chatwithketch

Q: Please, Doctor, which food should I eat for fibroid to decrease?
I went to hospital/scan I was told I have intramural fibroid…and I got married 2weeks ago.. which food should I don’t and do eat for fibroid?

A: The first thing you need is information. Knowledge is power. With information, you know what you are dealing with, your options and then, you can take better decisions.

Fibroids develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus (womb). These growths can range in size from seedlings to big masses.

They are differentiated by the sites where they are found:
Inside the cavity of the womb (sub-mucosal),
Within the muscle of the uterus (intramural),
On the surface of the womb (sub-serosal).

Fibroids do not cause infertility per se, but sub-mucosal ones in the cavity of the womb, can take up the place where a baby would have implanted causing infertility. Fibroids can also distort the shape of the ovaries and fallopian tubes causing problems with conception.

Hormones are implicated in the development of fibroids as when women get to menopause with resultant decrease in the level of circulating hormones, estrogen and progesterone, the fibroids shrink.

Fibroids are more likely to occur in black women, people who take alcohol, people with a family history, obese people and those who eat a lot of red meat and little vegetables.

Symptoms of fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, frequent urination as the mass presses on the bladder, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, pelvic pressure etc.

Pain can also result in fibroids when a fibroid has a stalk and gets twisted or when the fibroid grows so fast that it outgrows its blood supply lead to its ‘death’.

There are a couple of different methods for the treatment of fibroids but only your doctor can confirm which one is suitable to you.

If the fibroids are small and causing no problem (probably discovered incidentally), then your doctor will most likely not institute any treatment other than watchful waiting.

If one is around menopausal age and probably has finished having children, some drugs that mimic the effect of menopause are giving. These deprive the fibroids of nutrient supply and thus they shrink.

Other treatment modalities may involve using IUCDs which release hormones that reduce the severity if bleeding and pain medications. With technology advances, there are also non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures that can take care of fibroids. The final options are the tried and tested surgical procedures. One of the surgical procedures, myomectomy, involves removing the fibroids while preserving the healthy tissue of the uterus (womb).

You can still get pregnant after this surgical procedure. So, you may want to have a long chat with your doctor to determine what options are available in your location and what applies to you.

On what to eat or not eat, given that these are implicated in the development of fibroids, avoid alcohol, manage your weight and do not get obese, and eat more vegetables.

Yes – and unlike Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Insipidus has NOTHING to do with blood sugar.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI) is a rare condition where the body struggles to properly regulate water balance.

People with DI may:

Feel constantly thirsty

Urinate excessively

Wake up multiple times at night to urinate

Even experience bedwetting in some cases

Normally, a hormone called ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone) helps the body conserve water when needed.

But in Diabetes Insipidus, this process is disrupted.

There are different types of DI:

Central DI – caused by problems with the gland producing ADH

Gestational DI – occurs rarely during pregnancy

Nephrogenic DI – when the kidneys do not respond properly to ADH

Primary polydipsia – caused by excessive water intake

In severe cases, urine output can become extremely high, leading to dehydration if fluids are not replaced properly.

Treatment depends on the cause and may include:

Medications like desmopressin

Reducing salt intake

Adjusting medications

Drinking enough water

Reducing excessive fluid intake where necessary

And before you ask

No… Diabetes Insipidus is NOT the same thing as Diabetes Mellitus.

Before I had my first child, I had everything planned.

I would exclusively breastfeed.

Work with my baby beside me.

Make packed lunches.

Do the laundry myself.

Raise brilliant, healthy children.

Balance career and motherhood perfectly.

You know how they say you can’t have it all? That was not going to be me! I was going to do it ALL.

Then motherhood humbled me

After my daughter arrived, I tried to be everything at once:

Full-time mother

Full-time caregiver

Homemaker

Future career woman

Exhausted human being running on zero sleep

And because I thought asking for help meant failure, I insisted on doing everything myself.

I was miserable.

