Blog: Connecting with Your Community

Child Development in the Critical Early Years at WU has been very insightful and inspiring as I pursue my career as an Early Childhood Professional. This course has further my understanding and has sparked a greater flame as I pursue my doctoral degree to affect positive change for children and their families. As I continue my learning, I would like to continue exploring parental involvement professional development, and budget in the early childhood field. Continuously reading information form Child Trends and the National Education Association is essential to all of our work as early childhood professionals. I encourage everyone to make this academic and professional journey, a priority as we are need for the work.

Healthy Prenatal Development

Research-Based  Overview

Through my research of this critical topic, I have found that mothers who are slow to visit a doctor during pregnancy, should seek the service of a medical practitioner as soon as possible. They should begin their visit to the doctor regularly and allow them to treat to stave off complications. It is essential that there is a great risk of low birth weight and death.

Advocacy Message

Healthy prenatal development is essential. Early and regular prenatal care is important to support good health for the mother and baby. Expecting mothers should visit their health care professional regularly. Expecting mothers should do the following (not limited to) these critical factors:

1.      avoid exposure to toxic substances

2.      Follow a healthy and  diet

3.      limit caffeine intake

4.      Not use alcohol, drugs, or tobacco

5.      Take vitamins and include folic acid

Importance to Me

As an early childhood professional, I am an advocate. I have to be courageous. “The best place to be is on the offense, making the case for child care and early childhood education from your perspective, using the “Support Our Youngest Citizens” frame when you can (Berkeley Media Studies Group. (2004).” To support expecting mothers is to work with them to help them develop a healthy context for their developing fetus based on program and community resources, as an early childhood professional who is happy to support healthy families, I invite  mothers to meet with me. I want to share with them the importance of prenatal care. Most importantly, I want to  share with them that not receiving proper prenatal care can result in risks of complications.  I want to encourage them to see a health care provider as soon as possible, without making them feel like they have done something wrong.

           

Call for Support

Support young children and families. It is vital information that we help keep mothers and babies safe and healthy.

Reference

Berkeley Media Studies Group. (2004). Making the case for early care and

education: A message development guide for advocates. Retrieved from

http://bmsg.org/sites/default/files/bmsg handbook making the case for early care and education.pdf