, such as the vacuum cleaner and lawnmower.

                Development after your child is born is equally important.  There are certain “windows” for types of learning. Your child’s vision begins rapidly improving at two to four months, language is acquired most easiest during the first ten years of your child’s life. At five to six months babies begin recognizing their parents and sibilings and their motor and sesnsory abilities greatly improve. Seven to twelve months is when they begin their mental improvement. They are able to identify objects, themselves, and learn how to produce sounds. At the ages one to three their coordination develops, they have better motor skills, and dislike being separated from their family.  At the ages of three to six they begin to have a better attention span, and begin to be more curious to objects and noises.

                It is important after birth, when your child is developing, that you know what to do for each learning stage. When your child begins speaking, repeated exposure to words helps the brain build neural connections. This enables your child to learn more words later on in their life.  Good and bad experiences help to wire a child’s brain and nervous system connection. When a child experiences loving interactions the brain is greatly ‘stimulated. When a child does not receive any stimulation the brain tends to make fewer connections.  Stress is also a dangerous factor to a child’s brain development when the stress is frequent or prolonged. Sadness or a small amount of fear can help a child with everyday challenges down the road.
http://www.bouncing-new-baby.com/Teaching_Baby.htm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/207982-baby-brain-development-in-the-womb/
http://umaine.edu/publications/4356e/

Autism Baby Research

AUTISM

Autism is a development disorder that appears during a child’s first three years of life and often lasts a persons whole lifetime. Autism impacts development in social, interaction, and communication skills and can have behavioral problems. Being autistic is a challenge but doesn't necessarily make you less smart than others. Autistic kids can be extremely smart but are also harder to handle and care for. There is only one type of autism and the actual causes of this disorder remain unknown. There are symptoms and signs that help you recognize the disorder early on in a toddler and there are also treatments to help improve the child’s skills.

            There have been many possible causes suspected for autism but none yet proven. There are few different theories about the causes of autism. The most popular are genetics, mercury, food allergies and the idea that the environment may somehow cause autism. Autism tends to run in families leading to a possible genetic cause. Autopsies of the brain have shown deficits in various parts of the brain and scientists have also found abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. There are different levels of autism but people constantly refer to the five other development disorders as autism because they are similar disorders and autism is the most well known. These types are Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, Pervasive development disorder - not otherwise specified and Childhood disintegrative disorder.

            Symptoms and signs of autism are usually suspected by the time the child is around 18 months. Some children with autism appear able and then suddenly regress and lose language or social skills they had. Early signs of autism can include impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others, avoids eye contact, hard to make friends with peers or an overall difficulty interacting with others, memorizes passages or repeats words, not flexible with changes made to specific routines, absence or impairment of imagination and social play, repetitive or unusual use of language, show attachment to objects, may laugh at inappropriate times,  no fear of danger, over or under sensitivity to pain, sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste, and may like to be alone. These are some of the many characteristics that could lead you to conclude a child has autism.

            It is important to analyze the symptoms that your child has before trying to receive treatment because this can make autism treatment more valuable. Most individuals with autism respond better to structured, specialized programs. Depending on your child's levels of disorder, you can have a combination of different treatments but are most successful when accommodate a child's particular needs. There are no specific medications for autism individuals. The medications used are those that have been developed to treat similar symptoms in other disorders. An important tip to use is work with a doctor who has had experience with autistic patients.
            Autism is most often a lifetime disorder. Autistic people can attend school till they are 22 and then services end. Some adults with autism, are able to work successfully in real and normal jobs. Before a child finishes school you should search for jobs and programs that your young adult can take on.

          

COOL FACT!:

Researchers believe both Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton may have had Asperger syndrome, a development disorder in the autism spectrum. These individuals were some of the most important and smart people in history!

http://www.autismepicenter.com/index.shtml

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002494/

http://autism.emedtv.com/autism/types-of-autism.html

http://www.definitionofautism.com/

Child Discipline

                                                                     Child Discipline

                                                "Info to understand"

The only way to decipher between abuse and punishment is to be educated in what child abuse is. Both legally and what can be damaging to a child. I do not condone any Abuse, and honestly I think abusive parents are not punished as they should be.ABUSE IS WRONG!If you see or hear of any abuse to a child,baby,spouse,stranger anyone! report it immediately to the authority's

the Californian laws say that what constitutes as abuse is
  "Penal Code sections 11165.1 through 11165.6 for definitions.)
Physical injury • Willful harming/endangerment•Mental/emotional suffering • Unlawful corporal punishment/injury•Sexual (abuse, assault, and exploitation) • Death•Severe neglect"

