Lot in Life # 1 Baby Adam’s Life

Introduction
1.Birth--
Baby Adam was born at home by way of water birth and by assistance of
a midwife and labor coach (doula). A Doula is a labor coach . They
offer a more supportive to the mother centered style birthing experience.
They often have no medical training. Women find this option attractive
when they prefer a female perspective to delivery. A water-birth is an
option for delivery that can be found in many labor-birthing centers but
it can also be done at home. Many parents choose this type of delivery
because they feel it is a more natural approach to the birthing process. It
is said to be stress reducing to the mother and child, therefore reducing
complications. This also why parents may choose to deliver in birthing
centers with a midwife and or Doula. Water birthing is said to be more
comfortable and less painful to the Mom and baby. The baby is born is
even sometimes born directly into the water . A baby does not start
breathing oxygen until it reaches the surface of the water. Adam
weighed 7lbs 10z ounces, an average weight. The mother gave birth at
39 weeks. The baby's apgar score was 9. His parents are both college
graduates, but his mother has decided to stay at home with Adam. The
Father is in graduates school. Although his parents were very excited to
meet him, Adam was colicky. His mother nursed him continuously, but
nothing seemed to help. They co-slept with him too, but Adam’s colic
did not improve until a few months of sleepless nights.
2.Postpartum Depression-- Affects on infancy to toddler hood(1-5
years)
A. According to saferchild.org a woman who has a colicky child, little
support from spouse is at a higher risk of developing postpartum
depression. Adam's mother has postpartum. Many women do not get the
help that they need! This can lead to severe child abuse and neglect--
even death.
B. Adam's difficult temperament and colic contributes to his mother's
depression and feeling of self-worth. They also affect bonding and
goodness of fit. Hopefully it does not lead to child abuse as his mother
received treatment after 2 months.
C. Colic is also unusual for a mother who is exclusively Breastfeeding. It
is possible that she should check (by process of elimination) what she is
eating and if it is having an affect on her milk supply.
D. Co-sleeping is a good option for families that have a colicky child
and for families that nurse. The mother should get better sleep (reducing
the affects of post-partum depression maybe) and the baby’s attachment
during this colicky period will be improved due to the mothers close
proximity. Since they are sleeping so closely, she can respond to any
discomfort right away and he will learn to trust that help is nearby and
may be comforted all the more for this.

C. Child abuse or child maltreatment are terms for any act that endangers
a child's physical or emotional well-being. An estimated 1,760 children
died in 2007 due to child abuse, but many researchers believe they are
under-reported due to the types of death being easy to "cover up" ,
deaths being mis-coded on the birth certificates and States determining
deaths differently. Children most vulnerable to child abuse death are
under one years old. Most fatalities occur due to multiple forms of
abuse. Many die from a caregiver simply failing to act in a situation that
warrants it. Nearly 3/4's of all child abusers are parents. Usually they
have difficulty dealing with stressful situations( such as Adam’s mother
is experiencing), have experienced abuse themselves or are suffering
from some form of mental illness such as depression. Mothers are
usually responsible for neglectful abuse and fathers physical. Preventing
abuse is being addressed by child review teams. The data they find
should help the process of identifying risks for prevention professionals.
They are partnering with child welfare and safety groups.
D. Developmental delays such as cognitive and motor skills can be
affected by depression in the household. Adam’s mother was depressed
therefore she lost interest in the child. She actively sought out ways to
avoid the child perhaps because she was afraid of hurting him.
Developmental milestones are reached at a delayed time. At 3 years of
age Adam was behind his peers. Fortunatly his parents qualified for the
Federal Headstart program. The Headstart program is a National
preschool program for chidren ages 3-5. They could help Adam catch up
to his peers.

Depression Affects on childhood(age 5-10)

A. Adam is at risk for externalizing behavior and even ADHD during

his childhood. Because of his early exposure to his Mothers depression
and his Father being gone so much.
B He has a a higher likely hood of externalizing using reactive aggresion
due to his parents neglectful ways and also because he is still hurting
emotionally.
C..He may develop a hostile attributional bias, due to his parents arguing
becausee neither parent is feeling very good about the situation. Children
model their parents behaviour and since Adam’s mother was depressed ,
Adam is more likely to develop a hostile attributional bias.
D.. Due to his hostile attributional bias, Adam may start getting into
trouble at school and have a hard time to socializing with his peers.
E Adam will develop childhood depression at age 9. . He has a hard time
making friends, doesn’t do well in school, and fights with his parents a
lot.
Adolescence through Young
adulthood
.A.. Adam's mother suffered from post-partum depression and his father
was busy with graduates school so there was a considerable amount of
stress and his father was not around very much.
B.This probably led to early maturation and puberty at an earlier than
normal age.
C.He was also was diagnosed with childhood depression at 9 years old
to add to the stressful situation. His mom went through first menarche at
age 12 and his Father Spermarche at 14 so although his mother was early
his father was normal. Genetically he should be entering puberty at a
normal age, but because of the stressful hormone cortisol he is exposed
to due to all the factors mentioned before, he has entered puberty early.
Since Spermarche is a hidden experience he feels very confused.
Assuming that his father has achieved his degree by the time Adam is
going through all of this, he may want to talk to his Dad about it because
he feels embarrassed talking to his mom. His Dad shouldn't tease him
and he should try to make an effort at helping start out the conversation
with Adam.
D Since Adam is going through puberty , his parents should be alert to
signs that Adam is becoming overly concerned with his appearance. In
particular they might want to warn him about the media's influence and
being overly critical of himself. Adam suffers from depression and has
low self esteem and these factors put him at risk for an eating disorder.
He may also be at risk for further externalizing now that he is going
through puberty. He is certainly at risk for developing adult depression.
Since he is going through puberty at such a young age he is at risk for
getting into trouble with the law, abusing drugs and even having sex.
E. Adam will have trouble adjusting to High School because he is very
troubled and depressed. He may start doing drugs, and hanging out with
the wrong “crowd”.
F. Adam is at high risk for attempting suicide. It’s possible he could
never reach adulthood .
G. He may be introduced to deviancy training(bad crowd) and get into
trouble with the law.

Adulthood
A. Since Adam had so much trouble in High School he may not be able
to go to college because he cut school and had poor grades..
B. Since he has no formal education he may take on a secondary market
job. Still suffering from depression he may continue to do drugs and
abuse alcohol.
C. His attachment style is poor and he has low self-esteem so he has a
hard time finding love and companionship. This may further his
depression and externalizing behaviour.
D. He may still be living at home at an older age and be off time from
leaving the nest unless his parents “push” him out.
E. He may become incarcerated or even end up in a mental health
institution.

Late Adulthood
. F. Adam’s physical and mental health may deteriorate as he ages. He
has poor eating habits, and does not take care to exercise his mind or
body.
G. He also has a past history of drug and alcohol abuse. He may smoke
increasing his chances for heart disease or cancer.
H. He has poor family relationships and little to be proud of in his life.
This may make him feel worthless and as he gets older he has no
children or spouse to share things with.
I. Adam will likely die at an earlier than normal age due to a poor
lifestyle.