Umbilical 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 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 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 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…
Read MoreShoes For a Pregnant Woman
BY the time you can’t fit into any of your pre-pregnancy clothes, chances are you are still fitting into your shoes, right? Maybe—but maybe not. Pregnancy comes with a host of physical changes in a woman’s body; her feet are a key factor. Changes in the feet may include swelling (oedema), ‘flat feet’ and general…
Read MoreAnother girl? I want a boy
Through the advice of a doctor, a couple can improve the chances of conceiving a baby of the sex they desire, explains Dr. Blasio Omuga Determining the sex of the child is an interesting subject. Some may dismiss it as an issue completely beyond their control. In fact there are those who state that a child…
Read MoreWhat next – After your first antenatal clinic?
What happens after that first antenatal clinic visit? How many more times should you attend clinic and when? After the first antenatal clinic Now that some basic tests and investigations have been carried out to determine the state of your pregnancy, it is upon you to heed your care providers’ advice and to monitor the…
Read MoreI am nervous about ultrasound scan
I am nervous about ultrasound scan Is it the same as an X-ray? during which trimester is it safe? Will it harm my baby? When I went for my first ultrasound scan I was very nervous,’ says Nancy Bartilol who is expecting to deliver in October 2006. Every mother has reason to be afraid of…
Read MoreI regret my decision – Grief after an abortion
A true story as narrated to Emma Odaba by Rahab* (*not her real name)Â 22-year-old Rahab had an abortion because she wanted to maintain her ‘dignity’; she did not want people to see her pregnant out of wedlock. However, two years later she regrets it, saying that having the abortion was the worst mistake she has…
Read MoreVirgin pregnant without penetration – Is it possible?
Pregnant without penetration – sounds mythical? Can you get pregnant from being fingered? It surprises many, but yes, it can happen, even to a virgin! In my work I have had rare but occasional cases of ladies claiming be virgins, though pregnant. The question they ask is – how did it happen? Is it possible…. really possible?…
Read More