chatwithketch

Q: Good morning DR Ketch, please  this is very urgent. My two months old baby is having a serious cough and I took him to the hospital and I was told he cannot take a cough syrup until he is a year old. So they gave him some antibiotics but the cough is still persistent. Today makes it a week since he has been coughing. Please how true is it and what can I give my baby again to relieve him of this cough? 

A: As a parent, it’s very normal for you to feel worried when your baby is ill especially when it appears you’re helpless and really can’t do anything to help him/her. However, when your baby has a cough, giving cough syrups may not be the way to go…and I’ll tell you why.
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 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 breath or feed, you should also see his/her doctor.

Have a great day, everyone 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!

Q: Hi ma’am. Please, kindly advice. I had a baby in June this year and have not been able to breastfeed. Firstly, it was because my nipples are too flat which makes it difficult for my baby to suck. Secondly, at the moment there is no breast milk at all in my breast. I am really disturbed and not happy because I want my baby to breastfeed even if it’s for 3 months.

A: Hello dear. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. He/she will be a blessing to his/her generation!

Now, the reason why it seems that your breast is ‘empty’ is because your baby is not sucking. If your baby sucks, the let-down reflex ensures that your breast fills up with breast milk. Flat nipples can appear to be a challenge for breast feeding, especially for first time mothers but remember that babies are supposed to latch on to the areola (the black area surrounding the nipples) and not on to the nipples. Press on the areola with your thumb on top and fingers underneath and push back against your chest wall while pressing in with your thumb and fingers. This helps elongate the areola and so, provided you position the baby properly on the areola, breast feeding can go on with no issues.

To help with the flat nipples, you could use a breast pump before feeding your baby. The gentle sucking action will help ‘pull out’ the nipples.

If you’re still not sure how to go about this, please go to your hospital. Any of the midwives/lactation consultants will be happy to help you start the process of breastfeeding. Worse case scenario, use a breast pump to express breast milk. This serves a dual purpose: It helps pull out the nipple while ensuring that your baby has sufficient food to eat 🙂

Be sure that you’re eating healthy and taking sufficient water to help the breast milk production along.

Have a great day, y’all 😀

Q: Hello Dr! I’m a spinster for now but will be married in few months time. There’s this thing that have been a burden to me; it’s about birth control & satisfying one’s self & one’s partner sexually!

I was told that ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES create rooms for ovarian cancer; which is very dangerous! I was also told that using condoms help in birth control but sometimes prevents spouses from satisfying each other sexually! I was advised that the best method of birth control is for the man to pull out his penis and release outside when he senses sperm is about to be released into the ovary! PLEASE DR, I NEED YOUR ADVICE! Waiting to get a reply from you soon! Thanks!

A: Hallos! All methods of contraception have their pros and cons. The choice of a method that works for you is dependent on your individual preference, cost of the method, ease of using it etc.
Funny enough, Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) actually reduce the risk of ovarian cancer rather than the opposite 😀 However, it does appear that some other cancer risks, like breast and cervical cancer, are increased when oral contraceptive pills are used. OCPs can also reduce the cramps of menstruation, reduce acne (pimples), prevent osteoporosis and ectopic pregnancy and offers some protection against Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Poor candidates for this method include breast feeding mothers, smokers, overweight women etc

Male condom is a barrier method of contraception. They can prevent pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections when used properly. Men would usually complain about reduced sensitivity when using condoms which is the subject of controversy. Studies have shown that men who feel that the condoms reduce sensitivity, are less likely to use it. So, if your soon-to-be husband falls into this class, he may not use it.

Withdrawal method involves pulling the male organ out of the vagina just before ejaculation. This method can protect against pregnancy if used well but does not protect against STIs. It has been argued in some quarters that the pre-ejaculate (a lubricating fluid) may contain some sperm cells and so even if your partner is able to withdraw before ejaculation, the harm would have been done. However, the sperm in the pre-ejaculate is not there at the time the fluid is produced, but is sperm from previous ejaculations that was probably left in the urethra. It is believed that urinating and cleaning the tip of the penis before sexual intercourse helps to clear the urethra of the sperm left from previous ejaculations.

To compare, OCPs are very effective (8 out of 100 couples will get pregnant while using this method within a year), male condoms are moderately effective (18 out of 100 couples using this method will get pregnant within a year) and withdrawal method is less effective (27 couples out of 100 using this method will get pregnant within one year).

So, I suggest that you go see your gynaecologist or visit the closest family planning clinic to you where you will be shown all the options available, their pros and cons and you will then be able to make a proper decision.

Have a great day, y’all 😀

Hello y’all!

I hope you had great week.

As a result of the expansion of our services, the ‘Healthy Living With Dr Ketch’ team is looking for young, smart medical doctors to join us.

Are you the one we’re looking for?

Smart, intelligent, quick on your toes, analytical, diplomatic, ready to take on new experiences and loaded with a sense of humour and empathy?

Graduate of medicine with 2 to 3 years experience.

Previous experience with a wellness program is an advantage.

If you fit this bill, please send your CV/resume to healthylivingwithdrketch@gmail.com

Please include a statement of intent which explains why you’re the right person for this job and what you’re bringing to the table.

