Family! I have 14 pedometers to give away in 14 days

Starting February 1, join me for 14 Days of Wellness with Dr Ketch.

All you need to do is:

• Share a short video of yourself being active

• Share one health tip on how you stay active daily

Eligibility (simple)

Open to people in Nigeria

Winners must be able to (or send someone) pick up gifts in Abuja.

Watch the video (below) and the other posts on this on this page for full details.

And for our question of the day:

Q: Good morning Doc. I’m 6 weeks pregnant and this is my first baby. Please is it true that wearing heels is risky and can cause miscarriage?

A: Let me start with a confession – I love my heels

I’m petite (that’s the polite way of saying vertically challenged!), and flats sometimes make me walk like a soldier on parade. So trust me, I understand the attachment.

But let’s talk facts. Do heels directly cause miscarriage?

No. Wearing heels by itself does NOT cause miscarriage.

However, and this is important, heels can increase the risk of falling, and that is where the problem lies.

Why do heels become risky in pregnancy? As pregnancy progresses, your centre of gravity shifts forward, pregnancy hormones cause ligaments to relax, weight increases and balance becomes less stable

All of these make ankle sprains and falls much more likely especially in high heels.

A fall can potentially injure you or the baby, and that is how heels may indirectly increase risk, not because the shoe itself causes miscarriage.

What about early pregnancy? In the first trimester, some women may still tolerate low heels (1 inch or less), wide, sturdy heels, shoes with cushioning and good grip. But thin pencil heels and stilettos are best avoided.

Important note : Very flat shoes (like ballet flats) are also not ideal because they offer little arch support, which can worsen back pain and foot strain.

I hope this helps