Daily Health Tips: Safe Methods Of Contraception While Breastfeeding

Posted on May 16, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Please Doc, can a breast-feeding mother that hasn’t start menstruation use contraceptive pill? Also can she use it anytime of the day?
 
A: Well, a breastfeeding mother should definitely not be taking any medication without speaking to her doctor. That’s for sure! 😀 This is because drugs that you take will also end up in breast milk. Most times, the concentration of these drugs in breast milk is so small that it hardly causes any problems in the baby but in some instances, the drug could get very concentrated in breast milk, putting the baby at risk. So, all drug choices, be they contraceptives or otherwise, must pass through your doctor.
 
A very common question I get asked is if breastfeeding mums can get pregnant. The answer is yes. If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, feeding your baby on demand (every 4 hours), you’re within 6 months of your baby’s birth and your menstrual period has not returned after the birth of your baby, you stand a better chance of not getting pregnant during this period. However, this is not a reliable method.
 
Birth control pills can help prevent pregnancy at this time. Pills that contain estrogen can lead to reduction in breast milk supply (and yes, combination pills contain estrogen). So, it’s a good idea to avoid such pills at this time. Pills that contain only progestin (like the minipill) is a better idea as it does not affect breast milk supply. It’s usually taken at the same time daily. It’s best to start this discussion before you have your baby or immediately after so that your doctor can advise as to when you should start taking the pills.
Barrier contraceptives like condoms, diaphragms etc can also serve the purpose of preventing pregnancy at this time.
 
There are, of course, other methods of birth control available eg Intra Uterine Device (IUD), implants, patches etc also exist and you may want to discuss these other options with your doctor as you conclude breastfeeding.
 
Have a great evening 😀
 
 
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Taking On The Myths!

Posted on May 15, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Take a look at @KidsHealth’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/KidsHealth/status/731519541386301441?s=09

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True Or False? Which Is It?

Posted on May 15, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Have you heard those amazing, mind boggling myths that people repeat about pregnancy?
 
Advice
Pregnant women should eat native clay called nzu in Ibo. This helps wash unborn baby’s body so that when born the baby is very clean. It also stimulates an appetite in these pregnant women.
 
Fiction (False)
Eating loads of clay will only end up giving you constipation, can potentially harm your baby and where there is a craving for it, it may even be suggestive of iron deficiency anaemia.
 
Advice
Presence of a black line below the navel can tell you if the baby is a boy or girl.
 
Is this true or false? What about: If you eat a lot of snails, your baby will spit a lot and a breastfeeding mum cannot get pregnant. Any truth to these?
 
The book, Just For The Health Of It With Dr Ketch, explores these and other issues
 
You can get a copy in any of the three following ways:
 
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.
 
 
4) For those in Abuja and environs, please call 07030739403 or pick it up at No 5 Bricks Market, Dawaki 11 Market, Dawaki extension.
 
5) For those in Awka, please call 08189944090.
 
Remember that this book 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, Christmas gifts etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving 😀
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Daily Health Tips: Newly Married With Fibroids…What Are My Options?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good day doctor, please I discovered I have intramural fibroid. I am 27 years old and newly married. I am scared and I don’t want to be operated. Is there any chance of me conceiving without operation, or is there any hope for me other than to be operated before I can conceive? Please Ma, your answer will really help me and I can’t wait to read from you. Thanks and God bless.
 
A: Congratulations on your wedding and marriage. It shall be long and it shall be joyful! The first thing you need is information. Knowledge is power. With information, you know what you are dealing with, your options and then, you can take better decisions.
Fibroids develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus (womb). These growths can range in size from seedlings to big masses. They are differentiated by the sites where they are found: inside the cavity of the womb (sub-mucosal), within the muscle of the uterus (intramural), on the surface of the womb (sub-serosal). Fibroids do not cause infertility per se, but sub-mucosal ones in the cavity of the womb, can take up the place where a baby would have implanted causing infertility. Fibroids can also distort the shape of the ovaries and fallopian tubes causing problems with conception.
 
Hormones are implicated in the development of fibroids as when women get to menopause with resultant decrease in the level of circulating hormones, estrogen and progesterone, the fibroids shrink. Fibroids are more likely to occur in black women, people who take alcohol, people with a family history, obese people and those who eat a lot of red meat and little vegetables.
Symptoms of fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, frequent urination as the mass presses on the bladder, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, pelvic pressure etc. Pain can also result in fibroids when a fibroid has a stalk and gets twisted or when the fibroid grows so fast that it outgrows its blood supply lead to its ‘death’.
Now to your question, there are a couple of different methods for the treatment of fibroids but only your doctor can confirm which one is suitable to you.
 
If the fibroids are small and causing no problem (probably discovered incidentally), then your doctor will most likely not institute any treatment other than watchful waiting.
 
