chatwithketch

Most people would laugh if you asked this question…

“Can a woman become pregnant while she’s already pregnant?”

It sounds impossible.

But medicine has a name for this extremely rare phenomenon…

Superfetation.

So can it really happen?

Or is it just another internet myth?

Let’s separate fact from fiction.

Q: Hey Doc , is it possible to get pregnant while you are already pregnant?

A: Well, theoretically, this Is not possible because during pregnancy ovulation is supposed not to occur.

Essentially, for pregnancy to happen, an egg was fertilised and once this happens, there’s a signal that goes to the ovary stopping it from releasing eggs since clearly, there’s no more need

In some rare cases, however, after pregnancy has occurred, the ovary still releases an egg which ends up being fertilised leading to pregnancy in an already pregnant woman.

This situation is called super-fertation. However, the incidence of this is so rare. that it is not considered standard practice to tell pregnant couples to avoid sexual intercourse during pregnancy to avoid this. In fact, there appear to be just about 10 – 14 documented cases worldwide.

Did you know about this before now?

One of the biggest causes of tooth decay in babies happens while they’re asleep.

It’s not sweets.

Not chocolate.

It’s a bedtime habit many loving parents don’t even realize can damage their baby’s teeth.

Here’s what every parent and grandparent should know. Read!

Ever heard of the baby bottle tooth decay?

The baby bottle tooth decay is a condition that occurs when babies’ teeth are exposed to prolonged contact with sugary liquids or substances. In children, this would occur by allowing children to go to sleep while feeding at the breast on a bottle or giving them pacifiers that have been coated with honey or other sugary substances. During sleep, saliva production reduces; thus these sugary substances which lead to the production of acids stay on the teeth for prolonged periods leading to erosion of the enamel and subsequent tooth decay.

How can you prevent this?

• Mothers are advised to practice exclusive breastfeeding but if for any reason bottles have to be used for any period, this should be carefully monitored. Ensure that baby never falls asleep with a bottle containing milk (be it expressed breast milk or formula), fruit juice (fresh or packaged) or any other sweetened fluids. This also goes for children who are breast fed. Please don’t let them fall asleep on the breast. This ensures that the baby’s teeth is not in contact with sugary fluids for prolonged periods of time. This prevents tooth decay.

• Clean baby’s mouth and gums at least once a day, gently massaging the gum. This can be done using a piece of moistened cotton gauze wrapped around a finger. This helps to clean baby’s mouth, establish the development of healthy teeth and also aid teething.

• As soon as the first tooth erupts, plaque removal should commence. Ensure that babies’ teeth are brushed at least twice a day. Before the child can spit out, please use a non-fluoride containing tooth paste. We don’t want the child swallowing fluoride and coming down with some ailments. However, as soon as the child can spit, please introduce fluorinated toothpaste.

• Wean the baby from the bottle as soon as possible and use a cup for liquids. During the weaning period, dilute the bottle feeds as much as possible to the point where only water is taken with the bottle.

• If your baby uses a pacifier, please use for only short periods of time and be sure not to coat with honey or any other sugary substance to ensure that his teeth is not in prolonged contact with substances that will lead to tooth decay.

I trust y’all are having a great weekend!

“Doctor… why is my child growing TWO rows of teeth?” 😳

Many parents panic the first time they see this.

It even has a nickname…”Shark teeth.”

The good news?

In many children, it’s completely normal.

Here’s when to relax…and when it’s time to see the dentist. Read!

Q: My seven years daughter has multiple teeth. Is there any solution? I can’t help it

A: Children start losing their baby teeth from 5 to 7 years, but some could start the process earlier and some later 😀

In some cases, as appears to be happening here, the baby teeth have not gone before the permanent teeth come out. Oftentimes, these permanent teeth would grow in behind the temporary teeth (shark teeth).

What’s the solution?

The temporary teeth may eventually fall out on their own (as happened in my son’s and daughter’s case) or may need to be extracted by the dentist if they ‘refuse’ to fall off.

So, there are no drugs for this 😀

Indeed, you don’t want to stop that tooth from growing…it is one of the permanent teeth which your baby needs.

