“Doctor, I’ve heard that if a woman keeps her virginity for too long, she’ll develop fibroids. Is that true?”
This is one of those myths that has been passed down for generations but is there any truth to it? Read!
Q: Good evening doc, my question goes like this: since a young lady that keeps her virginity long is likely to suffer from fibroid, what is your advice since such a young lady does not want to lose her virginity?
A: Fibroids are common in women of African origin, women who are aged between 30 to 50 years and women who have a family history of this. Women who have had children have a lower risk of developing fibroid. So, the converse side of this is that, if you have not had children, you are at a greater risk of having fibroids. Perhaps that’s where this virginity gist came from Remember that not having children does not necessarily mean one is a virgin…
My advice? That’s pretty simple! Please keep your virginity for as long as possible as your virginity has nothing to do with having fibroids
Remember that with this, you can prevent all the different Sexually Transmitted Infections milling around out there
“Everyone keeps telling me to stop eating nzu… but nobody can explain why I crave it so much.”
Sound familiar?
Craving clay (nzu) during pregnancy is surprisingly common. Sometimes it’s linked to iron deficiency, but not always. And while many women see it as harmless, there are a few important things you should know before giving in to the craving. Read!
Q: Doc please, I’m wondering if you could advice me. I’m 6 months pregnant and I find it difficult adhering to treatment regimen like taking my routine drugs because I believe I get the right requirement from the food I eat. Though sometimes when I remember I take the drugs. The most important thing is that I can’t do without eating clay and ice block (pica so to say), but I’m not anaemic. Is there any physiology behind eating clay (nzu) and ice blocks since I’m not anaemic?
A: Interesting question.
Let’s start with pica and see if we can tie everything else in. Pica consumption is the craving and consumption of non-food items like clay, ash, soap, matches or even ice as in the case above. Sometimes, this is associated with deficiencies of certain minerals or vitamins in the body, but some other times, you just can’t find anything that you can attribute the craving to.
Cravings are, of course, a usual feature of pregnancy but usually the cravings are for food 😀
I, for one, certainly love my ice cubes, pregnant or not, and trust me…I do not have any deficiency (at least any one known to man :D).
Ice craving (known as pagophagia…pronounced pa-go-fa-jia) is thought to be due to folate/iron deficiency, which you may or may not have.
However, given that you have not been taking your prescribed meds, I would prefer to err on the side of caution and say, ‘please start taking your ante-natal medications.’ Even if you eat well, still take your pre-natal (ante-natal) meds because your baby is making more of a demand on your body and its stock of nutrients. It does take a whole lot to grow a healthy baby, you know 😃
Folate is especially important for the proper development of your baby’s spine.
And then your doctor can also check you out for any form of anaemia…just to be on the safe side.
Perhaps, I should also mention that ice consumption has also been linked to stress and obsessive compulsive disorder…don’t go looking at me, y’all….just because I confessed to loving ice too 😀
One trip to the toilet can send a pregnant woman into full panic mode…
You look down…
Your poop is jet black.
Your first thought?
“Something is terribly wrong.”
But if you’re taking iron tablets, the explanation is often much less frightening than you think…
Here’s when black stool is completely normal and when you should call your doctor.
Q: Good day doctor, please help me. I am pregnant (not my first child ooo) but whenever I use the toilet, my poop is always very black. What can be the problem?
A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in
I can imagine how scary it was to see black poop, but there’s a simple explanation.
As you know, during pregnancy, iron supplements are usually given to ensure that an adequate blood level is maintained during the pregnancy (due to increase need) and prevent anaemia.
These supplements can cause the colour of stool to become black.
Other side effects include heart burn, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting.
Remember, if things don’t feel right, always talk to your doctor!
One of the biggest surprises of early pregnancy is this…
You’ve waited to become pregnant…
And now you don’t even want to look at food.
Every smell makes you feel sick.
Brushing your teeth makes you retch.
Foods you once loved suddenly make you run to the bathroom.
So naturally, one frightening question comes to mind…
“If I’m hardly eating… is my baby getting enough?”
Here’s what every expectant mum should know…
Q: Hello Doc, l am 1 month pregnant now but I have been experiencing loss of appetite. So please may I know what food do pregnant women eat? Thank you.
A: Early pregnancy can be a trying time for a number of women as they go through tiredness, breast tenderness, loss of appetite, nausea etc
Loss of appetite may be due to the nausea of early of early pregnancy where it appears the tummy cannot seem to keep anything down. If you feel nauseous, the following tips may help:
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 😄
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
Talking more generally, here are 5 general nutrition tips for a pregnant woman: • Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods from different food groups.
• Be sure to include a lot of high fibre foods like vegetables, whole grain cereals etc to deal with the constipation associated with pregnancy.
• Ensure you take your antenatal medications (prenatal vitamins) in addition to eating well.
• Be sure to also take foods rich in iron eg and foods rich in folic acid eg green leafy veggies and beans. Folate prevents deformities of the spine.
• Drink at least 4 servings of milk, other dairy products or calcium rich foods. If you don’t eat enough, your baby will start drawing on your own stock from your bones. So, drink up your milk!
Few words strike fear into a pregnant mother’s heart like these:
“Your scan shows fibroids.”
Suddenly, your mind starts racing…
Will I lose my baby?
Will I need surgery?
Will I be able to deliver safely?
The reassuring truth?
Most women with fibroids go on to have completely healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
But there are a few important things every expectant mother should know. Read!
Q: Doctor hi, I’m three month pregnant, I had ultra sound where the doctor to noted uterine fibroid measured 2.56*1.7cm. Will it affect my baby, am I going to take medication during pregnancy?
A: Fibroids can co-exist with pregnancy in which case pregnancy may be normal or associated with breech pregnancy, pre-term delivery (delivery of pre-mature babies) etc. However, once a woman registers in a good antenatal center under a good obstetrician, these issues will be anticipated and addressed promptly. Please be sure that you are seeing an obstetrician who will help you during this pregnancy. Many patients with fibroids in pregnancy have normal pregnancies and deliveries.
Some women find out for the first time that they have fibroids when they get pregnant. Most of them cause no problems during pregnancy. However, some of them may act up.
Fibroids during pregnancy are managed conservatively…that is they are not managed aggressively. It’s kind of a wait and see approach.
A condition called red degeneration in which the fibroid outgrows its blood supply causing it to turn red and die can occur. This leads to intense abdominal pains and contractions.
Will this pain last forever? Usually it occurs around 12 to 22 weeks of pregnancy and bed rest for a couple of days coupled with pain killers should do the trick. Judicious fluid intake is also advised.
Share this with everyone you know that is dealing with fibroids in pregnancy or worried about it!
But can the colour of your urine REALLY tell you your baby’s sex?
Before you believe what you’ve been told…
Let’s separate fact from fiction.
Q: Good day doc, please what causes the colour of urine to change in pregnancy? Is it as a result of the baby’s gender?
A: Hallos! I assume congratulations are in order! I hope you enjoy this beautiful new state
Urine colour doesn’t necessarily change in pregnancy. What colour are we talking about here? If it’s darker, be sure that you’re getting enough fluids. You’re likely to urinate more during pregnancy though. Any colour change should be discussed with your doctor. And trust me, the urine colour says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the sex of your baby! Where did that come from?
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.
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.
“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 😀
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