2B FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Parenting 2015
MARSHALLNEWS.COM
‘You are your child’s first and most important teacher...’
by Sarah Reed Editor In addition to wondering whether their child is advanced or delayed compared to other’s development, new parents often struggle with questioning themselves. If you’re a parent of a child age birth to 5 years old, having a resource nearby could give you the tools you need to foster your son or daughter’s development while also boosting your confidence as a mom or dad. That’s where Parents as Teachers can benefit you. The 30-year-old organization, as part of Marshall Public Schools, provides free services to all families in the district. Through four different components, it has been a consistent fixture for some families with young children. PAT Coordinator Heather Johnson says the program is there to help parents understand where their child is developmentally, and how to strengthen that so the child reaches his or her fullest potential. “The mission is to provide the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life,” Johnson says. “You are your child’s first and most important teacher. What we try to do is come in and give you some techniques to further their development.” The components include personal visits in the home with a trained educator, parent group connections, screenings and providing resources. “It’s a really good program,” Johnson adds. “We have 268 families that we’re serving. That consists of families with newborns to children up to age 5. Some families may have one child, some fami-
lies may have three or four children.” Johnson, along with two parent educators ― Guadalupe Martinez and Chelsea Hoskins ― customize their home visits around the parents and child and what the needs are. In addition to discussing parents’ questions, they’ll bring an activity the family can do together. The family bond is a significant aspect of their work. “We’ll bring an activity that highlights the area that we’re discussing to show you some things you can use from around the house,” Johnson explains. “Also, we’ll talk about family well-being to see if there are things that maybe you’re needing help with and if there are some resources that we can connect you with.” Family activities vary, modified for each home and need. One of the simplest, Johnson says, is called “Chips in a Can.” The game consists of various lids ― called “chips” ― and a container such as a coffee can. You cut a spot in the coffee can lid where the child can insert the chips. The activity works the child’s fine motor skills. “Plus, after they put the chips in the can, then they kind of have to think about how they’re going to get them out,” Johnson says. “It covers a lot of different things, but it mainly focuses on problem solving and fine motor skills ― and it’s made with anything the parents would have around the house.” Johnson notes that research shows children whose families participate in Parents as Teachers are more advanced to age 3 in language, social development, problem solving and other cognitive abilities. “They score higher on kindergartenreadiness tests, achieve higher kindergarten grades, they require fewer remedial education placements in first grade, and they continually perform better than students who did not participate in Parents as Teachers,” she says. “This is one of those things where it is an investment. They are learning all the time, and parents also learn more about their
children.” For every dollar spent, there is a saving of $3-$17 as the child progresses throughout their education, according to zerotothree.org. Johnson says this indicates that focusing on learning at an early age means less future cost. “If you don’t make that investment when they’re younger, then you’re going to be paying more because they might need more services, more interventions, special education, things like that,” she explains. “So many think they’ll work on things when preschool arrives. But age 0-3 is so important because babies’ brains make 700 new connections every second.” Parents also learn to observe their children, either in the form of activities or the parent group connection made through PAT. This, along with screening, helps assess a youth’s overall develop-
ment, providing early identification of developmental delays, and health, hearing or vision concerns.. “We can see where they’re at and where they need to be in order to help further develop their skills,” Johnson says. Parents and expectant parents interested in the program can call PAT directly at Marshall Public Schools’ central office, 660-886-5800. Parents as Teachers began in the state of Missouri and is now recognized in multiple states and internationally. Parents as Teachers began in Missouri as a pilot project in 1981 with funding from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and The Danforth Foundation. It has expanded to all 50 states and six other countries, according to the organization‘s website.
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MARSHALLNEWS.COM
Parenting 2015
3B FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Path Breastfeeding
the to
by Kayla Nilges Staff Writer “Choosing where and how you will give birth is one of the most important preparations you can make for a good breastfeeding experience.” —Ina May Gaskin, Certified Midwife It’s a moment you’ll never get back. Labor is underway. You’re about to meet your baby for the first time. A combination of oxytocin, adrenaline and endorphins will be released—a mixture of hormones specific to birth. Incidentally, these specifics facilitate the success of breastfeeding. Placing baby on mother’s chest immediately after delivery may seem like a luxury, but for knowledgeable hospitals, it’s the imperative. “One of the most important things is that mother and baby are not separated at birth,” said Disa Farris, Saline County Health Department lactation consultant. “When you think about it, human beings are the only mammals that separate their mothers from their babies at birth.” Immediate skin-to-skin contact increases the likelihood of a baby’s vital signs normalizing. It also encourages infants to seek the breast. “Mom’s breasts also, independently of the rest of her body, warm up several degrees because you know your baby is lying right there, and you know your baby has to be kept warm,” Farris said. Additionally, babies who are taken the the “warmer” table cry longer and more frequently, burning a large number of calories. Farris explained that the calories burned from excessive crying begins a
snowball effect. “That then sets in motion a little minicrisis because the baby’s blood sugar level plummets, because baby doesn’t have enough calories to sustain that prolonged crying,” Farris said. “And then, the health professionals get nervous and say, ‘Now we have to supplement that baby with formula.’” Farris advised allowing baby to remain on mother’s chest until he has had opportunity to breastfeed for the first time. Babies are “hardwired” to seek the breast. Placing time constraints on mother and baby creates anxiety, diminishes mother’s confidence and forges setbacks for baby. Barring any medical crisis, many hospitals are now orienting skin-to-skin as the new normal for post-delivery. Fitzgibbon Hospital is the second hospital in the state of Missouri to receive the baby friendly hospital initiative designation. Regardless of birth procedure, be it vaginal or cesarean section, mothers obtain a high degree of breastfeeding support from hospital staff. “The baby friendly hospital initiative is a global initiative to get hospitals to alter their practices so that everything they have in place relating to labor, birth and postpartum is geared toward supporting mom and baby in their breastfeeding efforts,” Farris said. “(It’s) a more humane way to give birth. Even if a mother chooses not to breastfeed her child, it’s much better for mom and baby.” Now, hospitals are offering an alternative to the traditional c-section with “gentle” cesareans. “Many mothers report, especially if it’s an emergency cesarean, feeling
Kayla Nilges/Democrat-News
Cups of faux milk demonstrate the amount of milk a newborn infant ingests in a 24 hour period. The teaspoon illustrates the amount of colostrum baby ingests per feeding; at left is foremilk, which baby derives at the beginning of a feeding. At right is hindmilk, which is higher in fat content as the breast gradually becomes emptier. The marble placed by the teaspoon represents the size of an infant’s stomach in his or her first days of life.