If one is around menopausal age and probably has finished having children, some drugs that mimic the effect of menopause are giving. These deprive the fibroids of nutrient supply and thus they shrink. Other treatment modalities may involve using IUCDs which release hormones that reduce the severity if bleeding and pain medications. With technology advances, there are also non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures that can take care of fibroids. The final options are the tried and tested surgical procedures. One of the surgical procedures, myomectomy, involves removing the fibroids while preserving the healthy tissue of the uterus (womb). You can still get pregnant after this surgical procedure. So, you may want to have a long chat with your doctor to determine what options are available in your location and what applies to you.
 
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.
So, don’t be afraid. Having fibroids does not necessarily mean you cannot have children.
 
All the very best and….hugs!
 
Have a great weekend, y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips:Early Pregnancy

Posted on May 12, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Hi doc, I just discovered am six weeks gone. I feel very weak and I find it difficult to eat and most times I feel like vomiting. This is my first time. What do I do to make sure my baby is in good condition eg like things I need to eat? I am really waiting for your response. Thank you doc
 
A: Congratulations on your pregnancy!
 
Pregnancy can affect different women differently. For some women, they hardly feel a thing and others spend the whole nine months (…and then some :D) in bed. I remember mine very vividly. To start with, I had no idea I was pregnant. I was doing my house job/internship then and I worked in the Emergency Room (ER). This particular ER was extremely busy, a lot of times and specifically at this time in question. So, I couldn’t afford the distraction of a fever…because that was what I kept experiencing. Fever and that peculiarly Nigerian symptom of internal heat 😀 I shrugged it off and kept going. But these symptoms were going nowhere! It worsened such that when I smelt perfume, I would throw up and I had this absolutely disgusting taste in my mouth. Sounds like malaria, yes? Well, I freely confess to not being the best patient and so I didn’t run a test neither did I treat myself. I just figured it would go away (Quick disclaimer: please don’t practice this when you are pregnant or at any time at all :D)
 
Anyways, back to you…..
 
Morning sickness during pregnancy can be really trying! I know…I suffered through it! Oh boy! Thank God I’m over all of that now…I’m a grandmother in waiting 😀
 
Now, for the rest of you who still have to go through this, I’ll share some tips.
 
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 ;D
 
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
 
I hope this helps
 
Have a good night everyone 😀
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High blood pressure: Why me?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

It can be hard to accept a diagnosis of high blood pressure, in part because it has no immediate symptoms.

Source: High blood pressure: Why me?

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Daily Health Tips: Scanty Periods And Candidiasis

Posted on May 10, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Good morning doctor, I have been having scanty period since December last year. I went for treatment it was diagnosed it was candidiasis. I was place on drugs to clear it. In March I had my normal follow. In April it became scanty and this may it has come after 14days. Please what do I do please? Thanks
 
A: A reduction in flow (scanty period) is called hypomenrrhea (pronounced hai-po-men-oria) and a reduction in the number of days of flow to less than 3 days is called oligomenorrhea (oli-go-men-oria).
 
Now at the onset of puberty, the flow and cycle can vary from one cycle to the other; the same goes for the other extreme of life (old age).
 
Other issues that can cause a decrease in flow include pregnancy (the supposed period may be an implantation bleed), crash dieting (when you want to lose all the weight you added in 5 years in one week :D), intense physical activity, Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD), imbalance of hormones and use of contraceptives. Previous instrumentation like Dilatation and Curettage (D and C), where the procedure was too ‘vigorously’ done can result in a condition called Asherman’s syndrome which manifests as reduction in menstrual flow. In the same way that stress can delay a menstrual period, it can also cause a reduction in flow.
 
You must work with your gynaecologist in order to manage this. If the cause is PCOD, focus will be on the treatment; if due to intense exercise, reducing intensity will be helpful; if due to crash dieting, focus on eating a proper balanced diet will help etc. Your gynaecologist will carry out a detailed examination and investigation to arrive at the cause and advice on treatment.
This situation (scanty mensis) is very different from candidiasis. However, the two conditions can occur together.
 
Candidiasis is caused by an organism called Candida (Candida albicans), a fungus (yeast). This infection can result in cheesy white (like ground melon/egusi seeds) vaginal discharge and vaginal itching. This itching can lead to irritation in the vagina which can become further infected by bacteria.
 
