Substance Abuse in Pregnancy:

Health and Child Care

Lauren Garcia

San Ildefonso Pueblo

Ohkay Owingeh

Lauren Garcia.webm

Garcia, Lauren. "Senior Photo". Feb 23, 2024

Connection

Growing up I had a hard time growing up in a "healthy" home, this made me grow up faster. I never had the chance to become a kid and have a "childhood" My Family and other families were very devastated. This house belonged to past generations, she was the only one that stayed in the Pueblo to keep the house. During COVID-19 in 2020 around Thanksgiving, she died, it was really hard to hear that a teacher of mine had passed. Her family came back for the funeral and traditional doings but then later left, the only one that stayed was her daughter. Her daughter, son, and his girlfriend currently live there and keep the house in the same shape it was when she lived there, otherwise, the house would have to be given up. Loss is a big part of life but we don’t always recognize the trauma and grief that must be acknowledged to heal.

Identity

Garcia, lauren. ¨Don´t be scared¨. 23 Aug, 2022

"Sharing one Skin"

The article, “Sharing One Skin,” by Jeanette Armstong, is about living as an Okanagan. She shared that fusing herself with her Okanagan tribe and herself. She only becomes stronger, uniting her tribe and self to be active. Humans are believing, living, and growing before we come to our “second” selves as traditional; people. Being Native or Indian only gives us strength and the power to become a better version of ourselves. As she shared her Okanagan way of living, I felt a connection to her way of believing who she was and is.

Armstrong, Jeanette. 1996 “Sharing one Skin: The Okanagan community.” Pp.460-470 in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against The Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club books.

Garcia, Lauren."Way of water". 20 july, 2022

"Water has Spirit"

The sacred names of places, how we see the place, and how the name was given. Place identity has a big impact because we need to identity and it gives us a sense of home. As Toastie said “Water has spirit”, water gives us life, water is home, water is a huge source and human needs. Place identity gives us a sense of memory, history, and a feeling of home or peace. The place must be given respect, inside or outside.

Toatie, B., “How place name impacts the way we see landscape.” High Country News: know the West, 1 May 2022.

Garcia, Lauren. ¨Take a funny one¨. 27 Nov, 2013

"And I went to school"

A boy who had to give up his ways to go to a white boarding school. Suina shared that he lost a connection with himself and his community to be away. He learned the “white way” was more comfortable for him. Although he had to learn he accepted he can't keep both if he wants something. He learned that being away only made him miss his family, dances, and community more. He learned that he couldn’t have both lives.

Suina, Joseph “And I went to school” memories of a pueblo childhood,” Pp 1-6, reprint with permission of the author from the New Mexico Journal of Reading, winter 1985, Vol. V, NO, 2, “Rainbird” Illustration

History

Lauren, Garcia. "Washington Monument". 19 April 2022

Federal Indian Policy

The Europeans and how they came to the Americas. When coming they discovered the ¨vast and rich country¨, but they didn't realize the “spiritual, cultural and intellectual riches of the people they called "Indians" They attempted to change the way of living for natural people, Spanish, conquistadors, English Missionaries and French traders. Although D.C. Reports sought to study indigenous peoples, they saw the natives on the verge of extinction when they saw this they said that natives were Historical figures, and should accept the white way of living due to extinction, But Indians refused to accept it.

Kelly, Lawrence C. Federal Indian Policy. Chelsea House, 1990.

Indian Child Welfare Act

The Protection of Native American children, making sure that all have the stability and protection they need. The Importance of the act is to make sure that children and their families are still having those traditional values with them. Tribal governments have the "responsibilities and process to provide resources to foster strong and stable sovereign rights" The families always win and have the support of their tribal government and the federal government to Ensure "responsibilities of self-determination." This support will create a safer community to promote safe and quality living, create strong environments, and promote individual Rights for American Indians and Alaska Natives. That's why it's important Native children stay with their roots.

Hanna, Jeanette. ¨Indian Child Welfare Act¨. us departments of the Indian affairs. bia.gov/privacy-policy.

Garcia, Sierra. Icloud Photos. "Independent". 17 april, 2023

Garcia, Lauren. "Listen to Ko'o". 13 july, 2022

The Case for Quality Education

Yazzie Martinez filed a lawsuit to make children sure that they had a valuable education. She noticed that her son wasn't receiving the best education he could have. the Yazzie lawsuit challenged the state's violation of students' constitutional right to a better education, she said that "We had to File a lawsuit just to get our children what they need and what they're entitled to.'' The lawsuit was to give children the education teachers wanted to help but they have "starved of resources! But still, the state needs to comply with the court ruling.

The Case for Education Equality in New Mexico. Nmpovertylaw. 1 May 2020. Youtube

'Kill the Indian Save the Man'

The US Government forced thousands of Native American children to attend "assimilation" boarding schools. Many schools were a part of this simulation such as Carlisle Boarding School. CarisIt was one of the first schools opened in Pennsylvania. This school was home to 3 Northern Arapaho children Little Chief, Little Plume, and Horse. children all over the United States in Boarding schools were a part of "attempts to either Kill, move, or assimilate Native American". These children were forbidden from "using their language and names, as well as from practicing their religion and culture¨ Although these children were brutally killed, most of them made It back home, dead or alive.

