chatwithketch

Q: Good evening ma’am. Please, I need advice. How can I select the sex of my child because I need a male child. I don’t have any gynecological problem…just a boy child. Thanks.

A: Dear Madam, you are quite fortunate that you have no gynecological problem. Of every 10 women who present to hospital, at least 1-2 of them will have a gynecological problem.
In the African setting, a lot of emphasis is placed on the male child. I can appreciate that you may be going through a lot of pressure. However, I would want you to know that children are gifts from God, and sex selection is not determined by you or anyone else. The selection process is done by Him.

Scientifically, there are the X and Y chromosomes. Each individual has two sex chromosomes. XX in females and XY in males. During fertilization, one chromosome is derived from each parent. Usually the Y chromosome is derived from the male (because they alone have the Y chromosome) and the woman can only give the X chromosome (because she has just X chromosomes). If the Y chromosome is not donated or selected from the male during the fertilization process, then a female child is formed, on the other hand, if the Y chromosome is selected(from the male/father), then a male child is formed.

In my opinion, it’s not really the sex of the child that matters, but how you raise them and make them your pride at all times. I am from a family of five girls and we all have made our parents proud; with 3 medical doctors, an engineer and a psychology undergraduate. I have retained my father’s name and added it to my husband’s name, just to ensure the name doesn’t ‘die’ as is believed in the absence of a male child.

There are quite a number of unconventional methods for the selection of the sex of your child, having to do with meeting your husband at particular periods of your menstrual cycle. However, these have not been backed up by research and I cannot guarantee its effectiveness. Modern scientific research has also made sex selection possible, during invitro fertilization. This is however, very expensive and not readily available.

I hope you are able to and appreciate the beautiful blessings God has given you and find peace and satisfaction with whatever God grants you, whether male or female….a blessed child is the ultimate 😀 Cheers!

****This post was contributed by a guest doctor blogger.

Have a great night, beautiful people 😀

Q: Hello Dr. Please, my girlfriend is about 11 weeks pregnant now but she always complains of tiredness. All the time, she’s vomiting especially if she smells anything with slight or strong odour. Sometimes after meals she vomits. Can this still be the part of early symptoms of pregnancy?

Secondly at what week can we do our pregnancy scan to be able to ascertain the actual age of the pregnancy? What type of foods should she be taking? Kindly recommend. Thanks for your good work. May the love of the lord continue to be with you.
A: Hello sir, Congratulations! I can sense the feeling of excitement in you, knowing your child is on the way. I am also happy that you are taking on the responsibility of taking care of her (in fact both of them). I do pray she has a stress-free pregnancy and a safe delivery.

The symptoms she has been experiencing are normal especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. A normal pregnancy lasts between 38-42weeks, with an average of 39weeks. Medically, this period is divided into 3 phases depending on the growth and development of the child, as well as changes in the mother. These phases are known as trimesters, when we divide the whole duration of pregnancy, that is 39 weeks by 3, we have 13; so each trimester is 13 weeks long.

In the first trimester, the woman feels so ill (especially if it’s her first pregnancy). She feels tired, vomits a lot, has a loss of appetite (although in some, the appetite increases), food, as well as other smells become offensive (especially the food she prepares herself). She may develop some unusual desires for food like wanting to eat only snacks, only drinks, or just fruits (which she ordinarily wouldn’t request for). She looks pale, starts storing fluid in the body and may have symptoms of malaria, respiratory infection, or urinary infection, in addition.

It’s important that she books in a health care facility as early as possible, so that she can be monitored and any deviation from the normal first trimester symptoms, would be identified early and managed appropriately. As I have mentioned, malaria, and other infections are quite common too, and have symptoms similar to the early pregnancy symptoms, so it may be rather difficult to differentiate, except by someone who is experienced and trained. It is worth mentioning, that these conditions, may lead to pregnancy loss if not managed appropriately. If you notice any worsening of symptoms, fever, bleeding from the vagina, abdominal pains, or excessive vomiting, please present in hospital, as soon as possible, as these may be indicators of more sinister problems.

Dating pregnancy is best done with the use of the last menstrual period. That is the first day of the woman’s last normal menstrual flow. However, if she is not sure of her dates, then a scan can be used. To date pregnancy, a first trimester scan gives the most appropriate approximation. The earlier it is, the more accurate it is likely to be, so I would advise you have your scan now, since she’s still in her first trimester.