Candidiasis is very common in diabetics (the sugar in their urine makes the vagina a rich culture medium for them) and pregnant women who have altered glucose tolerance. This infection is also common in people whose immune systems are compromised and people who wear tight panties that do not allow their delicate inner selves to ‘breath’. Preferred materials for undies would be cotton and should be loose (I see my fashionistas frowning :D). It also happens in people who take a lot of antibiotics. Normally, some bacteria and fungi (yeast) co-exist peacefully 😀 in the vagina. To encourage this peaceful co-existence, the bacteria produce some acid that hold the yeast in check and prevent their over-growth. When antibiotics are abused, this leads to a situation where the yeast takes over  (almost like a coup, right?). Though this infection can be passed on through sexual intercourse…especially oral-genital contact, it’s not really called an STI because women who are not sexually active can be infected with this.
Treatment is with anti-fungal vaginal tablets and/or anti-fungal cream which can be used for between 1-3 days depending on drug of choice. A single course dose of Fluconazole can also be taken orally. Any of these regimen may be extended if the infection is complicated…let your doctor be the best judge of that
 
Prevention is targeted at causes:
 Wear loose fitting cotton undies
 
 Stay away from or limit time spent in hot tubs or saunas
 
 Stick strictly with the prescription for antibiotics in terms of quantity and duration
 
 Change out of wet clothes eg swim suits as soon as possible
 
Remember that your treatment will not work if you keep exposing yourself the risk factors like wearing tight, nylon undies, taking antibiotics indiscriminately etc. Candida infections would usually occur about a week before a menstrual period (though it can and does occur at other times too).
Have a good night y’all 😀
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Daily Health Tips: How Can I Stop My Teeth From Changing Colour?

Posted on May 9, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
Q: Hello Dr, how can one prevent his or her teeth from changing colour?
 
A: Smoking, drinking coffee, wine, tea etc can cause your teeth to change colour. Generally brightly coloured foods like some candies, berries and sauces also have the potential to stain teeth if they are left on the surface long enough.
 
To prevent these stains, try the following tips:
Avoid or significantly reduce the amount of these fluids or foods in your typical diet.
 
If you can’t avoid them, then reduce the amount of time the foods or fluids have contact with your teeth by chewing and swallowing promptly. Yes, I know I’ve said you should chew intentionally so that your tummy has the chance to receive signals from the brain which tell it that it’s full 😀 But, in this instance, we’re trying to choose the lesser of two evils
 
Use straws. These will ensure that the fluids get little contact time with your teeth.
 
Learn to swish your teeth with water after you’ve taken any of these foods to ‘wash’ away the residue of the stain-causing foods.
If you already have stained teeth, here’s what to do:
There are easily obtainable teeth whitening tooth pastes. They help remove surface stains that may be caused by coffee or nicotine.
When whitening paste is used at least twice a day for a period of time between 2 to 6 weeks, significant results are seen. However, care has to be taken to ensure that these pastes are used according to the manufactures’ instructions otherwise, they can cause erosion of the enamel of the teeth.
 
Please note that the whitening tooth pastes do not alter the natural colour of your teeth and by extension are not useful, if the stain is deeper than the surface of your teeth!
 
Whitening strips and gels are also available. Apart from all these, there are a couple more sophisticated treatments available from the dentists’. So check with yours.
 
Beyond all these, please don’t forget the place of regular brushing of teeth in the maintenance of a bright and gorgeous set of teeth.
Fruits like apples and strawberries actually contain substances that help whiten the teeth. So, just like the doctor ordered…an apple a day, keeps the doctor (and the dentist :D) away.
 
A DIY (Do It Yourself) solution is to mix the juice of one lemon with one or two pinches of baking soda. Then dip a cotton ball into this and leave this on your teeth for 1 minute ONLY! Yes, I had to scream that for emphasis 😀 If you leave it longer than that, the lemon juice can lead to the erosion of the enamel. So, if you can’t manage this, please just see your doctor who will suggest other solutions too or get it done for you professionally.
 
Have a good night, y’all 😀
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Cutting back on added sugar – Harvard Health health.harvard.edu

Posted on May 8, 2016 by chatwithdrketch

Do you have questions about sources of added sugar, artificial sweeteners etc? You should read this article from Harvard Health!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/cutting-back-on-added-sugar

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Thank You!

Posted on May 7, 2016 by chatwithdrketch
A merry heart does good, like medicine….
 
So says the good book. And that’s exactly how I feel today as I celebrate my birthday…merry! It has been a most fascinating year for me. I have traveled unfamiliar paths and routes and have been blessed, to conquer.
 
I have continued to reach out to you all on this page and have been blessed by your prayers for me and appreciation for what this page stands for.
 
Every year, I get better because of all the many paths I travel…some pleasant and some, not so pleasant. But all of them, part of His grand plan for my life. I get better, as I reach deep inside to give of myself to you. Some evenings, I come back so late from work and the last thing I feel like doing, is writing on the blog or posting on facebook. But when I remember that y’all are waiting to read answers to your questions, I know that I must make the effort to pick a question to answer 😀
 
And so today, I celebrate myself 😀 but more importantly, I celebrate you all…my ‘Healthy Living’ family. You make me so much better!
 
THANK YOU!
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