chatwithketch

A while back, I got this question…

Q: Hi, Good day ma’am! Thanks a lot for the way you have been helping lots of people with their problems. How does one stop a child from sucking her thumb always in a healthy way?

A: Interesting question!

Children suck their thumbs at an early age as a means of soothing themselves or coping with stress/anxiety or even when bored. Usually, this habit would stop between the ages of 2 to 4 years old. If it continues longer than that your baby’s teeth start to give way to accommodate the thumb leading to a situation where your baby’s upper teeth no longer align properly with the lower teeth. It can also lead to speech problems.
How do you stop a child from sucking his thumb? Hmm, I’m sure that lots of people can share a lot from their personal experiences eg tying up the thumb, putting terrible tasting stuff on it like vinegar, mustard, bitter leaf, nail polish etc. In some instances, these harsh methods get children to stop this habit but they probably latch on to another habit, like bedwetting. So, we do not advocate any of these.

What can you do as a parent? Well, if the child, is not 6 years yet, ignoring the thumb sucking is an option. Don’t go into a big fuss and fight about it. He’s more likely to stop because some children teased him about it that the fact that you screamed about it.

Talk to him about why sucking his thumb is a bad idea. Talk to him about germs that he’s giving free access into his body etc and be sure to praise him when he’s not sucking his fingers/thumb. In fact, you could go as far as providing a reward to re-enforce this good behavior.
Remember that before the age of 6 years, we still believe that your baby will kick this habit all by himself. He usually does about the age of 4-5 years.

Now that was my answer some years back. The post below suggests that there may actually be benefits to this habit! :O Read!

Q: Is morning after pill same as abortion doc?

A: The morning after pill which can be taken within 72 hours (some can be taken within 5 days) of unprotected intercourse, can help prevent pregnancy. So, technically, it means you are not pregnant yet and therefore are not aborting.

However, I always remind people that instead of asking these questions after the fact, be guided  by the ABC that guides these affairs. A is for abstinence. Honestly, this is your safest bet. If you’re not ready to deal with the responsibilities of having a baby, please leave well alone. You can’t have an STI, HIV/AIDS, or otherwise if you don’t have sex. In addition, you can’t get pregnant. Now, if abstinence is a problem, be faithful to one partner…who, hopefully, is being faithful to you too. If you can’t swear on this, revert to plan A. Finally, if all else fails, ensure that you use a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

Contraception is a good option but the answer to proper contraception is not popping a pill in panic whenever you happen to have sexual intercourse. Emergency contraceptives have their place but they are not meant to take the place of regular contraceptives, as they are less effective than the regular ones. Regular use of these emergency contraceptives may cause your periods to become irregular and unpredictable. I’m sure you don’t want to have this problem 😀 You might want to visit your nearest family planning clinic for options which can work for you.

Have a great week ahead, everyone 😀

Ever feel the sudden urge to urinate even when you know your bladder is not full? Ever had a little accident while trying to control the urge, before getting to the bathroom? This article is fo you.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/the-bladder-workout-tame-incontinence-without-surgery

Q: Hi, I have a problem. My periods smell really bad on the first day. Second day to my last day they are fine. What may be the problem?

A: Menstrual blood usually has some odour – not strong but definitely there as blood takes on its own scent as it comes in contact with air. The bacteria in menstrual flow can also raise a stench 😀

So how do you deal with this? Here are top tips to maintain personal hygiene and smell fresh during your period.

• Take a bath regularly. Twice a day would be great or failing that at least once a day. If your flow is heavier than normal, you just may have to increase the frequency. Remember that to wash your delicate inner self where you’re bleeding from, you usually do not require more than water and your hands.
• Change your sanitary towels often. As soon as you notice they are significantly stained, please change them. This should be every 4-6 hours at the very maximum. Aim for the lower limit 😀
• Avoid scented products. Feminine sprays, scented wipes and scented pads or tampons can make menstrual odor worse as they contain chemicals that irritate the vagina, which can lead to increased discharge, infections and increased vaginal odor.
• Carry a spare pack of deodorant and use that liberally whenever you have a pad change. Be sure not to attempt to smell like you soaked yourself in a bottle of perfume. It might also be a pointer that perhaps you’ve got something to hide.
• Scrub your hands thoroughly after a pad change. Observe all the rules of proper hand washing. This ensures that you get rid of all the bacteria and may have got on your hands and ensures that you keep the odour level down.
• Dispose of your sanitary towels properly. Do not flush them down the drain and if there is no trash can in the bathroom you are using to dispose of it, have a disposable ziplock bag to put it in and dispose it appropriately as soon as you can. Make sure that this is kept in a zipped up compartment of your bag.
• If the odour persists or becomes very strong, please see your doctor and get tested for vaginal infections. Strong odor can signify infections like bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections or trichomoniasis. These infections can be easily treated with medications, and the odour will disappear as soon as the infection is treated.

