Pregnancy complications — alarm signs revealed
During pregnancy one may experience discomfort in varying degrees. It is important to differentiate between normal discomfort, and alarm signs of pregnancy complications. Normal discomfort includes fatigue, excessive salivation, cravings and pica (urge to eat nonfood items). Others are vomiting early in the morning, heartburn, a need to urinate frequently, and backache. But there are…
Read MoreEating soil during pregnancy – PICA disorder: causes & dangers
Eating soil during pregnancy (a disorder known as PICA), is one of the most intriguing cravings experienced by some pregnant women. It may be a particular type of stone, rock, soil or clay. Let us examine the pica disorder definition, causes, dangers and side effects of eating stones and soil. Almost every pregnant woman will…
Read MoreInsomnia during pregnancy -tips to help you
Sometimes getting sleep during pregnancy can be a task. Some women suffer insomnia during pregnancy, due to the resulting discomfort such as backache and leg cramps. These tips will help you sleep comfortably during this time. Whatever the case, however, remember that rest is essential to boost your health as well as that of your baby.…
Read MoreThe Risks of ALCOHOL in pregnancy
FACT SHEET Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is believed to cause complications such as: small body size and weight of newborn, slow physical and cognitive development, small head, limited movement of joints, facial abnormalities, short-sightedness, organ deformities, heart defects, genital malformations, kidney and urinary defects, irritability in infancy, learning disabilities, short attention span and poor…
Read MorePap 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 MoreDear Dr. ‘P’ 8
I am 2 weeks pregnant and breastfeeding. Is it safe to continue breastfeeding while pregnant? There is no harm in breastfeeding while pregnant. However, you need to feed well (eat the right type of food) as the demand for nutrients by a foetus increases as the pregnancy progresses. It may also be prudent to use…
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 MoreThe Coil
Dr. Blasio Omuga explains how the coil works and why it sometimes fails. A coil, also known as an Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD), is a tiny plastic or metal (usually copper) loop that is placed in the uterus, it is inserted into the uterus through the cervical canal, which connects the uterus to the vagina.…
Read MoreDoctor’s Notes on Cord Prolapse
When a patient has this condition, the cord protrudes from the vaginal opening or can be felt by the clinician during vaginal examination. CORD prolapse is an obstetric emergency during pregnancy or labour that highly endangers the life of the baby because of the risk of inadequate supply of oxygen to the foetus. It occurs…
Read MoreEpilepsy-Is my baby SAFE?
EPILEPSY is a neurological condition that causes a person to have seizures due to a brief mix-up of signals in the brain. There are many causes of epilepsy, which include head injury, meningitis, stroke or a scar on the brain. A person can also get epilepsy without any known cause. Research has shown that Epilepsy…
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