completely devoid of the birth experience,” Farris said. “It impacts breastfeeding, and of course, mother’s feelings about breastfeeding and giving birth.” At the request of the mother, some hospitals lower the drape between herself and baby as he is lifted from her uterus. This allows mother to see the baby immediately upon delivery. Other hospitals opt for a clear, plastic drape, or forgo the drape entirely. “That approach to cesarean is what I would encourage every mother to advocate for, whether it’s a planned c-section for whatever reason, or if it turns out to be an emergency, to have that in a birth plan,” Farris said. She noted that, barring any medical crisis, babies born via cesarean should not differ from those born naturally. Every baby should be returned immediately to mother’s skin. For mothers preparing to give birth to a second child, some hospitals are now offering Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC), to reunite mothers with
the natural birth experience. “Many, many more hospitals are much more comfortable doing that and encouraging that now than they used to be,” Farris explained. “And there are some bonafide risks that can happen, but they don’t happen to every mother, and if you’re in a facility that can handle an unexpected situation, then it’s all good, and mom should be allowed to be able to do that, because then the breastfeeding piece happens much quicker and much more naturally.” Farris emphasized that any mother who has experienced a cesarean or other interventions should take heart. If the baby is not quick to latch, drugs are likely to blame. “Any mom who’s had a c-section should expect breastfeeding to get off to a delayed start,” Farris said. “Not necessarily because the colostrum isn’t present, but because of the drugs that were administered. The baby got those drugs, too.”
see Breastfeeding, page 7B
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6B FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Parenting 2015
MARSHALLNEWS.COM
The important role vaccines play in helping to keep children and adults healthy (BPT) — Every one of the nearly 12,000 babies born in the United States each day are vulnerable to infectious diseases. The good news is that vaccines can help protect children from certain diseases. National Infant Immunization Week is a timely reminder of the role that vaccinations can play in helping to control certain diseases among infants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), routine vaccination of the nearly 4 million
babies born in the US each year helps to prevent about 20 million cases of diseases that they could develop over their lifetime. In fact, over time, successful vaccination campaigns have contributed to the elimination or near-elimination of some diseases in the U.S., like polio. Vaccination is considered to be one of the greatest public health achievements of the last two centuries. NIIW, which was held April 18-25 this year, highlights the importance of
helping to protect infants from diseases for which there are vaccines and celebrates the achievements of vaccination programs in promoting healthy communities. Today vaccines can help to protect against 14 diseases before age two. “Currently, rates of some diseases are increasing and could continue to do so if vaccination rates decrease,” explains Dalia McCoy, M.D. Board Certified in Family Medicine practicing at Cleveland Clinic Florida. “Failure to
vaccinate could mean putting your own children at risk for serious diseases.” It is also important to know that vaccines are not just recommended for infants. “Vaccination is important in helping maintain health and wellness across a lifetime. Some potentially serious diseases can make even strong and healthy people sick, and vaccines are recommended for people of all ages,” says McCoy. “In the U.S., most young children receive many of the recommended
vaccines, but there is room to improve vaccination rates among all groups, including adolescents and adults.” In fact, the CDC has specific recommended vaccination schedules that cover children, adolescents and adults. Talk to your healthcare provider about vaccines that may be recommended for you and your loved ones, and visit www.LifetimeOfVaccines.com to learn more. This information is provided by Merck.
