Share Web Resources

The website that I chose was childtrends.org. This site is a useful source of research, data analysis and important information about the childhood field. This site serves as a resource for parents, ECE professionals, economists and policymakers. I navigated through the site and searched through the Our Research section of the website and I reviewed the list of articles under the Early Childhood Development tab. It was a number of articles that I took an interest and one in particular was the article titled, Continuity of Subsidy Participation and Stability of Care in the Child Care Subsidy Program in Maryland. This article discusses the participation of families in child care subsidies and the stability in the care they receive. It discusses how the inconsistencies in subsidies cause children to have unstable child care arrangements which in turn hinder their growth and development.   This article interested me because in my experience with working with families who receive subsidies had quite a few challenges with the Child Care Subsidy program.

In Maryland there is an extensive waitlist for working parents to receive subsidies. “Vouchers” are typically offered to parents that are homeless or in work training programs through the state. It really does not benefit parents who work full time jobs and need assistance with affording child care. Many parents who need it most are the ones who get the run around or get stuck on a waiting list for years. On the other hand, parents who are unemployed, receiving TCA and enrolled in a work program will receive vouchers right way. I do not understand the logic in that at all. The program would be more effective and less inconsistency would occur and stable child care would be maintained if it was given where the need is higher. It seems as if the “working poor” class children still suffers tremendously because they are not  being afforded equal opportunities and access to  affordable quality care.

Also in my experience with subsidies, it was a challenge to receive payment on the Child care providers end. It could take up to 60 days or more to get placed in the system and get the paperwork processed when accepting a new child in your program with vouchers. It is practically like you are working for free until you get paid from the state. When parents loss their vouchers it was even worst. I had a situation where a parent loss their vouchers and I still was waiting to get paid from when the vouchers were valid. It was very frustrating for me and other Childcare providers who had similar experiences. Sometimes as providers we felt like it was a hassle with dealing with families with vouchers and at times we would not want to work with those families. It is unfortunate situation across the board we are denying children of quality care just because we do not want to deal with all the issues and headache it comes with.

Web Resources

          I believe that all children deserve high-quality care and education and it our respponsibilty as parents, caregivers and educators to foster and promote healthy growth and development.  The US Department of Education: Early Childhood and NAECY are great professional resources that focuses on the well being and academic success of children.
http://www2.ed.gov/teachers/how/early/edpicks.jhtml

http://www.naeyc.org/

My Connections to Play

   Quotes about PLAY

        I remember when I was a child, all I did was play! When I would come home from school and after my homework I would play, on the weekends I would play and during school closings/holidays I would play. If the weather was nice I would play outside until it was time for dinner and if I had some extra time after dinner then I would play before bed. Barbie dolls were my favorite toy to play with. I had all things Barbie! I had the Barbie Dream House, Barbie limo, cars & trucks, Barbie clothes and accessories, collectable barbies and a Barbie traveling case to keep my dolls in. Whenever I would play with my barbies, I would make up stories about their lives and I would act out the stories while playing. When my friends would come over, we would share our Barbie collection with one another and collaborate stories to act out. Our imagination would run wild with the stories we would act out. Sometimes we would make up our own stories and other times we would act out scenes from movies or things we seen our parents do. Not only would I act out stories but I would also make clothes for my barbies. My grandmother was a seamstress and I would imitate her by making clothes for my dolls. It is interesting that all of my dress making for my dolls had paid off into a current business I have making evening and wedding gowns for women.

          When I would play outside, I loved playing Hide and Seek and Tag. I always seemed to find the best hiding spots because I would rarely be found. I wasn’t a big fan of riding bikes but I enjoyed skating while holding on to the back of my cousin’s bike. Around my neighborhood I would often go exploring with my friends. We would act as if we were going on an adventure while hiking through the wooded areas. I even remember going through this “Harriet the Spy” phase. Harriet the Spy was a movie about a precocious preteen who would spy on everyone including her friends and neighbors. I would go around spying on everyone in my neighborhood and my friends would spy with me. We would jot down things we saw in mini notebooks and collected things we found. It was so much fun to just explore our environment freely. Our neighborhood was not always the safest but it seemed like the elders in the neighborhood would protect us and everyone stuck together to raise the children in the community.

