Coping with post-delivery weight
TERRY ANNE CHEBET It is very easy to gain excess weight during pregnancy and after birth. After delivery, my mother-in-law fed me on all types of foodstuffs including the traditional njahi (black beans) and porridge. For the first three months I ate a lot and gained so much weight! Pregnancy was somewhat ‘depressing’. I used…
Read MoreExpressing breast milk
There are only two ways by which milk can be normally released from your breasts: by expressing or by breastfeeding. The action of squeezing milk from a breast is known as expressing breast milk. It can either be manual (by hand) or automated (by an electric pump). Expressing breast milk is an art that you…
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 MoreLow lying Placenta – why it happens
Help me doctor! That was Sarah’s distress call as soon as she entered the consultation room at our clinic. ‘I have been bleeding since last night: she explained. I urged her to relax so that she could tell me her story clearly. I had noticed that she was pregnant as soon as she entered. Sarah…
Read MoreHigh Blood Pressure
ONE of the commonest medical conditions that affect pregnant women in our set up today is high blood pressure. About 10% of pregnant women, especially those in their first pregnancy, are affected by elevated blood pressure. What is high blood pressure? This simply means that the blood pressure is elevated above the expected range. When…
Read MoreGet the right amount of VITAMIN A
VITAMIN A is a fat-soluble vitamin, also known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A plays essential roles in vision, growth and development of a person, maintaining healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue. It also plays essential roles in the development and maintenance of healthy skin, hair,…
Read MorePost – natal depression
The signs and how to avoid it What are the signs of post-natal depression? You should be wary of the following combination of signs: An overwhelming feeling of uselessness. You feel unwanted and of no help to anyone including your baby. When your baby does not stop crying despite your concerted efforts, you feel an…
Read MoreChildhood Immunization
What is immunization? Immunization, also known as vaccination, works by stimulating the immune system-the natural disease fighting system of the body. A healthy immune system is able to recognise invading bacteria and viruses and produce substances (antibodies) to destroy or disable these invading enemies. Immunization prepares the immune system to fight disease. To immunize against…
Read MoreBaby check up – two weeks after delivery
Immediately a baby is born, the doctor or nurse who conducted the delivery must take an Apgar score. This refers to a scoring system used to assess the well being of the baby during its first minutes of life after delivery. It is done in every hospital in the country, be it public or private.…
Read MoreGym work outs?
Suckle the baby first I got an email from one avid reader of this column, a lady client I have known for a very long time. Esther has been an enthusiastic and ardent gym member before her pregnancy. Now that she has delivered.. a beautiful baby girl, she craves going back to the gym and…
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