 Below there is a chart showing percentage in 2005 of abuse cases and what type of abuse.
2005

Neglect------------62.8%

Physical------------16.6%

Sexual--------------9.3%

Psychological-------7.1%

Medical Neglect----2.0%

Other--------------14.3%

If you know of  any cases of abuse CONTACT SOMEONE HERE

____________________________________________________________________________________

Child Discipline

 By:Evan K Williams

  
     When your little bundle of joy first opens its eyes you will see true innocence. When that little bundle Crawls for the first time, you will grab a camera, and when it takes its first steps and says its first word, you will melt. But what do you do, the first time it dose something dangerous, disrespectful, or dishonest? do you let it go? everyone makes mistakes right? why hold it against them? Young children don't have a feel for right and wrong, good and bad, or safe and dangerous. How can you teach a child? Sometimes kind words and suggestive leading is not enough. When you tell your kid no to something dangerous, and they deliberately disobey its time for more assertive actions.But there are appropriate punishments for actions, and appropriate  behavior for punishing.

   Punishing your child does not make you a bad parent, it's good for the child to learn right from wrong. Punishments don't have to be, AND shouldn't be to severe. These teaching punishments can include, time out (being locked in a room, going to a corner, or sitting on a step for a set amount of time), being sent to bed without dessert, compromise (giving the child what they want within your limits or with conditions), taking an item or privilege away, even spanking (a light pat on the bottom or hand to let a child know not to do something only after you have said "no").  Punishments have always been around and (hopefully) always will be.Young children may cry or be upset when punished, but if a parent is respectful and loving even with the punishments, the child will grow up to be thankful. Therefore, I keep saying to punish with respect, how is that possible?

    A child mind is very susceptible to everything around them, so you need to show you still love your child and care for them when you punish them. One way to make sure you don't go over the line is to remember not to jump to a harsh punishment, and NEVER punish out of anger or embarrassment. So know what is a suitable punishment for each action.

-Verbal
     Believe it or not your child loves you and looks up to you. If you say "no" assertively, they will usually listen. However, sometimes you may need to point out why you say no before they listen. you should never under any circumstance Shout in anger or insult your child. when you are assertive you may raise your voice level and change your tone only to get there attention and let them know not to continue with there action. Insults will have a long lasting effects on there self esteem, social skills and even emotional comprehension.

-Taking Items or privileges
    When a verbal warning dose not work sometimes you have to take action,this is in a way "grounding" your child.For instance if the child is not sharing a toy, you assertively tell them that if they do not share  you will take the toy. and if they don't listen you fallow throe and take the toy away. same goes for privileges, this will show the child for one will respect and know you have control, and show that negative actions will result in loss of  something they want. This will keep them from continuing in bad/harmful actions.

-Compromise
     When you have taken the toy or privilege away and the child is upset, screening, frantic, come up with a compromise. Making a deal with the child such as, "When you learn to share you will get the toy back, or When you stop yelling you can go back outside and play" this will show the child to reason and that if they lesson and are respectful good things will happen.

-Spanking
   But when a Child continues in deliberate disobedience, sometimes a small amount of force to show them wen there wrong is needed. DO NOT leave bruises just a small swat on the bottom will get there attention, they will cry even if they aren't hurt, its a reflex. Don't feel bad and don't get angry its only enough force to get there attention. a swat on the butt when they are continuing bad behavior or doing something dangerous. a swat on the but wen they try to run away from you, or walk into the street, or a swat on the hand wen they reach for a knife or a wall socket. they will associate the small amount of pain with that action and learn not to continue that action, this will prevent grater pain or even fatal situations



   So punishments dont have to be extreem they just need to be a way to show the child that somthing is dangerous, rood, or bad. dont think your a bad parent when a child crys cause u say no, i know from experience they will thank you later, i know i thanked my parents and they thanked there parents, and i believe my kids will thank me

http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/family/2701-new-study-finds-spanking-is-good-for-kids

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2008/09/research-sugges.html

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/statistics/physical_punishment_statistics_wda48737.html

