Pap Smear
Is it Essential? Dr David Kiragu explains why a Pap smear is necessary for all women of reproductive age. PAP smear is a test performed on women of reproductive age in order to assess their risk of developing cancer of the cervix (the neck of the uterus which opens into the vagina). Why do I…
Read MoreRIGHTS of a pregnant working woman – Part 1
In a series of features aimed at educating employees and their employers on their pregnancy-related rights and obligations, pregnant staff writers and Nairobi advocate Angela Ndambuki explore this complex subject. Like any other employee, a pregnant woman is entitled to all the rights and obligations that accrue to an employee, in addition to the special…
Read MoreWhat to do when a woman delivers unexpectedly
YOU are in a matatu and suddenly the pregnant woman sitting next to you goes into labour. What do you do? Dr David Kiragu gives the run-down of how to handle such or similar situations. The most important measure to prevent maternal death during delivery is the availability of trained medical personnel at the time…
Read MoreInfidelity during pregnancy – Views by Dr. Frank Njenga
Infidelity during pregnancy – why do some men stray, develop cheating tendencies and eventually become unfaithful to their wives when expecting a baby? Pregnant Magazine sought the views of Dr. Frank Njenga, a leading Nairobi-based Psychiatrist. Is infidelity during pregnancy common? The truth of the matter is that some men and women do drift away…
Read MoreExercising tips for your gym workout
Exercise during pregnancy is important because it helps reduce fatigue and manage stress. Exercise works by increasing endurance, and strengthening muscles. It also helps prepare one for the strain of labour. Women who exercise while pregnant have shorter labour with fewer complications. They also tend to recover faster after delivery. Too much exercise—especially of the…
Read MoreBring down nausea and avoid harmful bacteria
Simple and handy rules to follow Nausea and vomiting are some of the undesirable effects that come with pregnancy. For many women they are also the first tell-tale signs that conception has occurred. Many parents, especially mothers, suspect long before they are told that a daughter is pregnant, just by observing this ‘small’ clue! Morning…
Read MoreUmbilical Cord
AN ENCOUNTER WITH CORD PROLAPSE SHE seemed just like any other patient when she was brought into the labour ward. I was informed by her minders that hers was a delivery emergency. I welcomed her and immediately requested her to change into a hospital gown as I took her details. She gave her name as…
Read MoreUTERINE FIBROIDS – Every woman’s worry
To understand fibroids, one needs to know a few facts about tumours. A tumour is a swelling of a part of the body. It is caused by an abnormal growth of body tissue, the material out of which body organs are made. In general a tumour does not cause or lead to any inflammation (soreness,…
Read MoreInduced labor – how long does it take? When is it done?
Induced labour is not the same as natural labour. It also differs from augmented labour, advises Dr. David Kiragu. Induced labour does not begin spontaneously (naturally); artificial means initiate it. In most cases, waters will be broken artificially and drugs will be administered by drip to initiate and sustain the process. Augmented or induced labour? Augmentation…
Read MorePost-partum Haemorrhage
In the previous edition of Pregnant, Dr. David Kiragu explained what Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) means, the two categories – Primary and Secondary – and the fact that PPH can lead to maternal death. PPH is largely unpreventable. The majority of patients who get PPH have no history or clinical features that would be predictors of…
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