Since my mom was an Early Childhood Professional, play was encouraged in my household. My mom would often join in with me while I played with my Barbie dolls.  She would follow my lead and act out the stories that I created for the dolls. When I reflect back on that time in my life, I just remember how enthused and engaged my mother was in my play. Our family was big on board and card games. We would often play Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, Uno, Goldfish and Pokeno. Pokeno was our family favorite. We would have a family game night every Friday just about and we would play Pokeno for pennies and sometimes quarters. I would rack up in pennies to put in my piggy bank because I was pretty good at playing the game. Another family favorite was Spades. Spades was typically the adult’s game but my mom taught me how to play so I play it now as an adult.

In today’s society, children live for technology. With ipads, tablets, tvs and video games, children has lost the art of open play. Children are not given the freedom to explore and create the way they did when I was younger. I remember cartoons were a luxury to enjoy on Saturday mornings only or if you had cable with the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon then it was still limited to just the weekends. Some children as young as 9 months are sat in front of the tv and some toddlers can operate an Iphone better than I can. Many children play video games and that is about the most play they actually participate in. Some kids do not go outside like we used to and that is primarily because the neighborhoods are not as safe as they used to be. I feel that play is focused a bit more in the early childhood field but once a child enters grade school, it is not encouraged much. I hope that people see the value in play and encourage it more for the next generation to benefit from.

 

References

Retrieved from: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=play+quotes&FORM=HDRSC2#!?q=play+quotes&view=detailv2&&id=BE3B189E9BEEDAF4F215CA9DA4E7F3E6EF2802C7&selectedIndex=5&ccid=2WtfYZST&simid=608043125244298967&thid=OIP.Md96b5f6194936bc5ae4eb141fa79c272H0&mode=overlay

 

 

 

 

Relationship Reflections

“Healthy relationships are a vital component of health and wellbeing. There is compelling evidence that strong relationships contribute to a long, healthy, and happy life”(Kreitzer 2015).

When I became a mother, my relationship with my child has become the most important relationship in my life. My son is my number one priority and he has changed my life tremendously. The love of a mother to a child is a love like no other. He has taught me the true meaning of love and how to put another human being before myself. I try to set the best example possible since I know that he is looking up to me. I nurture him and reassure him that mommy his here to love, guide and protect him. I am his first teacher and will instill morals and values in him so he can grow into a confident, well-mannered and successful adult.

Although I am a single mother, the relationship and the partnership that I have built with my son’s dad have allowed us to co parent successfully. We work a team to provide our son with optimal love and care. We are no longer together but we understand that our son is the priority and we have to be on the same page when raising him. We create a stable living environment that works for all of us to grow into a stronger family unit. My son is aware that his dad and I are friends and that we love him very much. I am glad that my son’s dad and I have realized that we may not have worked in a romantic relationship but we are better and stronger as friends and co-parents.

My relationship with God has grown deeper and stronger as I grew older. Since I was a child, my family has always instilled in me beliefs about God and that it is a spiritual being greater than us. I understood somewhat as a child, but as I grew older I developed a personal relationship with him. By attending church and reading his teachings in the bible, I have a better understanding of him. My faith has grown deeper and I know that God strengthens me. With his love, grace and mercy, I know that I can do all things.

My family help set the foundation for who I am today. They have equipped me with the right tools to successfully navigate through life’s challenges. My mother has inspired me to be the best I can be and not allow anything to stand in my way. My father has taught me how to love myself and not to allow anyone to validate who I am. My grandmother has provided me with a sense of security that taught me how to trust others. My aunts and uncles have given me life advice that I will always carry with me. My family is the core of my existence and without them I do not know where I would be.