Dietary recommendations for pregnant women emphasize the need for increased calorie intake, to meet the demands of both mother and child. This will include a balanced diet, rich in all the various classes of food viz-a-viz proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and also lots of water. Special focus should be on fruits and vegetables, as these not only boost the immune system, and protects the mother and baby from falling ill, they are also important in the development of the child’s brain and nervous system. Women, who were consistent in taking fruits during pregnancy, were noticed to have babies with smother skin, fine hair and stronger bones. The emphasis should be on quality and not quantity, so you don’t end up with obesity, having a big baby and all the complications that come with that.

Most importantly, do book for you antenatal clinic as soon as you can, as the clinic not only provides care for the mother and child, but a lot of health education takes place. Besides, it’s an avenue for social interaction, where you get to meet ‘biggy belles’ like you; learn from them, share your experiences and maybe make a friend for life 🙂 you never know!

****This post was contributed by a guest doctor blogger.
Have a great night, beautiful people 😀

Q: Hi DR. What causes the vagina to release a lot of air? It feel like fart from the vagina. Why is there a lot of air inside? And I haven’t had sex 4 a while.

A: Vaginal farts are much more common than you may think. However, many women would rather not talk about it because, it may be somewhat embarrassing! Vaginal farts occur when the vaginal walls expand, pulling in lots of air, and then collapse back to release this air. They are usually odorless, in contrast to anal farts. It can happen with exercise, sex, and with sudden movements like getting out of a chair.

To get rid of them, performing exercise like squats, or Kegel exercises are recommended. This is done by trying to hold your vagina together, tightening it like trying to hold urine. Hold these contractions for 10 seconds, then release for another 10 seconds. This should be done several times a day .You can do these exercises anywhere; while waiting on a queue, working at your desk or while watching TV. It may take 6-12 weeks of exercise to see results. These exercises can strengthen the pelvic wall muscles and help keep the vaginal walls from expanding. These exercises provide other benefits like facilitating childbirth, enhancing orgasm, and decreasing the chances of having a leaky bladder later in life.

Try keeping your legs together as much as possible, and also avoid using tampons when you are not menstruating.
The best advice is to think of vaginal farting as natural and fun instead of embarrassingJ

****This post was contributed by a guest doctor blogger.

Have a great night, beautiful people 😀

If you have had a baby and you wonder how you can ever return to your size pre-baby size, well, this is for you!

I remember those years before I had my first baby! I see some of those pictures and I gaze in awe. I had my first baby and once she was six weeks old, I was back on the beat doing my exercises to get back to my BC (before child) status

Then came along baby number 2…and suddenly, it wasn’t so easy to get back to my pre-pregnancy state. I managed it at the end of the day though…but it was with tightly gritted teeth, loads of sweat and oodles of perseverance.

Then came baby number 3 and my metabolism finally gave up. Every food I ate was duly converted to calories and stored in embarrassing areas of my body like my lower belly and my hips. Again, I worked at it, even harder this time!

In between, I tried some magic berry pills that were supposed to speed up your metabolism so fast it made your head spin! Well, I can tell you for a fact that my head spun, not from how fast my metabolism was converting fat to muscle but by how I could have ever considered there was an easier way…than sweating and grunting through it!

Did it get better afterwards? Nope, it became a constant battle to get the weight off and make it stay that way. And so I decided to do something about it! And do something about it, I did. Want to know what I did to lose all the baby weight? get details from the book, Just For The Health Of It. You can get a copy via the shop now link on our facebook page. Or you can get it through:

1) Jumia.com. Just click on this link http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-books-just-for-the-health-of-it-with-dr-ketch-179486.html and get a copy. You have the option of paying when the book is delivered to you or paying online. This service is available all over Nigeria.

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

Q : Hi Doc. Please, is it advisable for a nursing mother to either take lemon water or lemon and ginger tea?

A: Just like pregnancy, breastfeeding may place some restrictions on what you eat, and drink. This is because the things you consume are passed to your baby through your breast milk.
Lemon and lemon water are beneficial to the digestive system as they have been found to reduce gas and bloating in both mother and baby. Ginger is also beneficial, as it has been found to improve lactation. Even though they may be beneficial to both mother and baby, it should be noted that these may interact with certain drugs and increase risk of gastrointestinal problems, stomach ulcers and allergic reactions like breathing difficulty, or swelling of the lips, tongue or face.

I would advise you talk with your doctor before commencing any of these or other herbal supplements, especially so if you are taking medications for other health conditions, or at risk of certain diseases.