Remember that, even when the smell is not so strong, you can smell your genitals oftentimes because they are well, practically south of your nose…it doesn’t necessarily mean other people can smell them provided you’re obeying the rules of simple hygiene. And be sure to use an air freshener in the bathroom where you just changed. We don’t want to leave any tell-tale signs or smells now, do we?

For a related post, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/01/07/daily-health-tips-whats-the-cure-for-foul-smelling-genitals/

Have a great evening 😀

Q: Good evening, Please Doc I read that ninety percent of a child brain growth takes place by the time he is five years old, Does it mean that anything given to a child above five years will not help develop the child’s brain anymore or just ten percent?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in.

A baby’s brain starts developing in pregnancy and continues after birth as a result of interactions around them. This is why it’s important to ensure that babies get the right nutrition and stimulation from when they are born all the way to adulthood.

So are you correct in your assertions? The baby’s brain develops very rapidly in the first 3 to 5 years of life and the entire structure and building blocks are present by the time the child is 9 years old. Some studies show that the size of the brain does not alter much between 5 and 20 years, but the connections between developed parts continues. Getting different areas of the brain to be functionally connected happens over a period of time, and may continue up till 30 years of age.

So, to your question, even though the baby’s brain may not develop beyond the 5^th year, vital connections are happening which enable a human being act as one complex being with parts that work together even if they have different functions.

So, what can you do to encourage brain development?

• Feed your child well. Breastmilk has all the nutrients that babies need until they are about 6 months old. 6 months, introduce other nutrients like fibre, vitamins and minerals that are found in foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and meat to ensure baby is developing well
• Mother should stay off alcohol when pregnant and also teach child to stay off too as he grows
• Talk to your children, starting from when they are in the womb and after they are born. Talk to and with them. Explain things and try to understand and acknowledge their thoughts and feelings
• Provide a safe environment
• Believe in them and encourage them
• Reward them but also provide clear boundaries. They need to know what lines they cannot cross

I hope this helps.

Have a great evening J

Do you have an ailment or condition that makes you take pain medication often? Are you absolutely fed up with taking pills? Have you wondered if it’s possible to handle pain without taking pain medication? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should read this article.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/6-ways-to-use-your-mind-to-control-pain

Are you one of those who take pain killers – when needed and when not needed? You should read this!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-you-taking-too-much-anti-inflammatory-medication-2018040213540

7^th April of every year marks the World Health Day. This year, the theme of the celebration is ‘Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere’

Do you know what universal health coverage means? It means that you (yes you!) have the right to receive good quality health services when you need it without getting into financial difficulties. This sounds like one of those high-sounding WHO declarations that mean nothing to you in your small corner of the world. But guess what?! This applies to you. Your government agreed to it, signed off on it and indeed declared that it would ensure that 15% of its budget was dedicated to health so that you will not have to suffer any financial difficulty in choosing to access care or worse still have to choose between certain death and financial ruin when you fall ill.

So, how can you ensure that in Nigeria (and other countries where a lot still has to be done) we have access to the care we need without becoming penniless? We hold government accountable. There’s no better time than now. It’s an election year in 2019. National discussions are ongoing. When there are major road traffic accidents, we spend a few days to castigate the country’s leadership and how they have failed us in years past – leading to poor health service delivery in all aspects. But guess what? You control the narrative now. As the elections draw closer, let’s ask all those who wish to lead us their plans for UHC. It’s not something that happens in foreign lands…no! Examples of amazing progress towards UHC abound around us from East, South, Central and other West African countries. We can replicate same and better in our various countries.

So, the next time elections come around, let’s vote with our heads (facts) and not our hearts (sentiments). We can get this right!

Have a great week y’all 😀