My friends help keep me grounded. The relationships that I have developed over the years have taught me how to be a better me. My friends are loyal and honest and they will always “keep it real” even when I do not want to hear it. They help me improve on my flawed areas and help uplift me in the areas that I am strong in. They are always there when I need them rather it is a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, I can always rely on my friends. My friends always know how to make me smile even when things are not going so well. They always remind me that “When life throws you lemons, just make some sweet lemonade.” I am truly grateful for those relationships.

The relationships that I have built with my colleagues have helped me grow both professionally and personally. Since I have recently made the transition from retail to early childhood education, working with individuals in the field has helped me learn more about the profession. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing individuals who have a substantial amount of experiences and knowledge about the early childhood field. I have built strong relationships with my coworkers that allow me to succeed in the work place. We offer support to one another when needed and we work as a team to get things accomplished. Because of our cooperation and collaboration, we are able to maintain a high morale within the workplace. We are able to perform our job duties and carry out our responsibilities successfully. Without the relationships that I have built with my colleagues, it would be challenging to succeed at my job.

Last but not least, the relationship that I have with myself is very important to me. Learning about who I am and how to love myself, I am able to give love and show respect to others. I am able to accept others for who they are and understand their perspectives. I am able to be a loving mother, supportive relative, loyal friend and cooperative coworker. Understanding my abilities and areas of improvement help me develop into the person I am today. I am still a work in progress but with all of the relationships that I have created in my life have elevated me to reach my full potential.

 

References

Kreitzer. M.J. Hathaway. K. 2015. Why are Personal Relationships Important? Retrieved from: http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/relationships/why-personal-relationships-are-important

When I Think of Child Development

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to read my blog and to share valuable information on your personal blog as well. I would like to especially thank Jodi and Latrice for sharing your blogs. Working with you all has been such a great learning experience. It has been a pleasure reading and viewing the blogs you all have posted and I have gained knowledge about other countries that I did not know previously. I have added a few resources about early child care to my collection from what you all have posted on your blogs. I appreciate having the opportunity to connect and network with like-minded individuals who are passionate about the healthy development of children.  I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and I wish you well on your journey to completing your Masters of Early Childhood Studies.

 

 

Testing for Intelligence, pt. 1

I believe that a young child’s learning and development should be assessed. I believe that assessments are necessary to best meet the child’s developmental and educational needs. With the information gathered from an assessment, we as child care professional can provide the children with resources and additional support to aid them in achieving optimal growth. With that information we can help identify any early developmental and learning delays and seek early intervention to help support them. I feel the most appropriate form of assessment should be performance and product based. I feel that teacher observations and work sample portfolios are the best way to assess children. When a child is observed, teachers can document how the child interacts and engages in different activities in their environment. They can identify the child’s development, interests and needs through the observations and take into account all domains which give them an accurate account for the “whole child.” Teachers have to remain unbiased and document factual information in order for an observation to be an accurate assessment tool.  Work sample portfolios are also another way to assess young children. A work sample portfolio is a collection of a child’s work over a period of time that shows evidence of the child’s growth. The concrete evidence from the portfolio can be used to individualize lesson plans and help meets the child’s educational needs. It can also be used for parent conferences and to help set goals for children to achieve. I would not recommend standardized testing for young children because it is not developmentally appropriate nor does it give accurate data on their growth and development. Most importantly it does not evaluate the child holistically.

 

Growing Up with Violence

Growing up as a child in Baltimore City, violence was prevalent in my community. The neighborhood in which I lived was considered highly dangerous mainly because of the gangs that surrounded the area. Gunshots would ring out nightly especially on weekends. The news channels often covered stories of shootings and other violent offenses that happened in my neighborhood on a daily basis. While attending school, my classmates would often discuss the shooting that took place the night before and more often than not it was always someone whom we’ve known. The students would often come up with their own reasoning as to why the shootings occurred and they began to obsess over the idea of gang-related crimes. It would often sadden me that my classmates were more interested in who shot who and their motive behind it than to talk about more exciting things like going skating and to the movies. It was unfortunate how the crimes in my community corrupted the minds of up and coming generation and the negative impact that it had on their way of thinking.