*****The answer to this post was contributed by a guest doctor blogger

If this lemon is being taken for weight loss, please read my thoughts on that: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/01/11/daily-health-tips-weight-loss-the-role-of-lemons-and-exercise/

Have a good night y’all 😀

For some reason, people think that milk is only for children. But it’s not. It should certainly be started in childhood to ensure that one builds up a significant stock of calcium that helps prevent brittle bones later in life. You don’t want to deal with broken bones in old age, do you? You should still be able to teach the young ones a trick or two in sports. I certainly intend to!

Now let me give you a quick class on how much milk you should be getting per day.
• From birth till 6 months, a baby should be getting breast milk only and he should get it on demand several times a day at least 2-3 hourly
• From 6 months to 1 year, continue breast milk with other complementary feeds like fortified cereals
• From 1 year to 2 years, the child should get at least 2 cups of full cream milk. The fat is particularly important to ensure proper brain development
• From 2 years to 8 years, your child should get at least 2 1/2 – 3 cups of skimmed milk or other dairy products daily
• From 9 years till adulthood, you should get at least 3 – 4 cups of skimmed milk or dairy daily

Remember that your milk intake should form part of your calorie intake per day. Be sure to take that into account. So guys, get your milk mustache going. It’s certainly one source of protein and calcium that you should not be ignoring. Be sure to check that the milk is also fortified with Vitamin D which ensures that the calcium is properly absorbed. If you are at risk of prostate cancer, be sure to discuss your milk intake with your doctor.

So, what innovative ways can we use to incorporate milk into our diets?
• Add milk to your children’s breakfast cereal. Either use it instead of water as the fluid for making your oatmeal in the morning or pour it over their cereal.
• Add milk to your smoothies. Juice and or blend the fruits and then add some milk to it and blend it all up. It tastes like heaven on earth!
• After running around and getting loads of exercise outside, when your children come in, offer a cold glass of milk. It could be regular milk or chocolate milk or just milk with a little flavouring in it like vanilla or butter scotch. Recent research shows that it’s a great pick-me-up after physical activity. The fact that it’s cold may encourage your sweaty I-don’t-like milk child to give it a try.
• Use milk to make home-made yoghurt and get your children involved and bond some more.
• You can use milk to make some super delicious milk shakes. Everybody loves a milk shake. An easy one to make is a combination of milk, some fruits (eg mango) and crushed ice. Put all into a blender and whizz away. Watch while blending because if you blend for too long, it becomes runny. You want it nice and sorta thick….and utterly delicious!

So, now you can rustle up more wonders from your kitchen. Go for it!

Q: Please Doc, I need to add some weight and at least have appetite for food. What can I use? Secondly I’m prone to cold. Sometimes, I take Procold…I don’t know if that’s advisable.

A: With the adoption of western lifestyle, obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases like Diabetes and Hypertension are on the increase. Many people are now looking for ways to reduce weight and live healthier. Both actual and virtual forms of exercise or weight reduction programs abound.

Ironically, here you are asking for how to add some weight. I can almost say, you are so lucky! However I had to caution myself, considering there may be other circumstances surrounding your request.

First, your weight or how you see it may not be a true reflection of your health status. A slim, tall man, may be healthier than a thick, stocky counterpart. Also, a fat, rounded person, who is tall and exercising regularly, with no other risk factors, may be healthier than an average height, full-bodied individual. A more objective measurement is the body mass index, which makes use of your height and weight and categories if you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese.

So, I would advice before you start adding on the weight, do check your BMI and see a doctor who can help rule out other health issues that may be contributing to ‘low weight’. For your appetite, I would advise you eat only when you are hungry, eat an appetizer like carrots, or fruit salad before meals, avoid drinking water or fluids before meals, this will fill up your stomach and reduce the quantity of food you can consume. I wouldn’t really encourage that you take medications to boost your appetite, as these could have effects on the brain and general functioning of the body. Let your doctor advice you as to whether you need to take these or not.
To add on weight, eat foods that are balanced in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Proteins are excellent for body building and help in cell growth and repair. Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, legumes, milk, and other diary produce are excellent examples. Focus on quality and not quantity. The rule is divide your plate into 3 parts, ½ of it should be a protein diet, ¼ carbohydrate or fats (unsaturated), and the remaining ¼ should be vegetables and fruits. Eat more frequently, and never skip meals. If you must snack, choose snacks like nuts, dried fruits, crackers or crunchy vegetables and fruits. Eat before bed time, never go to bed on an empty stomach.

