HW 36 - Pregnancy & Birth Stories

So I did not have time to interview pregnant people but interviewed people who already had babies
2/22/10 After I clocked out.
Jocey my manger at strarbucks 32
did two years of old college:
Me: So how are you today?
Jocey: Tried, you know the deal leticia. Eight hour shift or more. I miss my childern right now.
Me: Yes your childern, How old where when you had your first child?.
Jocey: 20 and I was still working in starbucks.
Me:  How did you feel working while you had new born baby?
Jocey: What can I do? I had to support my child. My mother took care of him while I worked and I spent time with him on my days off, It was hard , I missed him and I wish I could have been there through whole time, not just the 4months of his life but through the days where I did have to work. 
Me: Did the same feeling applied when you had your other three kids?
Jocey: Well, This time I knew how to deal with it, And I was more stable because I had my mother support and the father of my kids support. I knew my childern would still love me even when im not home. You know. I wanted to work and have kids. My job is my job, but my personal life is something that I had to build. And my kids are everything to me, they make me smile when I come home.
 Jocey:  I work hard though, I went from a Brista, to general Manger I love this store and im glad im back, But just sometimes I want to be home with my kids.
Me: Thank you Jocey
Jocey: Your welcome lettie, Now your working tommrow   right ?
 Me: yes

2/24/11
A friend of mine
Jillian 20 years old
Finished high school.
When I went to the store
Me: Heyy  Jillian
Jillian:  Whats up leticia
Me: Can I ask you a couple questions for school?
Jillian: Yeah, ask all you want.
Me : Arlight, Well old where when you had you first child,
Jillian : I just had a baby
Me : Do you work?
Jillian :  No,  But before I had the baby I did, I worked at foot locker, That's when I was doing pretty good.
Me : Is everything okay now?
Jillian:  No  but yes. Yes because I have my child. But No because I'm supporting my child on my  own.
Jillian: I don't have somebody to take care of her right now. My mother works and the father of the child is no around. So Its just me.
Jillian: This means for right now, I will be with her. When she gets a little big, I will do what I can to find a job and I can probably find a night job so I can work. And when my mother comes home she can watch the baby.
Me:
Jillian : Well I  have to go now
 Me: Alright talk  to you later, Thank you
Jillian: Your welcome


I stoped by after I got off of work it was about 12 in the afternoon
12/24/11
Mcdonals Manger
Finshed highschool but wants to go to college:
Stephani 19
Me : Hola stephani, Stephani can ask you couple questions for school?
Stephani: yeah if its for school but chop chop, I have to be in the clock in a few.
Me. Alright.
Me : How old where, when you had your baby?
Stephani: You already know 18 years old. Ask me another question.
Me : How did it feel to work while you have a baby?
Stephani: Well since, im the baby of the family, My mom takes care of the baby and so does my cousin because they have kids too. And the baby of my father is around, So when I work  he does not have to. But because I have the support I can work.
Me:What did you do, while pregnant, to prepare for giving birth?
Stephani: I made sure that I was still able to keep my job.
Me : Do feel that you had enough time off to take care of the baby?
Stephani:. I was gone for about 3 months, but I had to get back to work, even though I have people taking care of my child. My mother wants  me to have my own apartment and I have bills to pay. But its okay. The job needed me back anyways.  If I wanted to stay longer I couldn't.
Me: If you where able to have a longer break with your child, would  you take it?
Stephani: Yeah I think so?, I had three months off I think another month would have been okay, I felt like I needed sometime to myself too.
Stephani: Everything seems fine. It gets frustrating, baby and work. Its like im working double, and manger
Stephani: Time is over, Thanks for asking these questions.
Me: Thank you, have a good night.

This unit made me think about the process of women having a baby, but doing these interviews also made me think about what about after they give birth? what’s happens?  These interviews answer that question. I interviewed women that work for living and are trying to maintain they child or children.  They had to get back to business with or without support. From interviewing these women no one sound they were ready to give up but sound the accepted their life even though it might take an extra push, but a push they are willing to take to support their baby.  I noticed that these women, didn’t seem extra happy or sad about their boyfriend, not that it didn't matter but sounded they were okay with just being the parent of their child. In our culture the "happy family", are couples that are married and the husband worked but the mother is a house wife and has a little business of her own. But what about the women who are doing well, without a husband or boyfriend, who work very hard for their kids, No one seems to really support that figure? Why? Why women and men need to be together to show a stable family? I know women who are just a single but some look for that male figure or feel bad that their child don’t have that. Just living with my mother, my mother never mentioned "if only your dad was around" she never even bothered to make me have a male figure. She just wanted to maintain her kids the best way she can. I support that. Yes in the future, I would like the father of my child to be part of my child life and mine as well, but I don’t think if the father was not around it would make me mentioned " if only your dad was around".   We all wants best for our child… That’s what we all say.

HW 35 - Other Peoples' Perspectives 1

Rosi Alvaraz

Birth:.

How did you feel when people asked to touch your belly? Did you mind?

I did not like it when people touched my belly. I felt that my baby did not like it as well, he would move and it bothered me. I felt scared that the baby didn’t like it. I was not asked that much of random people to touch my belly but family members yes.

What did you think about birth when you were little?

My mother told me that babies only happen when you get married and they will just grow in your stomach all you have to do is just keep eating. I thought this for a long time when I was about 17.

When you saw your siblings having kids did you want one?

They are 10 of us 9 females and 1 boy.  When I saw my sisters having kids I  liked talking and helping care of my nieces and nephew. Feeding them, playing, and teaching them how to do things.

What age do you think is appropriate to have kids?

For me 30 years old. Thats when I thought I was ready, but about 25 years- and up thats when your more of an adult.

