chatwithketch

Q: What can a woman who just found out she’s pregnant but having serious constipation do?

A: Welcome to the land of pregnancy and raging hormones!!! This is going to be an interesting period in your life and your hormones are going to act up in different ways.

Constipation is common in pregnancy and is due to the hormones of pregnancy which make the muscles of your digestive tract work in a more leisurely manner. This ensures that food stays longer in the tract, more nutrients are absorbed from it (so that more nutrients can go to baby) but also more water is absorbed from it, leaving the poop hard and constipated. The iron-containing pre-natal drugs may also contribute to this but you do have to take them ;D

Tips to help you deal with the constipation include:

• Adding more fruits and veggies to meals.
• Eating small quantities at a time. You could try to aim for 5 small meals (breakfast, lunch dinner and 2 snacks in between) per day containing fruits, Veggies, complex carbs and proteins. Snacks can be a handful of nuts, etc
• Drink sufficient amounts of water. At least 8 glasses. Remember that this depends on your activity and weather condition. If you find yourself in a hot environment where you’re sweating a lot, by all means drink some more.
• Some activity is also useful in getting things ‘down there’ to move along 😉 Remember to check with your doctor, what activities are safe for you to undertake when pregnant.
• Yoghurt with probiotics is also a great idea and helps the stomach bacteria break down the food and more importantly, keep it moving along.

For more symptoms of pregnancy and the red flags, please click on the link below:

Baby in the tummy; it’s all up to mummy…is it?

Have a fabulous week, people 😀

Several myths prevent us from making the right decisions concerning our health.

“For a chance to win N2,000 airtime, answer the question below’:

Mention 5 nutrition facts and fiction.

The first person to answer correctly, will win our prize.

Terms and conditions:

Participants must be followers of this blog. If you’re not a follower, follow our blog to qualify.

The first correct answer is the winner of the prize.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

Answers are based on the episodes of our 5 minute show airing on AIT and Silverbird TV on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Monday, the 27th of October, 2014

So, what are you waiting for?! Best of luck, guys!

Most people want to do the right thing in terms of nutrition, but don’t know how.

“For a chance to win N2,000 airtime, answer the question below’:

Mention 5 tips for good nutrition.

The first person to answer correctly, will win our prize.

Terms and conditions:

Participants must be followers of this page. If you’re not a follower, follow our blog to qualify.

The first correct answer is the winner of the prize.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

Answers are based on the episodes of our 5 minute show airing on AIT and Silverbird TV on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Monday, the 27th of October, 2014

So, what are you waiting for?! Best of luck, guys!

Q1: Hello Dr, I have been having this headache / sensation at d left side of my head , please ma’am what could have caused this? I just treated malaria. I wear glasses. About 2weeks ago , I went for a comprehensive check on my sight . I had to change my glasses but still the sensation persists. I usually use salt and water solution for pregnancy prevention which I did again about 2weeks ago. I was so weak with sensation in the head last week, I went to see the doctor. My BP read 150/ 100. I was placed on some drugs and the BP went down, but I am not too ok in my head. I feel weak in my left arm and leg. No more headache but sensation at d left side of my head. Please help me. I am 47yrs

Q2: Good evening ma’am. Thanks so much for your lectures. You are really doing a great job. God bless you. Please ma’am, answer me this time. I have been sending you messages but no reply.
Please I want to know the normal blood pressure (BP) level for pregnant women and non-pregnant people. And also causes of high and low BP. Please I need your advice. Please ma’am, help me out

A: I decided to take these two questions together since they both dealt with high blood pressure and I will start with the first.

It’s important that the writer of question 1, visits the hospital immediately. The symptom of weakness on one side of the body is very suspicious. If this is accompanied by drooping on that side of the face and slurring of speech, then it’s time to act fast and prevent a stroke! Please do not use salt water as a means of contraception. This is dangerous…especially for someone whose blood pressure reading is suspect. The sheer outrage which greeted the stories of people who drank salt water solution for Ebola and those who subsequently died thereafter, is sufficient evidence that this solution should not be taken.

For more information on contraception and stroke, please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tips: How Can I Speed Up My Mother’s Recovery After A Partial Stroke?

Daily Health Tips: Is My Irregular Period Due To Contraceptive Injection?