It’s important to monitor your weight from time to time and also exercise (note, exercise is not just for weight reduction, it’s for physical fitness too). As much as you can, avoid physical and emotional stress.

Being prone to recurrent colds, may be due to an allergic condition in which you are highly sensitive to certain substances like cold environment, dust, smoke, perfumes, strong smells etc. It usually starts as an episode of sneezing and later a blocked/ dripping nose. It may be a problem with the immune system, where the body isn’t strong enough to fight against infections. It could also be that there is an infection of the nose and adjacent structures which may require antibiotics. There could be a small growth in the nostril called a polyp which could make you more prone to this, or an obstruction along the tract.

It may not be a good idea to keep taking the medication you mentioned. I would advise you see a doctor who would be able to evaluate you properly, find the cause of your colds and treat appropriately. Meanwhile, I would advise you avoid cold environments and cold drinks for now. Keep warm, take a lot of fluids, get adequate rest, and eat healthy. Steam inhalation(covering yourself up in front of a bowl of hot water in which eucalyptus oil has been added, for about 15-20minutes twice or thrice a day, with the aim of inhaling the stream)is also very helpful.

I hope you are able to get the desired weight you desire 😀 and not overweight. Remember, it’s a lot easy to gain weight but very hard work to lose it!

****The answer to this question was contributed by a guest doctor blogger.

For more on this question, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/13/daily-health-tips-adding-weight-re-visited/

Have a great night, everyone 😀

Q: Good day Doc. I’m five months pregnant and my vagina itches a lot. Sometimes it doesn’t itch though. What’s the cause and what can I use to prevent it?

A: Vaginal itching is very common during pregnancy. This is because pregnancy brings on additional demands on the body. The natural defense mechanisms of the body are not functioning optimally, so certain conditions which ordinarily would have been taken care of, may then set in.

Vaginal itching is caused by a yeast infection. The risk factors include pregnancy (where the infection may be recurrent), moist humid environment, poor genital hygiene and problems with the immune system like diabetes and HIV.

It can be prevented by good hygiene, making sure the genital area remains as dry as possible, wearing cotton underwear, good nutrition, and using an antifungal cream around the vagina. In some cases, a vaginal suppository may be inserted into the vaginal for a few days. However, because of the risk of taking medications in pregnancy, antifungal tablets may not prescribed. Hope this helps.

*****The answer to this post was contributed by a guest doctor blogger

For related posts, please click on the link:

Daily Health Tips: Is It Safe To Treat Candidiasis In Pregnancy?

Have a good night y’all 😀

Q: Hello Dr. Please I need your advice. I have two daughters and would want to wait for three years before another because I had both through C-Section. However, I do not want to go for family planning because I heard it’s not really ideal for a lady still bearing children. Please, how do I avoid pregnancy for these three years? Thank you, Ma’am

A: Hello Madam, it’s a great idea to plan your pregnancies and space them appropriately. It not only enables the mother recover fully from the previous pregnancy, it also helps the family plan financially and give the children the care they deserve.

There are quite a number of methods which can be employed; we have the traditional methods and the conventional /modern methods. The traditional methods include the use coitus interruptus, where the man withdraws just before ejaculation. This method is often ineffective and the chances of getting pregnant are high. Lactation amenorrhea is when the woman breastfeeds exclusively for six months and thus delays the return of her menses. This method is only effective when exclusive breastfeeding is practiced, and is highly variable between individuals such that pregnancy can still happen in some cases. Periodic abstinence is similar to the rhythm/calendar method, where intercourse is avoided during fertile times (1 week before ovulation and 3 days after). This method involves observing and taking notes of changes in the body such as changes in cervical mucus, body temperature and breast tenderness, over a couple of months. From these you can predict your likely fertile period (ovulation). This method is more widely acceptable; however it requires commitment and motivation. There are however some apps, that have been designed to make this easier, we also have the cycle beads for those that find this a bit confusing.

The choice is yours, however I would advise you visit a family planning clinic where you would be assessed, given further advice or clarifications. To clarify your misconceptions, family planning i.e. the conventional/ modern methods, can be used by most women in the reproductive age group, whether or not you want to continue having children. There are various methods which do not interfere with your chances of a future pregnancy, and you would be educated and advised on such methods on visiting a family planning clinic.

Best wishes!

*****The answer to this post was contributed by a guest doctor blogger

For related posts, please click on the link:

Daily Health Tips: Salt Water Solution For Contraception In A Hypertensive etc

Daily Health Tips: Contraception

Have a good night y’all 😀