Daily Health Tips: What Drug Can Help Me Get Pregnant?

Q: Good Morning Dr. Please, thank God for your life and for your family’s life. Please, I saw you on Wednesday on DSTV. Please, can you tell me the medicine to take when you want to get pregnant? I am 40 years old. Thanks and God bless you.

A: Amen! Thanks for all your prayers.

What drug to take? Well, if you’re planning on getting pregnant, it’s always a great idea to start taking pre-natal vitamins especially those that contain folate (folic acid). Generally though, eat healthy: lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise at least 150 minutes per week. Be sure to check with your doctor as to what exercise that you should be involved in and how to progress if you have been sedentary for a while.

On the other hand, if your question speaks to drugs that help to induce ovulation, then you need to see a good obstetrician/gynaecologist to take your medical history and guide you through this process based on your peculiarities. It’s never a great idea to go buy ovulation inducing drugs off the shelf and start taking them with no guidance. So, please be guided.

All the best 🙂

Have a great day, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Should I Pop Vitamins When I Am Pregnant?

Q: Please, is it advisable for a pregnant woman to take vitamins? If no, please what are the side effects on the mother or the baby? Thanks

A: Nutrition plays a huge role in pregnancy. Soon-to-be-mums need to eat healthy to ensure that they give their children a good start in life. However, sometimes, there may be a few holes to plug, in situations where our diet doesn’t quite satisfy all the nutritional needs. Pregnancy may be one such time.

Now, remember that pregnancy is also not the time to go popping different kinds of pills without a prescription. You don’t want anything that prevents your baby from developing normally.

Pre-natal vitamins are a ‘usual’ part of the process of pregnancy. They would usually contain, at least folate to help the proper development of the spine ( and prevent neural tube defects), calcium (to ensure that baby doesn’t depend on mummy’s store of calcium in her bones for its own supply) and iron (to help prevent shortage of blood).

So, speak with your doctor about what vitamins you would require. Remember to also ensure that you feed well to give you and your baby every advantage during this all important period of pregnancy.

Have a good week, everyone 😀

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Daily Health Tips: My Hubby is Rhesus Positive and I Am Rhesus Negative. Is My Baby At Risk?

Q: Good evening Dr, your tips are really helpful. I am O NEG while my hubby is O positive. I am AA and he is AS. I had an abortion before we got married though. Right now I am about 38wks pregnant now but my Doc said I should have taken an injection before getting pregnant because our blood groups are incompatible to avoid fresh still birth. I have been so scared. Since on 31st August, I’ve been feeling pains in my abdomen and waist. I don’t know if it is labour.

A: Hello dear, you’re technically ready to deliver and so the pains you’re having may very well be labour. Please visit the hospital to check it out…especially given that you have no experience to compare the pains with.
The fact that you’re AA and your husband is AS, is not really an issue and is not the reason why your doctor talked about ‘incompatibility’. With this genotype, every time you put to bed, you have a 50% chance of having a baby with AS genotype and a 50% chance of having one with AA genotype. The main issue is the Rhesus incompatibility…the fact that your husband is O negative and you’re O positive.

Usually in pregnancy, your blood and your baby’s blood do not mix. However, during the process of delivery (and some procedures during pregnancy), some degree of mixing of mother’s and baby’s blood happens. When this occurs, if your baby is O positive, your body starts to produce antibodies against your baby’s blood….literally. But, because your baby is being delivered or has been delivered, the antibodies have very little time to do any damage to the baby. They can only get rid of the small amount of baby’s red blood cells in your own body. So, baby number 1 is not a problem.

The challenge though is that these antibodies are now waiting for another opportunity to attack foreign blood cells. If you give birth to a baby that is O negative like you, this is not a problem. If, however, the next baby is O positive, those antibodies kick in and start to attack your baby’s red blood cells. It is for this reason that the Rhogam injection is given within 72 hours of delivery to ensure that your body does not mount the regular response of producing antibodies against Rhesus O positive blood. The injection deceives your body into thinking it has already produced antibodies, thereby protecting your baby as the particles of Rhogam cannot cross the placenta.

I hope in your case, that your first pregnancy involved a Rhesus negative baby…in which case the injection you didn’t take wasn’t needed anyway. Whatever be the case, be sure the injection is administered this time.

Don’t beat yourself up over the injection that you didn’t take. It’s past. Let’s focus on the present and be sure to prevent future issues like this. Your doctor already knows what complications are likely to be expected and I trust that he will have the right team in place to handle these as best he can.

I wish you the very best.

Lots of hugs!

Related topics are available via these links:

Daily Health Tips: I am Blood Group AB Negative. What Blood Group Should I Marry?

Daily Health Tips: More on Blood Group

Have a great week, guys 😀

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Daily Health Tips: What Drug Can Help Me Get Pregnant?

Q: Good Morning Dr. Please, thank God for your life and for your family’s life. Please, I saw you on Wednesday on DSTV. Please, can you tell me the medicine to take when you want to get pregnant? I am 40 years old. Thanks and God bless you.

A: Amen! Thanks for all your prayers.

What drug to take? Well, if you’re planning on getting pregnant, it’s always a great idea to start taking pre-natal vitamins especially those that contain folate (folic acid). Generally though, eat healthy: lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise at least 150 minutes per week. Be sure to check with your doctor as to what exercise that you should be involved in and how to progress if you have been sedentary for a while.

On the other hand, if your question speaks to drugs that help to induce ovulation, then you need to see a good obstetrician/gynaecologist to take your medical history and guide you through this process based on your peculiarities. It’s never a great idea to go buy ovulation inducing drugs off the shelf and start taking them with no guidance. So, please be guided.
All the best 🙂

Have a great day, y’all 🙂

Here’s to a healthier you!

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Daily Health Tips: Is It Okay To Give My Baby Cough Syrup?

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!

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Daily Health Tips: Breastfeeding Challenges

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 😀

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

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 😀

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Our Wellness Team Needs A Smart, Young Doctor. Are You The One?

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 🙂

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Our Wellness Team Needs A Smart, Young Doctor? Are You The One?

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 🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Our Wellness Team Needs A Smart, Young Doctor? Are You The One?

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 🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment