Information about breastfeeding: benefits, disadvantages (if any), etc.

• The valid source I will be using to answer this question is Medical News Today. Both the textbook and this source share many comparisons. One similarity is that both agree that breastfeeding provides multiple benefits, including emotional, physical, and psychological advantages. For example, the textbook (on page 81, under the heading "Interventions: What Quiets a Young Baby?") states, “Skin-to-skin contact, holding a baby close, has a clear physiological effect. It reduces the newborn’s levels of the stress hormone cortisol. That’s why the World Health Organization urges mothers to hold newborns to their chests for at least an hour after giving birth.” Similarly, Medical News Today highlights that breastfeeding lowers the risk of health issues like NEC in preemies, ear infections, colds, SIDS, stomach problems, eczema, and picky eating. Both sources agree on the positive impact breastfeeding has on a baby’s development and health. Another similarity between the two sources is that breastfeeding can be challenging due to many barriers. According to pages 77-78 of Chapter 3.2: Basic Newborn States (under the subheading “Breast-Feeding Barriers”), three challenges women struggle with that can prevent them from nursing their child are work demands, social stigma, and physical pain. This aligns with Medical News Today, which also discusses challenges associated with breastfeeding, including lack of social support, loss of bodily autonomy, physical pain such as cracked nipples, the possible development of mastitis, and inadequate sleep. Both sources highlight that these barriers can make it difficult for mothers to stick with breastfeeding.

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322819#cons-of-breastfeeding

A recent example of when I demonstrated practical intelligence was when I experienced a power outage about two weeks ago. As the night approached and the house began to darken, my family and I had to think quickly about the problem. We gathered all of the lanterns and flashlights from the closet and set them up in the living room, creating light to help us navigate through the night. However, it was starting to get a little cold, so we wrapped ourselves in heavy blankets to stay warm and cozy in the living room. While all of this was happening, I remembered that I had a midterm and a couple of assignments due. My laptop was nearly dead, and I couldn't complete my work or charge it without power. I began to panic so I called my friends to see if their power was on, but they were experiencing the same issue. In the end, I decided to call my aunt, and thankfully, her power was still on. I drove 15 minutes to her house, charged my laptop, and managed to complete all my work on time.

For my chemistry class, I was assigned a project where I had to come up with a solution to reduce carbon emissions. I proposed the idea of planting trees and flowers on the roofs of buildings and houses, as they naturally absorb carbon dioxide and help reduce pollution. This solution is an example of creative intelligence because it involves thinking outside the box and finding an innovative way to solve a major environmental issue. While working on this project, I also used my analytical intelligence to calculate the number of trees needed to absorb a certain amount of carbon dioxide and to estimate the cost of this idea (which was pretty expensive!). 

For this question, I will talk about “Smile" by Raina Telgemeier. This memoir reflects the author’s journey from sixth grade to high school after she knocked out her two front teeth. Throughout the story, Raina goes through many dental treatments while struggling to make friends. Raina struggles to handle the pressure of fitting into societal expectations; she struggles with insecurities about her appearance. According to page 238 in Chapter 8.2: Body Image Issues, looks are important to everyone, especially girls. A study performed by Susan Harter found that girls start to worry more about their appearance in elementary school. Similarly, Raina in “Smile" has many insecurities about her looks after losing her front teeth. This reflects the idea that many girls feel pressured to follow societal standards, and how these expectations can affect their body image and self-esteem during their teenage years.

The second book that I will be discussing is "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. This book is about a teen named Ponyboy Curtis, who is part of a group called the Greasers. The Greasers are seen as troublemakers from the poor side of town, and they often get into fights with the Socs, who are rich kids. After a serious fight, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny end up running away. In the textbook on page 273, Chapter 9.3: Social Development (under “What Are the Different Kinds of Crowds?”), it says that teenagers usually hang out with people from similar social groups. In The Outsiders, the characters are divided into two main groups: the Greasers and the Socs. The Socs are wealthy teens from the West Side; they’re known for their stylish clothes and fancy cars. Whereas, the Greasers are from the East Side and wear leather jackets, jeans,and have slicked-back hair. This connects to the textbook because rich kids like to stick together; the Socs are always hanging out with other Socs. Adding on, the Greasers find friends within their group, having similar backgrounds and experiences.