Although violence plague my neighborhood and corrupted the minds of my peers, it had a very different impact on me and my childhood. I was aware of what was happening right outside my door but my family was well connected and well respected in the community that we were not personal affected by it. My grandmother owned a store on the corner of a busy intersection in the city and my house sat on top of it. Many people in the neighborhood would come to the store and talk with my grandmother especially the young people. She would share her wisdom and give them advice, some would follow but many would not. She became the adopted grandmother of the neighborhood which gained her respect amongst everyone even the most violent gang members. Since my grandmother was well respected, it benefitted the family greatly. Our family was protected against the violence and I was able to live a life of security verses fear. My mother also played a vital role in keeping me safe by taking me out of the neighborhood for playdates and other fun things to keep me entertained. She tried her best to shield and protect me from all harm and danger. We were not the wealthiest but my mother made sure she keep me out of harm’s way and allowed me to be a child in a safe environment. With the help and support of my family, I was able to grow up in a less stressful environment than my peers.  

As an adult living in Baltimore City, many things are different than my childhood. I feel more stressed now than I did back then. The violence has increased, people became more aggressive and reckless and they are constant on edge. The unemployment rate has increased and paying jobs have decrease and even the people that you would least expect is turning to violence as a means to an end. It breaks my heart that some of the children that I work with turn every toy they play with into a gun and pretend to shoot at their peers. When they make the sound “bang-bang” and can barely recite their alphabet, I cringe in disappointment. In 2015, after the death of Freddie Gray the city had turned upside down and it was the first time in my life that I experienced a riot. People were breaking in stores, burning things down and protesting erratically. It was a horrible sight. Everything that we took years to build was torn down in minutes. It was a disgrace. Following Gray’s death, the homicides in the city increased rapidly making the final toll 344 in 2015.

Violence has impacted children all around the world in many ways. According to U.S Passports and International Travel, Honduras was named the world’s most dangerous and violent country. U.S. citezens were worn not to travel to this country due to the high crime rates. “Since 2010, Honduras has had one of the highest murder rates in the world, and the U.S. Embassy has recorded 42 murders of U.S. citizens during the same time period, with 10 recorded since January 2014. However, official statistics from the Honduran Observatory on National Violence show Honduras’ homicide rate has decreased to 66 per 100,000 in 2014, down from its peak of 86.5 per 100,000 in 2011, and mid-year estimates in July 2015 predict a lower rate for 2015”( U.S Passports and International Travel 2015).

“As a Honduran, you have nearly a one-in-1,000 chance of being murdered. With a population roughly equal to Virginia's, 36 Hondurans were kidnapped, 7,104 became homicide victims, and 24,808 were robbed in 2011 (most recent data). With only 3,645 assaults for the same period, you're more likely to be killed than hurt”( Loiseau 2014). These statistics are alarming and I can only imagine how it is affecting the children in Honduras.  It is said that the violence stems for the coca plants and drug trafficking in Honduras. “The Latin American country serves as a key staging ground for cocaine shipments to the U.S, and drug gangs will do anything to defend their turf”( Loiseau 2014).  The children in Honduras suffer tremendously and I would like to learn more about how it is affecting their growth and development and in what ways we can break this vicious cycle of violence before they grow into corrupt adults.

References

Loiseau, J. 2014  The World’s 3 Most Dangerous Countries. Retrieved from: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/01/18/the-worlds-3-most-dangerous-countries.aspx

U.S Passports and International Travel. 2015  Honduras Travel Warning. Retrieved from: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/honduras-travel-warning.html

 

 

 

My Experience with Breastfeeding

              After experiencing a challenging pregnancy and speaking with a Lactation Consultant, I knew that I wanted to breast feed my son.  The first time I held and nursed him, I was so nervous yet excited at the same time. I was unsure if I was doing it right but I wanted to keep trying until I got the hang of it. After a couple of attempts I got the hang of it and he latched on perfectly. Once I got it down packed, I felt empowered like I was becoming a mini pro at it. I always looked forward to nursing my son because that was our special bonding time. I always called it our cuddle time. He would get excited every time I got him in position to nurse. He would kick his legs and when he was able to smile he would look up at me and smile. I would always look down at him and would sing a song that I would make up off the top of my head.