Remember that your baby should visit the dentist at least twice a year…it is never too early to start 😀

Ever heard of Shark Teeth before now?

Confession time…😄

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I didn’t realise I was pregnant.

I was a young doctor working in a busy Emergency Room. I blamed my fever, nausea and vomiting on everything except pregnancy.

It wasn’t until I could no longer tolerate the smell of my own kitchen or even my bathroom detergent that I finally asked myself:

“Could I actually be pregnant?”

I was.

If a medical doctor could miss the signs of pregnancy, imagine how confusing it can be for a first-time mum.

That’s why I created this guide.

Because while many pregnancy symptoms are completely normal, some are warning signs that should never be ignored.

Save this post. Share it with every pregnant woman you know.

I came across this fascinating fresh orange juice machine in a grocery shop and couldn’t resist trying it!

Sure, I know you can squeeze your own orange juice at home…but I’ve never seen one in a grocery shop.

It reminded me that healthy living doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes the healthiest choices are also the simplest.

One important point though: freshly squeezed orange juice still contains natural sugars. So, moderation is key! Also, try eating the whole fruit sometimes because it contains fibre that helps slow sugar absorption.

Have you ever seen one of these machines?

#HealthyLiving #Nutrition #OrangeJuice #HealthyEating #Spain #DrKetch #HealthyLivingWithDrKetch

“Morning sickness” is one of the biggest lies ever told to pregnant women.

Because for many mums…It doesn’t happen only in the morning.

It can happen morning, afternoon, evening…and even wake you up at night.

If you’re pregnant and wondering whether what you’re experiencing is normal or you’re watching someone you love go through it, this post is for you.

Read on!

Q: Hello Doc, I am roughly two months or thereabout pregnant. I last saw my period in December. I have been vomiting constantly and at every time of the day. I was given an injection in the hospital but most at times I still feel like throwing up after eating and I usually feel very weak. Do you have any advice for me and what is the right time to go for a scan cos my tummy isn’t protruding?

A: Morning sickness during pregnancy can be really trying! I know…I suffered through it! Oh boy! Thank God I’m over all of that now…I’m a grandmother in waiting 😀

Now, for the rest of you who still have to go through this, I’ll share some tips.

The standard teaching is to try eating some bland foods like Crackers biscuits or dry toast. That personally didn’t work for me. I preferred tart things…which some may want to avoid. I loved lemons during my pregnancies. They were the one thing guaranteed to ‘wake up’ my mouth and chase nausea far away. I also had a particular brand of very tart bubble gum, I indulged in 😀 These were key for me because, though I didn’t have the real bad case of morning sickness that sent you to the hospital, brushing my teeth in the morning always sent me into a bout of retching/vomiting. So, I always had a ready supply of the gum or lemon/lime to pop into my mouth once I was done brushing/retching! Not a very pleasant memory ;D

So, if lemons work for you to prevent nausea, go for it. Remember that moderation is key. A few drops (one or two) in a glass of water are enough to provide that tart kick that sends nausea far away. There is a catch here though…remember the heart burn associated with pregnancy. The acid content of lemon might make the heart burn and any pre-existing gastro-esophageal (stomach and esophagus/gullet) problems worse. So, this is all the more reason to be very moderate or stop if it exacerbates an already bad case of heart burn. Wherever and whenever in doubt, please be sure to see your doctor.

Other tips:
• Eat little amounts of food frequently as an empty tummy increases the likelihood of throwing up. Remember this is not an excuse to binge and over eat 😀
• Avoid fatty and greasy foods.
• Avoid smells that trigger nausea
• Cold foods may be preferable to hot as the former does not give off smells that may cause you to feel queasy.
• Get loads of fresh air and rest
• And drink sufficient fluids daily

More importantly, women going through this need love and support more than ever. If you can’t stand cooking now, because of this, get help etc.

On when to do a scan, it depends on what you want the scan for, If it’s for dating the pregnancy, the last menstrual period is best for this. That is the first day of the woman’s last normal menstrual flow. However, if she is not sure of her dates, then a scan can be used. To date pregnancy, a first trimester scan gives the most appropriate approximation. The earlier it is, the more accurate it is likely to be.

Have a good day everyone 😀