TEEN PREGNANCY by Shalsei Monthei

           Teen pregnancy has become very popular in the United States. There is an estimate of one million teen pregnancies in the U.S alone. This is a hige statistic that just keeps climbing higher, and higher. About 85% of these pregnancies are unplanned, and that just leads to neglect, and abortion. There is help for pregnant teens that some people just don't understand.
          There are more risks to the baby being more to teen moms. They are more likely to experience health, social and emotional problems. Teen moms that give birth are more likely to deliver premature birth babies, and have complications. Teen mothers are less likely to gain an adequate amount of weight, resulting in a low birth rate for the baby.
           As the children born to teen mothers grow, they tend to have poorer health than that of children born to adult mothers. 60% of children born to adult mothers were said to have "excellent" health, compared to 38% for children born to teen moms. High teen birth rates are an important concern because teen mothers and their babies face increased risks to their health, and their opportunities to build a future are diminished. Babies born to teen mothers are more likely to die in their first year of life, compared to that of babies born to adult women.
           Teenage bith rates rose in 2007 for the second year in a row. The teen bith rates in the U.S exceed any other country. Over 10% of births in 2006 were to teenage mothers. Statistics show that 3 in 10 teen girls become pregnant before the age of 20. About 1 in 4 teens have a second baby within two years of the birth of their first.

           Teenage preganancy is becoming a huge issue, and the statistics keep increasing. It has become so popular in the United States that they now have two shows about it. 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom. Even though both of these shows show the complications with having a baby at such a youg age, if the studies wern't as high of teen pregancy in the first place then their would be no need for these shows to begin with.

 http://pregnancy.about.com/od/teenpregnancy/a/Teen-Pregnancy.htmens
http://www.cpeip.fsu.edu/resourceFiles/resourceFile_78.pdf
http://www.marchofdimes.com/medicalresources_teenpregnancy.html

A baby's vision during the first months

A baby's vision during the first months

                The first couple of months are vital for your infant. The eyes are fully developed but the brain isn’t ready to process all of what your infant is seeing. When a baby is born his range of vision is only as far as when you hold your baby in front of you. Through time it gets increasingly better.

                The first month, a baby’s eyes might wonder from time to time. Passing a rattle will help him with focusing his eyes. Any activity where your baby has to focus his eyes will help him with this new ability. At two months your baby is starting to be able to distinguish between colors. Showing your infant patterns and different objects helps him or her sharpen their new skill as well as help with tracking objects.

  At four months your baby is now able to distinguish depth of an object. During his fifth month your baby is now able to track an object and move it around. Ways to help their development is to play with easy to grab toys. At eight months your baby’s vision pretty much is normal.

                You play a very important role for your baby’s vision development. Regularly having your baby’s eyes checked by a doctor will prevent future eye problems. Giving them colorful patterns or just simple objects around the house help a lot. The human face is the most interesting thing to a baby by giving them a lot of face time will also help them.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_developmental-milestones-sight_6508.bc?page=3

TYPES OF ADOPTIONS!!!

Pregnancy can be a very beautiful experience, but when that baby is not wanted then there are options. One of those options is Adoption. There are many different types of adoptions, for example and open adoption, a semi-open adoption, and a closed adoption.
If someone chooses to do an open adoption it allows the child to have a relationship with their birth family and with the adoptive family. Many open adoptions include some of the extended family, for example the birth grandparents and siblings for the child. The birth family can have regularly exchange letters, photos, and gifts either directly or through someone else. Open adoption is very difficult for both the birth and adoptive family since there needs to be communication and trust between the families for the OPEN adoption to function correctly.
Choosing a semi-open adoption means that the adoptive family shares information about the child to the birth family. They mostly share letters, photos and maybe some emails which are transferred either between each other, someone else, or the adoption agency. The adoptive parents are generally picked before the baby is born and are allowed to be at the hospital during the birth. Unlike and open adoption, a semi-open adoption does not include any one on one time between the child and the birth family.
A closed adoption is the complete opposite of an open or even a semi-open adoption. A closed adoption means that the birth family and the adoptive family never meet. They know very little about each other, except for medical history, ethnicity, and cultural information. Since the birth parents never meet than the adoption agency chooses the adoptive parents for the child. Thought the decades a closed adoption used to be the best option when choosing adoption, but now it has changed into to semi-open adoption.