Although I was successful at nursing, I was not very successful at pumping. Pumping was so annoying. I did not enjoy it at all. It was time consuming and it took so much to only get a little bit of milk out. I had my son all the time during his first year so even when he spent time with his dad I was there to nurse him on demand. I breast fed for six months only because by six months my son had six teeth and he bit me so hard one day that it brought me to tears. After the bite I was done. No more breast milk for him. Although I wanted to breastfeed for a year, I am still happy that I was able to at least do it for six months.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mothers exclusively breastfeed infants for their first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health, yet globally less than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed. However, in many poorer parts of the world where water is not clean, food may be scarce and formula expensive, breastfeeding can make a critical difference in children’s health, well-being and life expectancy”(Staff 2012). In many developing countries breastfeeding your baby gives your baby a higher survival rate. A study was conducted in Ghana and here were the results,

“A study done in a rural area of Ghana evaluated the time of first breastfeeding after birth. Breastfeeding was initiated within the first 24 hrs after birth in 71% of infants. The later the start of breastfeeding the greater the risk of neonatal death. Infants given any food or fluids before breastfeeding was established on day 1 of life also had higher risk of neonatal mortality. The authors estimated that 22% of neonatal deaths (death between 2 and 28 days of age) could be prevented by starting breastfeeding within 1 hr of birth” (Edmond, 2006).

“A large study in Nepal of 22,838 breastfed newborns who lived until at least 48 hours of age, found that only 3.4% of infants were breastfed within the first hour or life and only 57% were breastfed within the first 24 hours of life. They estimated that 19% of all neonatal deaths could be avoided by initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of life” (Mullany, 2008).

Breastfeeding for many mothers in developing countries can be the matter of life and death, whereas in countries that are developed have other feeding options.

            Breastfeeding have so many benefits and is so many reasons to choose it.

“Breast milk helps keep your baby healthy.

·        It supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions.

·        It protects against allergies, sickness, and obesity.

·        It protects against diseases, like diabetes and cancer.

·        It protects against infections, like ear infections.

·        It is easily digested – no constipation, diarrhea or upset stomach.

·        Babies have healthier weights as they grow.

·        Breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests.

Breast milk changes constantly to meet babies' needs.

The milk changes in volume and composition according to the time of day, nursing frequency, and age of baby to promote healthy growth. Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby.

Breast milk is always ready and good for the environment.”

·        It is available wherever and whenever your baby needs it.

·        It is always at the right temperature, clean and free.

·        No bottles to clean.

·        Breastfeeding has no waste, so it is good for the environment.

Since I have experienced breastfeeding first hand and I have witnessed the effects it has on a baby’s development, I will try to encourage the mothers at my center to try it. I would suggest to my employer to have a Lactation Consultant come and host a workshop that will explain the benefits of breastfeeding. The Lactation Consultant will demonstrate how to breastfeed and the correct positioning when doing so. They will also demonstrate how to pump milk by using a breast pump and what proper garments should be worn while breastfeeding. In partnership with my employer and the Lactation Consultant, I will offer emotional support to the mothers because I know how the experience can be. Hopefully, my efforts will be effective and more mothers at my center will consider breastfeeding.

 

References

Staff 2012. Breastfeeding Around the World Retrieved from: http://www.incultureparent.com/2012/03/breastfeeding-around-the-world

Breastfeeding Around the World: Statistics on Breastfeeding Around the World. Retrieved from: http://www.breastfeedingbasics.org/cgibin/deliver.cgi/content/International/imp_statistics.html

Why is Breastfeeding Important? Retrieved from: http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/breastfeeding/importance.htm

 

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Childbirth in Africa

Childbirth in South Africa differ from childbirth in the U.S, however they both share some similarities. In South Africa, women give birth in hospitals, birthing centers and at home with doulas, midwives and doctors. Generally in the U.S., women give birth in hospitals with doctors and nurses. Women who live in rural areas, give birth in the district hospitals or community centers but the maternal rate is high. In areas that are heavily populated, women give birth in central hospitals but they are overcrowded. Women that are in the private sector have the choice to give birth at home. If a women choose to give birth at home, then after the baby is born the woman goes to the hospital for post-natal care and so that the baby can see the pediatrician. The difference in care in the geographic location reminds me of the difference in care in for low and high income women in the U.S.

