FAMILY RELATIONS – Page 10 – Pregnant Magazine

I had labour pains for 2 days!

Mid-November. Scared, uncertain and prayerful. My due date was just a week away and I recall asking my friends in college how painful labour was. Some of them were married with kids. ‘Not painful’, ‘Scary!, ‘Okay’, ‘Don’t even ask!’ were the various responses I got. While some responses raised my spirits, others got me more…

Vaginal examination — What it is and what to expect

Vaginal examination requires sensitivity Parting her legs to have a vaginal examination is one of the most challenging moments for a woman, especially if it is happening to her for the first time. Considering that it requires you to put aside your privacy for a while and to allow somebody else to ‘intrude,’ a vaginal…

Uterine Rupture – What it is and why it happens

Uterine rupture is a tear in the wall of the uterus, most often at the site of a previous caeserean section (C-section). In a complete rupture the tear goes through all layers of the uterine wall. The consequences of uterine rupture can be dire for mother and child. Fortunately, these ruptures are relatively rare for…

Wanting a baby? Here is your preconception planning guide…

Wanting a baby is the best way to have one… Preconception planning does not always happen; it is not a secret that many couples get a baby not because they had planned for it, but because some ‘accident’ happened. Yet pregnancy is a unique and intriguing experience that a woman will ever go through. A couple…

Dangers of prolonged labour

Prolonged labour suggests that labour has failed to progress normally, and is causing difficulties for the mother and child. Labour is said to have prolonged if it does not complete within 18 hours for first time mothers and 12 hours for mothers who have had a prior delivery. What could cause prolonged labour? Inadequate intensity…

Ruptured UTERUS

A real life account as witnessed by a maternity nurse Her blood pressure was low and her skin pale because of losing a lot of blood. The baby was getting distressed because its oxygen supply was interrupted. It was an extremely dangerous situation for both mother and child. Alice (real name withheld) was rushed to…

Changes in your weight during pregnancy

In today’s society, most people (especially women) view wait gain with trepidation. The pregnancy period has a mandatory and compulsory weight gain requirement, for healthy foetal growth and development as well as energy source for mums

Raped — what next?

Finding that ray of hope in a time of crisis Once a rape victim is faced with the full reality of what has happened, everything will seem hostile and hopeless. However, there is a ray of hope despite the ordeal. In this article, we suggest some immediate steps that rape victims should take to restore their…

Skin changes – Which symptoms should you ignore?

A good man is without sin, and a good skin without blemish.” But let’s face it: flawless skin is like a saint on earth, desirable but virtually impossible to acquire. During your pregnancy, hormonal changes will affect every system of your body. Your skin, like any other part, will not be spared. You may develop…

Shy Moments 1

Episodes of shy and funny pregnancy moments as narrated by mums and dads… ‘Mum is in the toilet… She is vomiting the baby!’ Some weeks back I naively told my five-year old son that ‘mum has a baby in her stomach.’ He has an annoying habit of picking my cellphone when it rings despite my objection. Two…