Through Assimilation.¨HISTORY. history.com/news/how-boarding-schools-tried-to-kill-the-indian-through-assimilation. 16 August, 2017.

Garcia, lauren. "Teaching of the past". 23 June, 2022

Current State

Garcia, Lauren. "Rockefeller Center". 19 April 2022

Seeking Help

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) focuses on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. These Disorders start from the children's Parents abusing alcohol during pregnancy. Children can be affected by this greatly, as this can cause learning disabilities, depression, and behavioral problems. Although there are treatments to help no treatments will completely remove trauma from the child's trauma.

Streissgith, A.P., Bookstein, F.L. Barr, H. M. Sampson, P.D., O'Malley, K & Young, J.K(2004), "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FADS)". cdc.gov/ncbadd/fads/facts.html. 3 Oct, 2023.

Garcia, Lauren. "Po'Pay". 19 April 2022

Substance Use Disorder

The National Library of Medicine expresses the common links to Prenatal Substances and Mothers using drugs during their pregnancy. Although women don't begin using any potentially toxic substance, they still use it. Many don't stop using while they're pregnant. The cause of a child having a disorder is the mother's fault. Researchers say the numbers continue to grow yearly naming this once ongoing cause for their child's future.

Mary K. Prince, Shanon F. Daley, Derek Ayers. "Substance Use in Pregnancy". National Library of Medicine. ncbi.nim.nih,gov/books.NB542330/. 21 July, 2023

Garcia, Lauren. "Cienna". 17 April, 2022

Isolation

During the Pandemic, many mothers' lives were lost due to overdosing. Many of those women were pregnant or either had their baby, these were because of the pain killer mainly given to them by a medical professional. the number reached an all-time high, reaching a new record in 2020. These numbers skyrocketed by 131% from 2017-2010, these babies were all left untreated and more likely to be born with disorders and go through withdrawals. But no mother was held accountable and the child had to suffer from their mother's consequences.

"CDC softens guidelines for doctors who persevere opioids". nbcnews.com/health/health-news/drug-death-pregante-women0hit-recod-hgih-rena60090. 6 Dec 2022, 10:57 AM. NBC News.

Global Connection

Health

Women with a substance abuse history have a higher risk for heart disease or maternal Death in pregnancy. "using medication doubles the risk of heart failure" said Dr. Martha Gulati and "This study shows that pregnant women who use drugs need more medical care." said Dr. Cnristine Albert. Although cannabis has not been linked to maternal mortality, It still doubles the risk of having heart disease but with discovery or not you have risks.

US NEWS. Substance Abuse Greatly Raisies odds of heart Attack, Stroke During Pregnancy. Health Day. Cara Murez HealthDay. Reporter. 21 Sept, 2023 at 5:51 AM.

Garcia, Lauren. ¨feet". 19 Feb 2018

Garcia, Lauren. "The White House". 20 April 2022

White House

Ensuring universal access to treatment and reducing overdose deaths among pregnant women. In the White House, President Biden announces improving family outcomes. The report is to provide more access to treatment for women with substance abuse and to present unscary foster care placements whenever possible. These may only become effective hospitals and communities come together to work as one.

The white House, ONDCP Releases report on substance use disorder treatment during pregnancy. 21 Oct, 2022.

Women, Infants and Children

WIC is a great opportunity for Women, Infants, and Children to have support along the way or growing together. Many mothers go through using marijuana during pregnancy to help with pain but it can also have consequences for the infant or child. WIC provides support on breastfeeding, Nursing, Postpartum, and pumping. These support systems can be partners and family to provide the best care for you and your family or child.

WIC. NM WIC. Substance and Substance Dependency. nmwic.org. Provider since 2009-2020.

Plan of Action

"How Did You Feel"

My action plan took place on November 23, 2023. uncomfortable, so I explained to the girls that the furniture represents kids. Many of the girls asked why I was rearranging the furniture and why it felt awkward. I know children don´t feel comfortable when they are being moved from house to house and I wanted the girls to feel that. Many of the girls felt uncomfortable facing the wall because they felt punished and I wanted to present that. Many children are being put into situations that they aren’t even a part of. They are being punished for their parent's actions.

Garcia, Lauren. Personal. "Screenshot". April 9, 2023

'It's Okay We Love You'

My Action plan took place on February 24, 2024. I wanted to tell my nieces and nephews about their mom because she is no longer in their lives due to drugs and alcohol. Their mom isn't in their life right now and I wanted to let them know it's okay that she isn't here because there are people here to support and love them. They are getting to an age where they don't understand but know what happened and why. But it's important that they know we will always be here to support them and we know it's going to be hard but they can do it.

My Super Stars

Garcia, Lauren. Personal. "Screenshot". April 9, 2023

'Lillian and Sierra Garcia'

My heroes are my wonderful Mom and Sister, Sierra and Lillian Garcia. They are loving caring and a bit scary but I still love Them, No matter what they are the people who always provided me with countless opportunities to explore my interests and never doubted that I could and will do it.

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