What shocked me most was discovering that while society encourages mothers to breastfeed…many workplaces are unwilling to support breastfeeding mothers properly.

No crèches.

No flexibility.

At some point, I had to stop chasing perfection and focus on balance.

With my first daughter, I exclusively breastfed.

With my second, work pressures changed my experience completely.

By my third, I finally found what worked for ME: breastfeeding while working and expressing milk when away.

It was not easy. But it was possible.

Motherhood taught me something very important: You do not have to destroy yourself to be a good mother.

So to every mum trying to be ‘Superwoman’:

Please get help.

Rest.

Use the washing machine.

Accept support.

Stop trying to carry the entire world alone.

A happier mother raises healthier children too

And yes…Breastfeeding is still worth it

#MotherhoodDiaries #HealthyLivingWithDrKetch

Many cases of food poisoning actually begin with simple kitchen mistakes we make every day without realizing it.

Here are some important food hygiene tips every home should know:

Don’t store opened canned food inside the can
Once opened, transfer the food into a clean container before refrigerating to avoid possible contamination.

Keep raw meat away from other foods
Raw chicken and meat can spread germs that cause food poisoning.

Store meat at the bottom of the fridge
This helps prevent fluids from dripping onto other foods during thawing.

Never mix cooked meat with raw meat
This can transfer harmful bacteria onto ready-to-eat food.

Defrost food properly before cooking
Allow food to thaw completely. If you’re in a hurry, use a microwave instead of leaving food out for long periods.

Wash leafy vegetables properly
Soak vegetables in salted water or food-safe disinfectant and rinse thoroughly before use.

Small kitchen habits can make a BIG difference in protecting your family’s health

‘It happened again…’

Few things are more painful than losing a pregnancy or delivering a baby too early – especially when it happens more than once.

Many women silently carry the guilt and unanswered questions that come with miscarriage and premature birth. But one important thing needs to be said – It is not always your fault.

A premature baby is one born before 37 weeks of pregnancy and may require intensive medical care because of breathing difficulties, feeding problems, infections, and other complications.

Some factors linked to premature birth include:

* high blood pressure

* diabetes

* infections during pregnancy

* heart or kidney disease

* multiple pregnancy (twins/triplets)

* smoking, alcohol, or drug use

* poor nutrition

* problems with the placenta

Miscarriages, especially in the first trimester, are often linked to problems with the pregnancy itself, including issues with the placenta or abnormalities in the baby’s chromosomes.

Other risk factors may include:

* smoking

* alcohol use

* obesity

* trauma

* malnutrition

* advanced maternal age

If you have experienced repeated miscarriage or premature birth, please don’t never suffer in silence. Get checked out in the hospital.

When you become pregnant again:

Start antenatal care early

Attend your clinic appointments consistently

Eat nourishing meals

Discuss your medical history openly with your doctor

Early care can help give your baby the best possible chance

All the best!

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Not every new mother feels joyful after childbirth and that does not make her a bad mother.

One mother wrote:

“I have been feeling sort of depressed since I put to bed eight months ago. I don’t want to use antidepressants. Are there natural ways to improve my mood?”

Postpartum depression is more common than many people realize, yet many women suffer silently because they feel ashamed to admit they are struggling after having a baby.

It can show up as:

Persistent sadness

Tearfulness

Irritability

Withdrawal from loved ones

Difficulty bonding with baby

Feeling overwhelmed or inadequate

Postpartum depression may be linked to:

Hormonal changes after childbirth

Physical exhaustion

Emotional stress

Financial pressure

Lack of support

Previous history of depression

The good news is that help is available.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity. Support may include:

Counselling or therapy

Emotional and family support

Lifestyle adjustments

Medication when necessary

For mothers looking for natural ways to support their mental wellbeing:

Eat nourishing meals

Rest when possible

Exercise gently

Create “me time”

Set realistic expectations

Talk openly with trusted people and avoid bottling up your emotions

Please do not suffer in silence.