chatwithketch

Do you need a special diet while on thyroid hormone medication? This Harvard article says, ‘Limit foods high in soy protein, because large amounts of soy might interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormone’. Want to know more? Please click on this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/healthy-eating-for-a-healty-thyroid

Q: Good day doc, how long does one need to wait after a CS before trying for another baby? Thank you sir.

A: Thanks for writing in. This is a common question amongst women who have had a Caesarian Section. How soon can I get pregnant again? This is an especially important question as the argument about how much time the body needs to heal rages. It only makes sense that the longer the body is allowed to heal, the better the wound healing. Different schools of opinion exist from 6 months to 1 year to at least 2 years. However, generally, a gap of 6 months is considered fair to have given the body sufficient time to heal.

Can you deliver normally? I prefer to ask, ‘can you deliver vaginally? There is nothing abnormal about having a baby through Caesarian Section. You’re as normal as the woman next door and you feel the same maternal urge as she does…maybe, even more 😀 It’s because we think C-section is abnormal that women who would benefit from this procedure turn it down and then end up dying because they wanted to do it ‘normally’! We need to change this mind set! For women who think ladies who had C-section are lesser mortals than them because they had a vaginal delivery, try cutting up yourself with a knife and then sewing it back up and you would know who’s more super-human! By the way, just in case you wondered, I’m not taking it personal because I had a C-section. I had all three of my children vaginally but would most certainly have opted for a C-section if I was advised to do so. But I digress….

So, can you deliver vaginally? This is possible. Your chances of a successful VBAC increase if:

• You’ve had a previous successful vaginal delivery
• You and baby are healthy with pregnancy progressing normally
• You’ve had only previous Caesarian Section with a low transverse incision on the uterus (womb)
• Spontaneous onset of labour on or before the your EDD

Now, these are general rules of thumb. Your specific medical history may be different, requiring a different approach. So, be sure to discuss the options open to you with your doctor.

And please, remember to discuss contraception/family planning options with your doctor during your 6 weeks appointment if you’ve had a baby. I’ve had quite a number of people writing in to ask if breast feeding protects against pregnancy and if it was possible for them to get pregnant even before their periods return or if it was safe to breastfeed a baby while pregnant (The answers by the way, are yes to getting pregnant while breastfeeding, yes to possibility of getting pregnant before periods return and yes to breastfeeding while pregnant); this means that there are probably a couple of people getting pregnant earlier than they had planned. Let’s take the right decisions.
Don’t forget to visit my blog, http://www.chatwithdrketch.com to search for any health/wellness topic you want information on. If you can’t find the answer you need, bring it here 😀

Have a great week ahead, y’all 😀

Q: Hello Doc, how are you doing? Kudos to you for the way you help people with various issues. Please Doc I would need your help in tackling my issue. I gave birth to my 1st child 3 weeks ago and unfortunately we lost her the next day. it was a natural birth…..it was really devastating but I am strong
now. My hubby and I would like to try again and I don’t know how soon we can
begin the process. Thank you ma’am and looking forward to hearing from you. God
bless

A: Condolences on the loss of your baby! I can’t imagine what it must have felt like going through this experience! I’m glad you feel much better and I’m rooting for you! By His grace, you will soon have a precious bundle of joy in your arms J

There are no standard answers really, as to when to start. Some doctors still advice people to wait 3 to 6 months before trying again so that it’s easier to date the pregnancy etc. Others will just ask you to wait until you’ve had one menstrual period. Be sure to ask your doctor to explain the reason for any recommendation he eventually comes up with so that you understand every step of the process.

What to do before you start trying again? Be sure to eat healthy…lots of fruits and vegetables and exercise. Limit caffeine and keep your weight within normal limits. You can start taking folic acid supplements now, even before you get pregnant.

The basic rules of trying to get pregnant also apply: make sure you have sexual intercourse at least 3 times a week (with ejaculation of a significant quantity of semen).

