As you prepare to birth your baby, do you think back to your own childhood" Were you ever in tough situations you don?t want your baby to experience" Do you want to give baby a life better than yours" Know that you have the power to intervene to keep adverse childhood experiences, (ACEs), for your baby to a minimum and create better long-term health.
ACES are traumatic experiences in childhood that are linked to poor health outcomes. Toxic stress in children ages 0-17 can damage the structure and function of their developing brains. This damage can impact their learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. Notably, children are resilient, but each baby you have will respond to stressors differently.
Give Baby a Positive Childhood
Before baby is born, begin to lay the foundation for positive childhood experiences. To do this, you may need to:
Relocate away from violent areas or people
Avoid smoking, and using alcohol and recreational drugs
Seek help if you?re being physically or emotionally abused
Build up your finances
Engage in healthy relationships

After baby?s birth:
Feed baby your breastmilk for at least 3 months as this is linked to higher intelligence scores later in life and a host of other benefits. You can also:

Snuggle, hug, kiss, and play with baby
Choose caregivers and babysitters that are loving and kind
Read reviews of local childcare centers
Practice healthy relationships with family and friends
Take care of your own physical and menta...