Have a great weekend, people 🙂

Hello y’all!

I hope you had great week.

As a result of the expansion of our services, the ‘Healthy Living With Dr Ketch’ team is looking for young, smart medical doctors to join us.

Are you the one we’re looking for?

Smart, intelligent, quick on your toes, analytical, diplomatic, ready to take on new experiences and loaded with a sense of humour and empathy?

Graduate of medicine with 2 to 3 years experience.

Previous experience with a wellness program is an advantage.

If you fit this bill, please send your CV/resume to healthylivingwithdrketch@gmail.com

Please include a statement of intent which explains why you’re the right person for this job and what you’re bringing to the table.

Have a great weekend, people 🙂

Hello y’all!

I hope you had great week.

As a result of the expansion of our services, the ‘Healthy Living With Dr Ketch’ team is looking for young, smart medical doctors to join us.

Are you the one we’re looking for?

Smart, intelligent, quick on your toes, analytical, diplomatic, ready to take on new experiences and loaded with a sense of humour and empathy?

Graduate of medicine with 2 to 3 years experience.

Previous experience with a wellness program is an advantage.

If you fit this bill, please send your CV/resume to healthylivingwithdrketch@gmail.com

Please include a statement of intent which explains why you’re the right person for this job and what you’re bringing to the table.

Have a great weekend, people 🙂

Q: Good day Ma
do you do? I sent a message to you earlier. I hope you attend to this because I am anxious to know.

I saw my period last on the 21st July, 2014. On 17th of august, I did home pregnancy test, it was POSITIVE. To confirm it, on 18th of August, I did a blood test in a lab, it was POSITIVE too. So I headed for an ultrasound to know how old it is. When I met the doctor, he asked me the likely questions: my last period, have I done pregnancy test, which I answered. He told me that it’s early to detect anything but still went on with d scan. The result read, “THE UTERUS IS BULKY AND NIL GESTATIONAL SAC SEEN NOW” And gave me an appointment in two weeks time. He prescribed folic acid for me to take once daily.

Please ma, can you break down the result for me?

I need to know what is happening in my body because I am experiencing aching breast.

Thank You Ma

A: Hello dear and forgive my not responding earlier to you.

A few definitions or explanations, if you like…

The uterus being bulky means that it’s bigger than the usual pre-pregnancy state. It could be due to any number of reasons. If pregnancy is being suspected, this could very well be the reason.
Gestational sac is the first sign of pregnancy seen on ultrasound and it encompasses the embryo (baby) and the amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby in the womb).

Well, just like the doctor said, it’s a bit too early to know for sure if you’re pregnant. What type of ultra sound examination was done for you? Transabdominal (the more common type of ultra sound in our environment where the ultrasound probe is placed on the abdomen) or transvaginal (where the ultrasound probe is introduced through the vagina)?

If the transvaginal was done, it’s unlikely to identify a gestational sac until the 5-6th week.

The transabdominal scan will be able to detect the gestational sac from the 8th week of pregnancy.

So, give it about 2 more weeks as the doctor suggested and then return for a repeat scan.

Have a great day fabulous people 😀

Q: Good morning Doctor. please, I want to go for family planning but I’m so scared, after hearing the side effects of all. Please, can you explain more of the coil one? I heard it can make some one look older and that it also sags the breast so much. Is it true? My baby is 5months now. Thank you.

A: Thanks for writing in, dear. Really! Someone told you that the coil will make you look older and sag the breast? Wow! Well, I’m happy to announce to you that none of these comments are true.
There are different types of birth control methods including birth control pills (hormone-containing tablets taken orally which prevent ovulation), birth control injections (hormone-containing injections which can prevent pregnancy for up to 3 months), implants (hormone-containing match-sized rods placed under the upper arm), tubal ligation (tying up the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs passing out from the ovaries), cervical cap, Intra-Uterine Device (coil), spermicides, male and female condoms, vasectomy (for men), natural family planning  etc

The choice of which methods to use depends on individual considerations, risks involved, cost of procurement etc
Talking specifically about the coil, this refers to the Intra Uterine Device (IUD). There are two types: the Paragard IUD and the Mirena IUD.

The Paragard IUD is a copper-containing IUD. The copper is poisonous/toxic to sperm and the IUD also prevents implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus, should fertilization still occur. Paragard can be used during breastfeeding and its removal leads to a quick return of fertility, generally.

The Mirena IUD contains hormones which make the cervical mucous extra thick preventing the sperm from getting to the womb and it also makes the lining of the womb thin such that even if a fertilized egg were to get there, it would not be able to implant on the thin lining of the womb. It also prevents ovulation. Mirena helps reduce the cramping pain of a menstrual period and also reduces bleeding.

Side effects of Paragard include back ache, cramps, severe pain during menstrual period and heavy bleeding etc while Mirena can cause breast tenderness, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles etc Both IUDs can also be expelled, spontaneously, that is for no reason.
Having said all of these, please know that no method of birth control is 100% effective except for abstinence and all methods have pros and cons. Please visit your gynaecologist or family planning clinic. They will take you through the different methods, pros and cons and empower you to take the decision that works for you.

Keep an open mind 🙂

Have a great week, y’all 😀

Here’s to a healthier you!