News & Research Findings
That Support Healthy Beginnings for Children
- “All forms of corporal punishment and yelling at or shaming children, are minimally effective in the short-term and not effective in the long-term. Researchers link corporal punishment to an increased risk of negative behavioral, cognitive, psychosocial, & emotional outcomes for children.” The American Academy of Pediatrics is now in overwhelming consensus that parents should never physically punish their children. https://www.npr.org/2018/11/11/666646403/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-on-spanking-children-dont-do-it-ever
- Sharp Decline in Maternal and Child Deaths Worldwide: In 2000 the one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was to decrease maternal and child deaths significantly by 2015. “The vast majority of countries have seen accelerated reductions in maternal and child deaths — with child deaths declining by 3.5% per year since 2000 and maternal deaths by 2.7% per year since 2003.” If the current rate continues, child deaths will fall from more than 6 million in 2013 to fewer than 4 million in 2030. The United States, however, is among only 8 countries that have experienced an increase in maternal death rates since 2003.
sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140502102502.htm - Imagine after spending the first 90 minutes Skin to Skin with one's parents, if we were all welcomed into life by such gentle trusting hands:
youtube.com/watch?v=OPSAgs-exfQ - Breastfeeding information, support, and resources
Breastfeeding Master Class with Lactation Consultant | UNICEF
youtube.com/watch?v=mTm9zvz5-Dc
Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Maximizing breastmilk
youtube.com/watch?v=i0tqQfTpVDc
Breastfeeding How To
youtube.com/watch?v=8kTKnZOmJXU - Mother and Child Are Linked at a Cellular Level: “It's now known that cells from a developing fetus cross the placenta, allowing the baby's DNA to become part of the mother's body. These fetal cells persist in a woman's body into her old age.”
scientificamerican.com/article/fetal-cells-microchimerism - Prenatal Education for World Peace: A video that provides a brief introduction to prenatal life, how “the seeds of emotional security, well-being and peace are sown BEFORE birth.” Also, the importance of giving your baby love while it is developing in the womb.
youtube.com/watch?v=EvLLxsTfW1A. - Tale of two Births: A Baby-Friendly Rap
See birth at a Baby Friendly Hospital versus a Typical Hospital.
youtube.com/watch?v=N9KptD3t110 - The 2023 March of Dimes Report Card: The State of Maternal and Infant Health for American Families shows the U.S. preterm birth rate remains alarmingly high with data revealing persistent racial disparities across key maternal and infant health indicators.
marchofdimes.org/about/news/2023-march-dimes-report-card-shows-modest-improvement-us-preterm-birth-rate - How to soothe a baby | Mini Parenting Master Class: Soothing a crying baby can be a challenge for parents. This UNICEF video shares some reasons why babies cry, how to calm them and how to take care of yourself during the stressful time after childbirth.
youtube.com/watch?v=CFiJLzuh0k0 - Forty-nine percent of pregnancies in the US are unintended [either mistimed or unwanted]. US Dept of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2020 Campaign seeks to reduce this by 10%.
guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-Unintended-Pregnancy-US.html - How singing can comfort an infant. From crying to asleep in two minutes-Hallelujah!
youtube.com/watch?v=UQOqChZ_ZeA&sns=em