It is normal to feel worried and a bit scared going into another pregnancy, but you have to trust that all will work out well this time. Surround yourself with good professionals (OBGYN) and loving family/friends. Then relax and enjoy the ride J

Please write in anytime and let me know if there are other questions you have.

Have a great night y’all 😀

Q: Hello ma’am. Please ma’am, my daughter is about 4yrs + and she is just having temperature, cough and catarrh

A: Generally, cough could be due to common cold, allergies or other irritants in the environment, croup, whooping cough etc.

Generally, cough could be due to common cold, allergies or other irritants in the environment, croup, whooping cough etc.

First, if your baby’s cough is due to a cold, you really don’t need to give your baby any drug. A cold is a viral infection and once it causes an infection, it will run its course before it stops. And so, with or without drugs, a cold will go. It would usually last for about a week to 10 days and then disappear. There’s no need for antibiotics for a viral infection. Indeed, taking antibiotics when they are not needed leads to antibiotic resistance where the antibiotics can no longer properly do their jobs when they are really needed to fight infections.

Then some of the ingredients in the cough syrups can also cause a baby’s heart to beat faster, may cause convulsions and basically do not treat the cause of the cough. They are actually not supposed to be used for children younger than 2 to 3 years of age.

Now, what can you do in the meantime?

Let your baby sleep in your arms or in a semi-upright position. You can prop him up with lots of pillows at night.

Offer your baby fluids and if there is congestion in the nose, use a saline spray. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for this.

An air humidifier also moistens the air and makes it easier for your baby to breath. If you don’t have this, you can let your baby breath in steam from a hot shower.

A suction bulb can also help remove mucous from your baby’s nose.  You can ask for one in the hospital or a pharmacy.

Please see your baby’s doctor if this cough continues and/or your baby develops a fever and this cough lasts more than 2 weeks.  If your baby also has difficulty breathing, cannot breathe or feed, you should also see his/her doctor.

Have a great night, y’all 😀

 ##HLWDK

Q: Dear Doctor, I have been a dirt clay addict for almost four years of my teen, could this mean I am likely to suffer from being infertile? Please help I want to stop.

A: Eating clay and other non-food items is referred to as pica consumption. Ingestion of clay is known as geophagia. 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 for. People eat clay for different reasons. Some claim to like the taste and the texture. More commonly, some pregnant women claim that it helps them to prevent the nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy.

Indeed, some new ‘regimens’ claim that clay has a detoxifying effect on the body when ingested. Well, I haven’t seen any evidence for this claim. There is however, evidence that some of these clay products eaten may be contaminated with arsenic or lead leading to arsenic or lead poisoning with attendant complications.

So, to answer your question simply, will this habit make you infertile? Maybe not, but it’s definitely not healthy. So, please see your doctor to confirm if you’re iron-deficient. If this is the case, correction of this may solve the problem. Otherwise, your doctor will work with you to find the reasons why you crave clay and alternatives to this.

For more on pica consumption, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/19/daily-health-tips-if-i-drink-water-when-i-am-pregnant-will-my-baby-be-born-with-a-cold/

Have a good night, people 😀

Q: Hi doc! I am kindly asking is it right to be given twice the yellow fever injection because l was given last year August which will last for 10yrs.Is there a difference between yellow fever for ten years and life time? Thanks in advance

A: Hallos! Thanks for writing in.

Previously, the yellow fever vaccine was taken every ten years but since 2016, that regulation has changed. From 11^th of July 2016, the WHO, on its website, states that the certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is valid for life for everyone vaccinated and that this validity refers to existing and new certificates. For the latter, the lifetime validity starts 10 days after date of vaccination. This has effectively cancelled out the need for re-vaccination.

So, there is no difference. The vaccination that used to be received and was valid for 10 years is now valid for the duration of your lifetime. If you had received the vaccination before, you don’t need to modify your certificate. The old one is still valid and will be recognized by countries that require proof of this vaccination.

I hope this helps.

All the best!

Have a good night y’all 😀

Q: Good morning ma’am. Please ma’am, I am worried. I am 37weeks pregnant now and last night I had a reddish spots on my panties, though it was very small but I am still worried. I didn’t see it when I wiped earlier this morning. I don’t know if it is a problem. Help me with an advice even though it was just a stain. God bless you ma’am

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.

Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would and thus be mistaken for a period. This bleeding could be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb). Other causes of bleeding in early pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and infections.

For more information on ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage please click on these links:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/07/daily-health-tips-what-are-my-options-after-ectopic-pregnancy-and-failed-ivf/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/14/daily-health-tips-miscarriage-and-infertility-re-visited/

At 37 weeks, your pregnancy is considered full term. So, it may even be ‘show’ that you saw. Show is a mucous plug that may be tinged with blood and is a sign that your cervix (neck of womb) is getting ready for labour. Placenta previa is likely to cause bleeding from sometime around the second trimester of pregnancy, but of course, every episode of bleeding in pregnancy, irrespective of trimester, should be checked out in the hospital. Depending on the severity of the bleeding and the age of the pregnancy, the doctor would decide whether bed rest or emergency Caesarian section would be applicable. If bed rest is recommended, sexual intercourse and physical exertion including exercise, at this time may not be wise. Please discuss this with your doctor.

For more on placenta previa, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/09/daily-health-tips-can-placenta-previa-recur-in-my-pregnancy/

So, I suggest you go see your doctor immediately.

All the best!

Food cravings and aversions: I certainly had loads of aversions with my first pregnancy. I can’t remember any cravings as I couldn’t get any food to stay down. However, some people develop a craving for the oddest, craziest foods when pregnant. Go easy on eating for two though…the healthy living dictum of eating loads of fruits/vegetables and low calories does not change during pregnancy. The more you gorge or give in to the food cravings, the more work you have to do to get it off after the baby. However, if you find yourself craving things like clay, sand etc, please see your doctor as it could be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.

For more on pregnancy, diet and so much more, get your copy of the book, ‘Just For The Health Of It’

This is a great read and a fabulous gift to loved ones. It is a great gift for anyone who wishes to live and eat healthy, lose weight, get ready for pregnancy and parenting. Buy copies for bridal showers, baby showers, festive seasons etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving

Here’s what someone said after receiving it as a gift:

‘Good morning, Dr Ketch. I was given your book (Just For The Health Of It) as a Christmas gift by a friend of mine. I’m so happy. God bless you’

Make yourself and someone else happy by getting a copy from any of the following outlets:

1) Laterna Books online shop with nationwide delivery. Just click on this link: https://www.laternabooks.com/laterna_product_details.php?v=15450&c=44

2) Another option for those in Lagos is Laterna Bookshop on 13, Oko-Awo Close, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street,. Victoria Island. 

3) If you’re outside the country, please visit Amazon through this link http://www.amazon.com/Just-Health-Ketch-Pregnancy-Parenting/dp/9789398026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426246647&sr=1-1&keywords=just+for+the+health+of+it+with+dr+ketch+olalere+nkechi

For those in Abuja and environs, please call 07030739403 or pick it up at No 5 Bricks Market, Dawaki 11 Market, Dawaki extension.

4) For those in Awka, please call 08189944090.

Have a great week ahead, y’all

Q: Dr. please help me out. I have issue with hormonal imbalance. What should I do?

A: A collection of tissues called the endocrine system is responsible for the production of hormones, which control various functions in the body like metabolism, sexual reproduction, mood etc. Sometimes, these hormones are produced in excessive or too little amounts throwing the whole body off.

Treatment of hormonal imbalance is dependent on the cause. Excess weight can lead to high estrogen levels. So, exercise and weight loss can be beneficial here. High levels of thyroid hormones can be treated with drugs, radioactive iodine or surgery. The stress hormone, cortisol is produced when one is stressed and so treatment is focused on stress management techniques. The hormone, prolactin which is responsible for lactation in nursing mothers may be produced even when one is not lactating. Focus here is on reducing this hormone levels as will be described below.

Therefore, the first thing that needs to be done now is for your doctor has to investigate to find out the exact cause of the imbalance and then treat accordingly.

All the best!