chatwithketch

“Mum, I saw a red stain on my panties.
I’ve changed three times today and it’s still happening.
Is this my period?”

My 9½-year-old daughter.

I looked up… and tears filled my eyes.

I knew this moment was coming.

From the day I noticed the small rose buds on her chest…
then the soft strands under her arms…

I knew it was only a matter of time.

But we parents love denial, don’t we?

Because when they grow older, it means we are growing older too.
(Scary thought. Very vain too. But I never claimed to be a saint.)

And suddenly you realise…

This is THE TALK.

The birds and the bees.
The biology.
The changes.
The responsibility.

And beyond that, the bigger milestones flash before you:
Secondary school graduation.
University matriculation.
University graduation.
Marriage.

All while you’re still seeing the tiny baby you brought home from the hospital.

“Mum?”

And you return to the present.

I begin to explain gently what the blood means.

Then it hits me.

She already asked if it was her period.

So I ask her, “Where did you hear that?”

Books.

Of course.

This generation knows more than we did at their age.

Still, I explain everything:
What menstruation is.
Why it happens.
How to use sanitary towels.
How to manage cramps.
What it means for her body.

Because even if they read about it,
they still need to hear it from us.

They need truth, not playground myths.

I handed her her first pack of sanitary towels.

Smiled.

Gave her a long hug.

Time does not ask permission.

One day you are carrying them home from the hospital.

The next day, you are explaining menstruation.

And you wonder…

When did she stop being little?

My daughter has begun her journey into womanhood.

And somehow…

So have I.

PS. Fingers crossed my no-longer-9-year-old daughter doesn’t see this and take me to task! 🙂

When did you first realise your child was growing up?”

Hello family!

If you’re planning to go to the market this weekend, please don’t pack your basket like this.

Raw meat and fish should never sit directly beside fresh vegetables and other foods, especially the ones we may eat raw.

This is how cross-contamination starts.

Here are five tips for preventing cross–contamination (unintentionally transferring bacteria from one food to another) while shopping.

1. If you go to the open market, be sure to go with enough shopping bags, so you can separate your raw meats/fish from your other foods.

2. If you shop in grocery stores, separate the foods in the shopping cart. You could use the shopping carts that have two baskets. Use one for your fish and meats and use the other for your other foods.

3. When checking out your purchases at the grocery shops, ask attendants to pack raw foods separately and keep dry foods separate from wet/refrigerated foods. This keeps the different foodstuff fresh until you get home and store them appropriately.

4. Maintain this separation in the car, bus or taxi that you will take home. It may be more convenient to pack everything in one bag, but I assure you it is unhealthy!

5. Finally, before you start cooking when you get home, be sure to wash your hands as you have handled money and loads of foodstuff which may have deposited myriads of germs on your hands.

Bacteria from raw meat can transfer to foods we eat raw, especially fruits and vegetables.

For healthy adults, it may cause mild illness.

For children and older people, it can be serious.

Tell me – do you separate your meats when buying, or does everything enter one nylon bag?

Have a great weekend!

I have heard this one so many times over the years, including when I was pregnant

“If someone crosses their legs over yours while you’re pregnant, your baby will look like them.”

Before you read further…

What is your answer?

FACT or FICTION? TRUE OR FALSE?

Be honest – what did you grow up hearing?

Verdict: FICTION.

How your baby looks is determined by genes and not by who crosses their legs near you

Many pregnancy beliefs are passed down through culture and tradition. Some are harmless, some create unnecessary fear.

This one? Harmless… but definitely not true.

Did anyone ever warn you about this while you were pregnant? Tell me who said it!

Q: Can micro-organisms live in cold places eg food in a refrigerator?

A: Absolutely, they can. Cold temperature only slows down the growth of micro-organisms but it doesn’t completely stop them. So, the better the condition of the food stored in the refrigerator, the longer it will keep and the worse the condition, the shorter the period it will keep. Bear in mind that these foods will not keep indefinitely.

If you live in a place where power supply is not always stable, it means that:

• Fridge temperatures can fluctuate

• Food warms and cools repeatedly

• Bacteria multiply faster

So, if power has been off for several hours:

• Avoid opening the fridge repeatedly to conserve the coolness.

• Reheat leftovers thoroughly.

• If outage is prolonged, move high-risk foods (meat, fish, dairy) into a cooler with multiple ice packs (blocks).

• Keep the cooler closed.

• When power returns, assess carefully before refreezing eg check for unusual smell or texture

And remember:

• If food smells strange, feels slimy, or you are unsure, please discard it.

• Food poisoning costs more than wasted food.

How long has your power ever been off while food was still in the fridge?

FACT or FICTION?

Many first time mothers hear a lot of advise about what to do and what not to do – difficult to figure out what’s correct and what is just…gist, as we say in Nigeria!

Today, I share one of them…

Many of us grew up hearing that a pregnant woman should never sleep on her back because it can damage the baby’s eyes.

That part? Fiction.

But there is some truth hidden inside the advice.

As pregnancy advances, especially from the second trimester onward, lying flat on the back can make the mother feel dizzy and may temporarily reduce blood flow because the growing uterus presses on a major vein.

It’s not about the baby’s eyes.

It’s about blood flow and comfort.

And, if you do wake up on your back occasionally, don’t panic. Just turn to your side.

Pregnancy advice is often passed down with good intentions but sometimes the real explanation gets lost along the way.

What pregnancy advice did you grow up hearing?

Before I started creating structured posts and answering inbox questions,

I was a 27-year-old woman wondering if she was ready.

Motherhood changes you quietly.

Long before confidence comes, responsibility arrives.

Before experience, there is awe.

Before expertise, there is uncertainty.

And that’s even with medical training!

When mothers ask me what a baby’s cry means or whether they are doing it right, I don’t only respond from professional training.

For more, click here – https://chatwithdrketch.com/2021/01/05/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-motherhood/

‘Doctor, I don’t drink alcohol… so why do I have fatty liver?’

Many people are surprised to learn that fatty liver can occur even if you do not take alcohol at all. It is called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), and it is closely linked to metabolic health – things like weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

The tricky part?

Most people feel completely fine.

They only find out during a scan.

The good news is that when caught early, this condition can often be controlled and sometimes even improved with proper lifestyle changes.

If you have been told you have fatty liver:

• Do not panic but, do not ignore it.

• Start making informed changes.

I’ve shared a more detailed explanation for those who would like to read further here https://chatwithdrketch.com/2018/07/05/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-fatty-liver/.

Have you or someone you know been told they have fatty liver despite not drinking alcohol?

Let’s talk in the comments.

— Dr Ketch

Today’s post was triggered by part of a mother’s question yesterday:

‘Hello Dr Ketch… Is circumcision okay for my baby girl?’

It is a question that many mothers ask quietly. Some ask because of culture. Some ask because of pressure. Others ask because ‘everyone in our family does it.’

So let’s talk about it…

Female circumcision, also called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), has no medical benefit. None.

But it carries immediate and long-term health risks.

As mothers, our role is not to conform to harmful traditions. Our role is to protect.

This reel explains:
• What FGM is
• Why it is done
• The health risks involved
• And why protecting our daughters matters

Please read all slides.

Save this post and share it with another mother. Education protects lives.

For more detailed information, click here – https://chatwithdrketch.com/2018/01/07/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-vaginal-discharge-in-a-baby/

— Dr Ketch