 How was birth scene in the Dominican Republic?

You have to get married.

In the Dominican Republic if a girl was pregnant and even still today they will be kick out of school.

This is why I made sure I was done with school and found a man that loved me.

How was your pregnancy?

The whole pregnancy process was a pain, my back hurt and my foot was swollen for about Four months. I ate a lot of tomatoes and Buffalo wings. I hated it; I wanted him out already in the 6 month. He was past his due date, he was supposed to be born May 8 but he was born May 19.  I kept saying to my self Zavi did not want to leave he felt happy where he was at, but I wanted him out already. I had to stay in the hospital for about two days until they broke my water, and it took about the morning to about six at night. I was so tried but I wanted to see my son. In the end was worth it.

Henry Alvarez:

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind about Birth?

Blood and a beauitful baby…That was something I did not want to see, but know its natural. A baby that been there about 9 months is ready to come out.

How did you feel when your first child was born?

Happy but scared. Happy that he came out already and he is my child and scared because I know rasing a baby is not easy.

How did you feel when rosi was pregnant?

I felt bad, but I still thought she was beautiful. I even pretend to be pregnant I guess i have an idea how she was feeling

What made you want to be there during the Birth?

I wanted to be there for my wife. I never saw anything like that, Well I saw on tv but not in person until my son was born. And man she looked like she was in a lot of pain

You felt like you were ready to be a father?

No, But who is? You don’t know what you’re always getting yourself into, until I held my child as he grew each day so did I.

Asking These questions from two people that had a baby not too long ago, Makes me think about how much people grow during the day and night. From Zavier arriving home from the hospital, to him now thinking he can walk is a beautiful thing. I love his little pamper butt and head full of hair, each day he grows and learning new things every day. I feel like I have an understanding why parents get over protective as we get older or more worried, but than that’s the beauty about growing up. I can't wait until Zavier gets bigger, I would always like to teach him things and take him to interesting places.  But I do see the difficulties of having a baby it is not easy and it’s a learning process for the mother, and for the parents working together to raise a child.

From watching movies and shows, Birth always been a beautiful thing but its up to the parents and support from friends and family, is what makes things better.  To have both parents involved is something that can make the baby progress.

ZAVIER AlVAREZ

HW 34 - Some Initial Thoughts On Birth

I guess this unit will be about women experience giving birth and the history of birth. I knew a lot of pregnant people some adults and some teenagers. I been to baby showers and each one was different. I been to ghetto baby showers (Sorry to say) Fancy baby showers and normal baby showers.  These are the steps of a baby coming into life. The good things about baby showers is that you get things you don’t want to buy yourself and the people coming together for a new member in the family.  The things I know about pregnant women ... 1. Women get moody 2. If you say no, you will get a sty in your eye and 3. Crave things. All these things I do believe and experienced it.  I said no to a pregnant friend and the next day I got a sty in my eye and my mother asked who I said no too. My sister -In-law all she wanted were tomatoes, hot sauce and Buffalo wings.  It’s like women change for 9 months and deal with something that’s supposed to make you feel wonderful but this does not happen to everybody.   I hope to have a happy birth and experience a good pregnancy.  What I will crave? (I hope is not something too crazy)  Will I be able to have a child?  What about the women who can’t have kids? Is adopting a choice or a women feeling like she is not a woman? This also makes me think about will the father be part of my child’s birth/life?...they show in movies or  TV shows when a women  gets pregnant the boyfriend/husband freaks out and leave or they question is that their baby ( like what is that! ) We are dealing with a person coming out our body! Not the guy! This is why I think it’s important for it to be two people making decisions not one person. It shouldn't be about the guy asking the women when you are going to have my baby or the same for the women asking the guy. But two people getting ready to bring a child into the world.  I noticed some babies come out with their parents emotions (I’m not sure what I mean by that) but I knew this girl who cried during her whole pregnancy and her son does not shut up all he does is cries even though he is a baby but every time i see him is either she is crying or the baby. It’s like mothers/ parents are magnets to the babies, what they see and experience is how the baby will be. This also makes me think about parents who deal with a child who come out what they don’t except is that fair to the baby? A baby should be loved no matter blue, green, big or small.  This birth unit will be something that I did think I will learn again in high school so I’m looking forward to this unit since Andy said: Food unit people ate… Illness/dying people got sick…This birth unit I don’t know. We shall see.

HW 32 - Thoughts following illness & dying unit

During this unit, it didn't really surprise me but made me think about what can happen to the people in my life in the matter of seconds.  This thought made me want to get to know people, be more involved in family situations. Getting to know people and being aware of family situations makes a difference because I interact and build relations with people. When I was little I never really liked hospitals, my mom didn't seem worry about health insurance that was always covered for my family. What I don't understand is that what makes a person health important? Why do some people deserve health insurance and some don’t. I understand a person might have the ability to pay for it, but it’s their health shouldn't health matter for everyone no matter what class a person comes from.  This connects with our food unit, because fast foods are offered to the lower class and they are most likely to eat unhealthy food than healthy food.  Because of this the food industry gets bigger and cheaper. The food is done fast and the animals are pumped with hormones. Healthy foods involved a working farm, which cost money, which cost healthy animals and this is not what our society wants.  We have made efforts to change and cut down the fast-food places and put healthy affordable stores around lower class neighborhood. Knowing the facts makes a difference but it takes an army to make it happen.  Learning about what the food industry do to their animals made me not want to step into McDonalds ,Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC, Popeye’s etc.. I love home cook meals and eating out once in a while.  Each of these units made a difference in me I make sure I eat less of hormones meat involved vegetables and build relations with people.