“For many women, childbirth is a natural and beautiful experience through which new life is brought into the world. But for women who live in developing countries such as Niger, India or Uganda, childbirth is a risky endeavor”(Russell 2011). When I read this statement it really got me thinking, “Wow there are many women around the world who cannot experience the joy of giving birth and that they could potentially lose their life in the process.” After doing some research, I have discovered that in South Africa there is a high maternal and infant mortality rate. It has been said that, “Each year, approximately 529,000 women die during childbirth or from complications during pregnancy, and approximately 90 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries. The maternal death rate in these developing regions is approximately 300 times higher than those in developed countries”(Russell 2011). Those statistics are alarming and it is an issue that needs to be addressed. “The 10 countries with the highest risk of maternal death, according to UNICEF, are Niger, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Chad, Angola, Liberia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau and Mali. For every woman who dies, another 20 suffer illness or injury. The most common causes of maternal deaths, according to UNICEF, are hemorrhaging, infection, obstructed labor, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and complications from an unsafe abortion”(Russell 2011). Every woman deserves to experience childbirth in a healthy way and it is unfortunate that many women in developing countries are not able to.

References

Retrieved from: Russell, K (2011). http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3834.cfm

Retrieved from: http://southafrica.angloinfo.com/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/giving-birth/

 

My Journey to Motherhood (Pregnancy and Birth of My Son)

In May 2010, I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant and I felt an array of emotions. I was nervous, anxious, excited and somewhat confused. I really did not know what to expect because it was my first time being pregnant. After I attended my first appointment to confirm my pregnancy, I began to get more excited and less nervous. I began preparing for my new journey to motherhood and I began eating healthier, getting the proper rest I needed and taking my prenatal vitamins. When I was about 8 weeks pregnant, I went to my OB/GYN to get my first trimester testing done. Confident that everything was fine, since things seemed to have went well for my initial appointment, I received a phone call that I needed to the doctor’s office to discuss my test results. My heart began to race and I instantly began to think that this cannot be good. I was so confused and I was trying figure out what could be the issue. I thought everything was fine with my baby. I started changing my eating habits, taking my prenatal vitamins and doing all the “right” things I am supposed to do while pregnant and for the life of me I could not understand how something could be wrong. When I got to the doctor’s office, they explained my test results and they said my baby tested high for Down syndrome and that I have been exposed to Parvovirus and I was considered a high risk pregnancy. I was in total shock. I was very confused as to how that was so, and then I thought “what in the world is Parvovirus and how was I exposed to it.” I had to have asked the doctor a billion and one questions that day and even still after that I was still lost and confused.

The doctor explained that in order to confirm whether or not my son will have Down syndrome I could either get a CVS when I am 10 weeks pregnant or I could wait until I am 15 weeks to get an Amniocentesis. I asked what is the difference between the test and the doctor explained that the Amniocentesis have a more accurate result but it carries a high risk of preterm labor and a small risk of miscarriage. I was so scared that it was a possibility I could lose my baby trying to get this test done, but I knew I needed to get one of them done to find out about the Down syndrome so I opted for the Amniocenteses.  When I reached 15 weeks, I got the Amino done. To my surprise, the test came back negative and I was over joyed. The test also confirmed that I was pregnant with a baby boy and I was even more excited. That joy was short lived because three days after the Amino, I had to go to the Center for Advance Fetal Care at University of Maryland Medical Center to find out about the Parvovirus. Still a bit confused about what Parvovirus was and how I have been “exposed” to it and most importantly how it is affecting my unborn son, I went to the center to find out more information. When I got there, the sonographer did an ultra sound to check on my son. The sonographer kept looking at the screen and she had a fearful look on her face. I started to get very scared and immediately I thought “Could I be losing my baby?” The sonographer left out of the room and went to get the doctor and a few other staff members. The doctor checked the ultra sound and he too had a fearful look on his face. I started to cry and I asked “What is going on? Is he alright?” The doctors turned to me and said he has to get an emergency blood transfusion. I said “What? Why?” The doctor replied that my son is severely anemic and he is not producing any red blood cells on his own and he has to get a blood transfusion immediately for him to survive. I was devastated to hear that my son’s life was in jeopardy. Immediately I was being prepped for the transfusion and within two hours the procedure was performed.

