chatwithketch

Q: Hey Dr. can implantation bleeding contain blood clots?

A: Bleeding during pregnancy can be worrying whether it’s a little or a lot. But, it may not necessarily be the sign of a problem.

Implantation bleeding is typically a small amount of light bleeding that occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. This is thought to be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb). This usually occurs in early pregnancy, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would be seen and is thus often mistaken for a period. But, it is usually lighter than menstrual…typically without clots. It would stop on its own and does not require further treatment. If the bleeding is heavier, associated with cramps or any other complication, please see your doctor. As a rule of thumb really, any bleeding in pregnancy should be investigated as they…

Q: Doctor Hello!! Is it possible to menstruate but not ovulating?

A: Yes, it is possible. Typically, the ovaries in females release an egg every month. If this does not get fertilized, the womb which had been getting ready to receive a fertilized egg, sheds its thickened lining. The release of an egg stimulates the production of the hormone, progesterone. This hormone is mostly responsible for keeping periods regular. But in some instances, a mature egg is not released regularly on a monthly basis and sometimes, no egg is released at all. In this case, progesterone is not produced and the cycle is either erratic or bleeding, heavy.

This kind of cycle, known as anovular cycle, is quite common in adolescent girls especially in the first year after they start menstruating. Other causes of anovular cycle include hormonal disorders, obesity, weight loss, thyroid problems, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hirsutism and pituitary…

Depression is a mood disorder that is beyond the ordinary ups and downs experienced daily. It is a serious health concern. Some people have described depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. Can you imagine how that feels? Surprisingly though, some depressed people actually don’t feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic; men are more likely to feel angry, aggressive, and restless.
Do you wonder how people get to this ‘black hole’ of depression? Here are some issues that can lead to depression:

•    Conflict. The presence of conflict in any area of our lives could lead to depression,.
•    Death or a loss of a loved one, naturally leads to grief and sadness. This however, increase the risk of depression.
•    Genetics. Studies have not been able to conclusively show how this contributes to the disease, but a family…

Q: Good morning ma’am.
Thanks for your daily health update. Ma’am, I did the family planning that is
being inserted in the arm. Ever since June, I’ve not seen my menstruation till now.
What could be the cause ma’am? Thanks ma’am

A: The contraceptive implant, as the name suggests, is implanted
under the skin….under the skin of the upper arm and protects against pregnancy
for about 3 years.

This birth control
method contains the hormone progestin which prevents the egg from being
released from the ovary (if there’s no egg, then there’s nothing to fertilize,
right? :D) and also makes the mucous in the uterus so thick that the sperm
cannot sperm cannot swim through to get to the egg, even if it were released!

This method of
birth control is good for breastfeeding mothers (because it does not contain
estrogen which affects mother’s breast milk production) and is long…

Q: Doc, I need help. Can I become affected because every time when I urinate, I use tissue?

A: Thanks for writing in.

Please clean up after you have urinated. If you don’t, then the urine and other secretions accumulate on your panties and make the area nice, warm and moist and a wonderful culture medium for micro-organisms to thrive.

Now, be sure not to wipe too ‘hard’ or ‘vigorously’. Y’all know that the skin down there is delicate and can irritate the skin there leading to inflammation and itching. Infections are likely to follow. So, or two wipes should be good, if you emptied out completely. Another option is to use wet toilet tissue.

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Q: What can a woman take as diet when she is one month pregnant?

A: Generally, food focus during pregnancy is on the same things you ate before you got pregnant…assuming you were eating right :D. More fruits and veggies, complex carbohydrates (they are rich in fibre and keep you feeling full for a longer period of time) like beans, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice etc. Load up on proteins too (fish, chicken etc), calcium rich foods like yoghurt, skimmed milk etc

Eat 5 small meals a day: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. This should keep the hunger pangs at bay and deal with the cravings. You probably will still crave stuff: Iyaalamala’s food, ice cream with all the toppings, a ‘ginormous’ (for the uninitiated, this is a word formed from a mixture of gigantic and enormous. Cute, right?)burger etc. and guess what? You can give in once ina…

Q: Is cucumber good for pregnant women?

A: Cucumber is a rich source of calcium and is generally considered safe in pregnancy unless of course you’ve had any allergic reactions with it before. Where in doubt, please speak to your doctor. Other good calcium sources are spinach, cabbage and other greens.

Eating right in pregnancy is critical and trust me….eating right is not necessarily eating for two…I know we’ve all heard the feeding for two fable. Trust me, in pregnancy, your calorie requirement doesn’t increase in first trimester, increases by just 300 calories in second trimester and about 400 calories in the 3rd trimester …if you’re carrying just one baby. For multiple pregnancies this increases slightly.

Other nutrition tips to help you during this period:
• Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods from different food groups.
• Be sure to include a lot of high fibre foods…

Q: Hi Dr Ketch, please I am 4weeks pregnant. 2 days ago, I ate vegetable soup and it’s been making me purge seriously; and I also feel weak. Please what drug can you advise me to take that will stop the stooling?

A: Hi dear. Congratulations on your pregnancy. We share in your joy!

Pregnancy is a very interesting time. Your body produces pregnancy hormone that help to keep your pregnancy. However, they come with some baggage too 😀 These hormones cause constipation and they also cause diarrhea. And so, even for those that may not be able to point to specific foods they ate that could have triggered the episode may just have diarrhea due to the hormones of pregnancy J

Other causes of diarrhea especially in early pregnancy include:

Changes to diet: Most women change their diets after they get pregnant and start to eat healthier. This diet…