Parenting 2015
MARSHALLNEWS.COM
Breastfeeding
Children and summer learning:
continued from page 3B
5 building blocks for their brains (BPT) — “No more pencils and no more books” is a chant heard on playgrounds across the country when the final bell releases students for the summer months. And while Alice Cooper’s lyrics go on to showcase how excited the children are about their freedom from homework, they also highlight one of the biggest problems the American educational system faces each year: summer brain drain. Sure, nobody wants to be in the classroom yeararound, but there are plenty of ways to keep your children’s learning going strong — without the pencils and books! With the following suggestions, your children will have so much fun staying mentally engaged, they‘ll be looking forward to the next learning activity all summer long. • Nature programs – Nature and science go hand-in-hand, and many counties, cities and other types of municipalities have established educational centers or learning centers where residents of all ages can learn more about the plants, animals and natural elements that live in the region. During the summer months, they’ll offer classes on fun and engaging subjects like bird banding, water ecology, surviving in the wilderness
7B FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
and star identification. • Theater productions – The stage contains so many avenues of learning potential, it will take more than just this summer to experience them all. Start with the set construction, which provides a great opportunity to learn building and designing skills. Lighting and sound have their own electrical specialties. For the performance itself, line memorization, understanding the character and choreography all require intense training to keep the brain sharp all summer long. There are theater programs designed for children of all ages. • STEM camps – There are many camps that offer science, technology, engineering and math-based learning in a fun way for students. Take, for instance, the Bricks 4 Kidz camps, which focus on design and building skills using LEGO Bricks. Camps are guided by experienced teachers around exciting themes like amusement parks, space and robotics, or even animated moviemaking. All subjects feature hands-on building and designing using children’s favorite toy, LEGO Bricks. • Music programs – Music education goes beyond just learning notes
and scales, it’s been proven in many different studies to improve students’ learning abilities in other subjects as well. Additionally, music education is extremely diverse, making it available for any child with any talents. For example, your child might sound more like Kermit the Frog than Michael Buble, but when you give him a trumpet he can make music come alive. • Create a book club – Educators say it’s important for students to keep reading during the summer months. It doesn’t have to be text books or even pleasure books. Comics are great for keeping the brain stimulated. Get your kids and their friends together once a week for book club to discuss something everyone in the group read. Rotate where the club meets to include community parks, the local ice cream shop and the community pool. Many libraries will host a summer reading program, and you can contact your local librarian for resources or ideas for keeping kids interested. Summer is almost here, so get your children signed up for ongoing educational programs so they’ll be ready to jump right back into school when it starts up again next fall.
While an unexpected intervention can be frustrating, it doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker. Incidentally, many women find hindrances to breastfeeding much closer to home. “There’s a thing known as ‘the booby traps,’ pun intended,” Farris said with a smile. According to the Best for Babes Organization, women fall prey to “booby traps” in cultural and institutional settings, and may be: ● A lack of familial support. A mother, sister, or other close relative did not breastfeed. They may be prone to believe misinformation or, in general, not support the concept of breastfeeding. ● Childbirth preparation class didn’t cover the specifics of breastfeeding, or if they did, information may be inaccurate. To gauge how baby friendly a hospital is, ask for a rough estimate of how many moms leave exclusively breastfeeding. ● Overzealous breastfeeding advocates may spur guilt in new mothers. Judgment or overcorrection may cause feelings of inadequacy, causing a confidence breakdown. ● There is not an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) on staff at the hospital, or she is not readily available for assistance. ● A lack of support from dad. Seeing mother struggling to breastfeed can be frustrating for partners who may not understand its merit. ● Baby’s weight gain is not matching that of a formula-fed baby on the pediatrician’s chart. The pediatrician believes baby to be malnourished, and orders formula supplementation. ● Feeding a baby in public is considered taboo. A mother may be shamed or encouraged to “cover up” during feedings. The isolation may be too much, causing the mother to abandon, or fall short, of her breastfeeding goals. ● Breastfeeding is not supported
in the workplace. The United States is one of three countries (out of 178) that is not required to offer paid maternity leave. If leave is offered, it is typically six to 12 weeks. When mothers return to work, some institutions offer little to no accommodations for pumping. However, under Section 7 (r) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are required to provide reasonable facilitation and break time for nursing mothers. For a complete list of “booby traps,” visit www.bestforbabes.org/what-arethe-booby-traps. As Farris stated, normalizing breastfeeding is the first step to cultural acceptance. “You don’t see, especially in our neck of the woods, women breastfeeding in public. Society places a huge stigma upon women feeding their children in public,” Farris said. She said that, if women choose to cover themselves in public, she hopes it would be personal preference and not societal pressures. “If you go into larger urban centers, especially on the coasts, it’s a frequent occurrence,” Farris explained. “Anywhere you look, there’s a mom breastfeeding their baby. Therefore, a lot more women breastfeed their baby in public, because they know that it’s supported.” For breastfeeding support in Saline County, contact Saline County Health Department at 660-886-3434. Best-Fed Beginnings is held the second Tuesday of each from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and offers infant feeding classes for prenatal families. Call or text 660-631-5390 to RSVP. For postpartum mothers, Best-Fed Babes is held the second Thursday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and offers support for breastfeeding families. Spanish speaking families may benefit from Lactancia, el major alimento para Bebes Sanos, which is held the second Thursday of each month. Contact Kayla Nilges at knilges@marshallnews.com
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