These are some of the types of ADOPTION options pregnant women can choose. They provide the child with a loving, caring family and the birth family the option of not having to take care of an unwanted baby. Of course adoption does not mean that when the child reaches the age of adult he or she will not want to search for their birth family.

Sources:
http://www.adoption.com/


By Diana Cabrera

PRO LIFE AND EFFECTS OF ABORTION by: Miguel Garcia

WHAT IS PRO LIFE

Pro-life describes the moral, political and ethical opposition to elective abortion and support for its legal prohibition or restriction. Those involved in the pro-life movement generally maintain that the human fetus and in most cases the human embryo is a person and therefore has a right to life. On the issue of abortion, pro-lifers are opposed by pro-choicers who generally advocate for women's reproductive rights. The pro-life movement may also include people who oppose euthanasia and embryonic stem-cell research.
 Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from fertilization or implantation until natural death. The contemporary pro-life movement is typically, but not exclusively, influenced by Conservative Christian values, especially in the United States, and has influenced certain strains of bioethical utilitarianism. From that viewpoint, any action which destroys an embryo or fetus kills a person. Any deliberate destruction of human life is considered ethically or morally wrong and is not considered to be mitigated by any benefits to others as such benefits are coming at the expense of the life of a person. In some cases, this belief extends to opposing abortion of fetuses that would almost certainly expire within a short time after birth, such as anencephalic fetuses.
Some pro-life advocates oppose certain forms of birth control, particularly hormonal contraception such as Emergency contraception (ECPs), and copper IUDs which prevent the implantation of an embryo. Because they believe that the term "pregnancy" should be defined so as to begin at fertilization, they refer to these contraceptives as abortifacients. The Catholic Church endorses this view, but the possibility that hormonal contraception has post-fertilization effects is disputed within the scientific community, including some pro-life physicians.
Attachment to a pro-life position is often but not exclusively connected to religious beliefs about the sanctity of life. Exclusively secular-humanist positions against abortion tend to be a minority viewpoint among pro-life advocates. Many holding the pro-life position also tend toward a complementarian view of gender roles, though there is also a self-described feminist element inside the movement. 

Here are some quotes from other pro life believers.
"There are two victims in every abortion: a dead baby and a dead conscience." "It is a poverty that a "child must die", So that you may live as you wish... - Mother Teresa
“This is Mel Gibson and I'm voting NO on Prop 71. - Research on adult and umbilical stem cells have lead to cures in 300,000 cases. But that's not what Proposition 71 is about. This is Mel Gibson. I'm concerned that people aren't fully informed about Prop 71. We have a lot of questions to ask. Like why are we being misled into thinking prop 71 isn't about cloning, when it is. That's what it says, "somatic cell nuclear transfer". And that is a scientific term for cloning. If cloning human embryos for destruction is so promising, why aren't private companies paying the 6 billion dollars? Because in 23 years embryonic stem cell research has not produced a single human cure. All it has yielded is tumors, rejection, and mutations. See bad science doesn't attract venture capital. So why should the taxpayers be bled dry? This is Mel Gibson and I'm voting NO on Prop 71. Creating life simply to destroy it is wrong." - Mel Gibson
"What an irony that a society confronted with plastic bags filled with the remains of aborted babies should be more concerned about the problem of recycling the plastic"... - Winifred Egan

I’ve once gone on the walk for life in San Francisco my sophomore or junior year in high school in our local church Auntinet was our chaperon along with me and at least 10 other people in my youth group. At first I did not want to this but after going and seeing so many people doing this it really changed the way I thought about abortion it was such a big movement I love to do it again.  This is a news paper add about the event and how many people it attracts The Walk for Life West Coast event in San Francisco exceeded organizers’ expectations by drawing a crowd of 40,000 people, a record-breaking figure. The walk route started at Justin Herman Plaza in downtown San Francisco and concluded at Marina Green in sight of the Golden Gate Bridge. The line of walkers stretched over a mile long. During the Preborn Jesus Holy Hour around noon, walkers prayed for the aborted babies.
Groups such as Silent No More, Priests for Life, Lutherans for Life, and Anglicans for Life joined in the walk to remember the unborn, share their testimonies, and pray for an end to abortion.