Thankfully, the transfusion was done because if I would have waited another day then the likelihood of my son surviving was very slim. Shortly after the transfusion, I was whisked away to the labor and delivery unit because I started to have contractions and the doctors thought I was going into preterm labor. Only 16 weeks pregnant going into preterm labor was fatal for my son. The doctors were able to stop the contractions in time and thank God my son life was saved!  A week later I had to go back to the hospital because my son needed to get yet another blood transfusion since the first one did not take. This time the doctors gave me some steroids to help my son’s lungs and other organs get stronger just in case I went into preterm labor. Luckily, that time the transfusion was successful and I did not have any complications afterwards.

As the weeks progressed in my pregnancy, I was closely monitored and I went to the Center for Advanced Fetal Care for 4 days out of week until I was 8months. When I was 37 weeks, I had to go to the hospital for monitoring for 6 days out of the week. The whole staff knew me personally because they saw me almost every day. On Jan. 19, 2011, I went to the hospital for what I thought would be my normal monitoring checks, but that was not the case on this day. The sonographer had a fearful look on her face, again, and she ran out the room to get the doctors and other staff, again. All I can say was “Lord, please let my baby come out alive.” The doctors said to me, “We have to take you to labor and delivery now because things are not looking good.” I was devastated yet again but hopeful since my due date was Jan. 21. I was praying my whole time getting prepped. The doctors gave me Pitocin to induce my labor. The doctors had to break my water and I got an epidural at 4cm. About 5:45am I started to feel sharp pains in my abdomen and I thought I had to do #2. The nurse said if I did then just go in the bed pan. I started to push but nothing came out so I laid back down. Then I felt the sharp pain again and I was getting upset since nothing was coming out. So the nurse checked my cervix and I was fully dilated. She immediately got the doctor since apparently I was in active labor when I thought I had to go do #2. At this time it was 6:05am, the nurse was telling me how to push when I feel the contraction. I had one leg in the stirrup and one leg still on the bed, I felt a contraction coming and I pushed. The nurse said the baby is crowning and I screamed “What?” My doctor barely had her gown on and just slipped on her gloves. The next contraction I pushed again and at 6:13am on Jan. 20, 2011, Tristan Skylar Tyson-Robinson was born.

             When I heard my son cry for the first time my heart skipped a beat and my eyes teared up with joy. After a tumultuous pregnancy and a quick delivery my son was finally here. The doctors allowed me to get one kiss before whisking him away to the NICU. It took about 8 hours before I could see him again because they had to run a few test. When I was able to see him, the only thing I could do was cry. It was tears of joy, relief, anxiety and nervousness. I was also a bit upset because I could not hold him and I could only touch him through the glass crib. I could hardly sleep the first night at the hospital although the nurses said I should get all the sleep I could get. All I did was think about the well-being of my newborn. The next morning, the doctor came with the test results and the results revealed that my son had a heart condition and a kidney issue. I was at a loss for words and all I could do was pray and thank God that he was alive. I knew that after the rough pregnancy I had it was a strong possibility that my son would have some health challenges and I was mentally prepared to take on whatever challenges it might be. With my faith deep rooted in God and great healthcare, today I am a proud mother of a healthy, active and precocious soon to be five year old little boy. I am so blessed to have him as my son.