Daily Health Tips: Should I Use Emergency Contraception As My Regular Means Of Contraception?

Daily Health Tips: Does The Intra-uterine Contraceptive Device (Coil) Make You Look Older?

Daily Health Tips: Is Withdrawal Really The Best Method Of Birth Control?

And for the second question, I apologize if it took me a while to get to you.

Blood pressure readings are interpreted as same, pregnancy or no pregnancy. Any level more than 140/90mmHg is seen as hypertensive. A woman may already be hypertensive before pregnancy and on medication. She may be found to be hypertensive before 20th week of pregnancy in which case it is believed she had previously undetected high blood pressure or she may be discovered to have high blood pressure after the 20th week, in which case it is believed that this high blood pressure is pregnancy-induced (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension). This would usually resolve within 6 weeks of having a baby. If a woman with PIH goes on to develop protein in urine, she is at risk of pre-eclampsia (in which protein leaks from kidneys into urine) or eclampsia (in which the woman experiences fits and seizures)

High blood pressure in pregnancy needs to be addressed as this poses a danger to both mother and baby.

Low blood pressure can also occur in pregnant women as a result of the increase in circulation and the fact that blood vessels have dilated due to the effect of hormones. There is no absolute figure for this but if it produces symptoms like dizziness, fainting, blurring of vision, your doctor should hear of this.

For more on blood pressure, please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tips: Blood Pressure – The Fact Behind The Figures

Daily Health Tips: Pre-hypertension

Daily Health Tips: My High Blood Pressure Risks

Be sure to make your antenatal classes interactive. Ask your doctor questions about your health and indeed your blood pressure readings if they are cause for concern.

Have a good night y’all 😀

Q: Good evening Doctor.Please at what month does a baby starts kicking? How good are all these supplements (Pregnacare, Obron 6) etc and at what month is a pregnant woman supposed to start taking them? Please notify me when you answer my question.

A: The first time you feel your baby’s movement is known as quickening and the time women feel it varies person to person. It ranges from 16 to 25 weeks but women who have had babies before may feel this much earlier. Women describe it as different things: a bubbly feeling; butterflies in their tummy; gas etc.

When should a woman start taking supplements? Well, to answer that it’s important to note that there are 3 vitamins that are particularly important to pregnant women:

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects which may occur during the first 28days of pregnancy. This is usually the period when quite a number of women do not even know they are pregnant. Thus, women who plan on getting pregnant should start on folic acid supplements at least 3 months before their planned date to safeguard against neural tube defects. If you haven’t started this earlier and realize you’re pregnant, start taking them as soon as possible and continue until about 12 weeks.

Calcium is important for proper development of teeth and bones and if the woman is not taking enough, the baby, being a perfect parasite 😀 will gladly help himself from his mother’s stash of calcium in her bones! 🙂

Iron is important for the transportation of oxygen round the body.

Now, it’s important that you discuss all other supplements you were taking prior to pregnancy with your doctor, so that he can advice on what to take and what to drop, as some vitamins in excessive amounts may be harmful to baby eg Vitamin A. He will then recommend the appropriate prenatal vitamins for you.

Have a great week ahead, y’all 😀

Q: Hello Doc, I want to find out if swollen feet are associated with pregnancy?

A: Good question…and yes, it is normal for the body to tend to retain more fluid during pregnancy apart from the fact that the uterus (womb) as it grows, puts pressure on the veins preventing the proper return of blood to the heart. Increased blood flow and hormonal changes (causing foot ligaments to relax and therefore bones to spread out) may also play roles in this.

To prevent this …or significantly reduce it, try the following:
• Wear comfortable shoes and try not to stay on your feet for too long.
• Kick up your feet and relax as often as you can.
• Exercise helps…gentle stretching and other exercises safe in pregnancy (speak with your doctor where in doubt as to what is safe) help to move the fluid along. In addition, foot exercises, are also great and would include gentle rotation of the ankles.
• Sleep on your side, drink sufficient fluids during the day and limit your salt intake….remember that for salt, if you can taste it, it’s definitely too much

Having said this, some swelling in pregnancy is due to a condition called pre-eclampsia. So, be sure to check with your obstetrician if the swelling observed appears to be sudden or indeed, worrying.

Have a great night y’all 😀