Side Effects of an Abortion
A lot of people think that abortion is an only option they never think of ADOPTION but abortion has a lot of side effect most people are unaware of and also regret going through an abortion some physical side effect people do not know of are some of the following
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea spotting and bleeding
More serious complications of abortion although they say it occurs in less than 1 out of 100 first trimester abortions and approximately 1 out of every 50 late term abortions it is important to know the risk
• Heavy or persistent bleeding
• Infection or sepsis
• Damage to cervix
• Scarring of the uterine lining
• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to other organs
• DEATH

It is important to understand that these risks are rare and some are even present with child birth. What matters is that you are aware that they exist.
 10 arguments against abortion and why pro life is an idea
1. Scince life begins at conceptions abortion is akin to murder because it is an act of taking human life. Abortion is in direct defiance of the commonly accepted idea of the sanctity of human life
2. No civilized society permits one human to intentionally harm or take the life of another human without punishment, and abortion is no difrnt.
3. Adoption is an alternative option to abortion and accomplishes the same result. And abortion is no different
4. An abortion can result in medical complications later in life the risk of ectopic pregnancy doubles and the chance of a miscarriage and pelvic inflammatory disease can increase.
5. In the instance of rape or incest proper medical can ensure the that women will not get pregnant. Abortion punishes the unborn child who committed no crime instead it is the perpetrator who should be punished.
6. Abortion should not be used as another form of contraception
7. For women who demand complete control of their body control should include preventing risk of unwanted pregnancy through the responsible use of contraption or if that is not possible through abstinence.
8. Many Americans who pay taxes are opposed to abortion, so its morally wrong to use tax dollars to fund abortion.
9. Those who choose abortion are often minors or young women with not enough life experience to understand fully what they are doing. Many have lifelong regrets afterwards.
10. Abortion frequently causes intense psychological pain and stress.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/unplannedpregnancy/possiblesideeffects.html

http://www.webparish.com/prolife/documents/QuotesFamousPeople.htm

Corporal Punishment for children

Corporal punishment, or the inflicting of physical pain onto another person because of some offence committed, of children is a very touchy issue. Many believe that while it may make a child fear you when they are little, it will have no lasting effects. However, ever forthcoming studies show that physical punishment on children can result in problems lasting throughout the teen and adult life. Physical punishment is not only dangerous for a variety of reasons but also ineffective.

            The use of corporal punishment in any form, from spanking to using the belt, can teach children things they shouldn’t learn. If a parent uses spanking as a form of punishment, kids learn that resorting to physical methods is the way to solve problems. “Children who are physically punished are more likely to grow up approving of it and using it to settle interpersonal conflicts. Even children who have experienced ‘normal’ spankings are almost three times as likely to seriously assault a sibling, compared to children who were not physically disciplined.” That quote is from Dr. Hyman, who made that statement as part of his summary of his 30 years of experience and studying. However, can the non-use of corporal punishment decrease misbehavior? Yes, Dr. Hyman says “Studies demonstrate that eliminating corporal punishment does not increase misbehavior in home or school. Systematic use of positive alternatives, however, has been shown to decrease misbehavior significantly.”

Corporal punishment can also cause feelings of despair, confusion, anxiety, fear, and resentment. When a child is told that he/she is going to be spanked, they become extremely anxious, and even more so when it happens, so that when a parent explains why the child got spanked they are too distressed to take it in. Because of this initial anxiety, the child will experience confusion and later resentment at their parent figure. Repeated spanking can also cause fear in children, leaving them with no one to go to because they have an instilled fear of their parent figures. If a young child is repeatedly spanked, the child could be led into desperation because they don’t know what they’ve done wrong.

 

 Developmental issues can also occur with the use of physical punishment. A child may associate pain and sexual pleasure due to spanking because the butt is an erogenous zone. There may be social blocks to anyone who resembles a parent or guardian due to an instilled fear. There have been cases where children who were spanked insisted on unsafe sex habits.

Physical punishment not only causes issues, but is also ineffective. Yes, it may work “at the moment,” but punishment in a physical form becomes less and less effective with repeated use and with age. So in other words, physical punishment is less effective with more use. Not only does it become less effective, but it is ineffective in the first place. When a child is punished, they are too emotionally distressed to understand why they were punished. Therefore, physical punishment makes kids fear parents/guardians; it does not teach them what was wrong in the first place.

 

In conclusion, corporal punishment is not an acceptable form of discipline. It can instill fear in a child’s mind and cause them developmental problems due to that fear; it can teach children that violence is the best way to solve problems, and it is an ineffective form of punishment. With so many other way to teach kids and to discipline them, there is no excusable reason to ever lay a hand on a child in anger or distress. Corporal punishment is inexcusable and needs to be replaced with other forms of parenting.

Sources cited

Information

http://www.newsweek.com/2008/02/27/spare-the-rod.html

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1926222,00.html

http://www.socialworkers.org/resources/abstracts/abstracts/physical.asp

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1983895,00.html

http://www.child-central.com/does-spanking-my-child-affects-him-when-he-grows-up.html

http://www.nospank.net/hyman2.htm

http://www.naturalchild.org/jan_hunt/tenreasons.html

http://www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Mar30_09/07.php

Pictures

http://abpworld.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/international-parental-child-abduction-a-silent-epidemic-of-kidnapping/

http://punishment.redwebmaster.com.ar/description-of-corporal-punishment.html

http://www.philosophyblog.com.au/arguments-against-corporal-punishment/

Anemia

Anemia

By Denise Fernandez 

 What is Anemia?

                                                             Anemia is a condition where your blood lacks of red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body isn't getting enough oxygen.People may think that chunky people can't get anemia because  we eat to much and probably eat more iron that is needed in our blood. Well it is not true everyone can get anemia no matter what size you are. what matters is what you eat and if you have blood problems.The symptoms are fatigue,rapid heart beat when excersinsing,dizziness,pale skin,and insomnia.what caused anemia is by variable things.Anemia can be caused by blood loss,decreased red blood cell production,and lack of iron in your blood.

                      Anemia caused by blood loss can be lost through bleeding,which can occur slowly over a long time period of time and can often go undetected.This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the following: use on anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirina and motrin,menstruation and childbirth in women.especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies.Decreased faulty red blood cells production may produce few blood cells that don't function correctly. some types of this abnormal stage is sickle cell anemia,iron deficiency anemia,vitamin deficiency,bone marrow and stem cell problems,and other health conditions.

                        Iron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. The result is iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can be caused by:    iron-poor diet, especially in babies, children,teenagers, and vegetarians.The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores is menstruation, endurance training, certain drugs ,foods and ,caffeineted drinks.Vitamin-deficiency anemia may occur when vitamin B-12 and folate are deficient. These two vitamins are needed to make red blood cells. Conditions leading to anemia caused by vitamin deficiency include:Pernicious anemia: Poor vitamin B-12 absorption caused by conditions such as disease, or infection with HIV

·         Dietary deficiency: Eating little or no meat may cause a lack vitamin B-12, while overcooking or eating too few vegetables  Other causes: pregnancy, certain medications, alcohol abuse, intestinal diseases.
                   During early pregnancy, sufficient folic acid can prevent the fetus from developing neural tube defects such as spinal bifida.  Caused by destruction of red blood cells

When red blood cells are fragile and cannot withstand the routine stress of the circulatory system, they may rupture prematurely, causing hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia can be present at birth or develop later. Known causes of hemolytic anemia may include: Inherited conditions, such as sickle cell anemia ,Stressors such as infections, drugs, snake or spider venom, or certain foods,Toxins from advanced liver or kidney disease ,Inappropriate attack by the immune system (called hemolytic disease of the newborn when it occurs in the fetus of a pregnant woman),Vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, tumors, severe burns, chemical exposure, severe hypertension, and clotting disorders ,In rare cases, an enlarged spleen can trap red blood cells and destroy them before their circulating time is up.
               Anemia is the most common blood condition. It affects about 3.5 million Americans. Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of anemia. Certain forms of anemia are hereditary and infants may be affected from the time of birth. Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to a form of anemia called iron-deficiency anemia because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy.What Can I Do to Prevent Anemia?

The best sources of iron are the foods you eat. By eating foods that are high in iron and vitamin C, you may be able to prevent anemia. Some iron-rich foods are: Red Meats,liver,dried beans or tofu, dried fruits, leafy green vegetables,iron-enriched bread,pasta,and cereal, and eggs. which everyone atleast needs to check their anemia once a year. No matter age, race, gender, height,and, weight it is always good to take blood test to see how you are doing. Don't be afraid its just a little poke.If you can resist a tattoo you can resist a little poke.

Sources: http://health.utah.gov/mihp/pregnancy/preged/duringpreg/Anemia_during_pregnancy.htm

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-basics