Dear Doctor ‘P’ 29
Send your questions to:
pregnant@integral-advisory.com
answers are provided jointly by our team of doctors
Our Team Of Experts
Dr. Blasio Omuga
Lecturer, School of Nursing Sciences. University of Nairobi
Consultant Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Based at Doctors Plaza, Clinic No 18. Kenyatta National Hospital
Dr. Njoki Fernandes
Resident Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Based at Kenyatta National Hospital
Does having a normal delivery make a person lose elasticity? How can one rectify that?
To a certain extent, one’s genital muscles do become a bit lax after child birth, understandably, because of the expansion to allow for the passage of the baby.
However, because this is a natural process, the body firms up pretty soon after the delivery. Therefore, you should not fear to have a natural birth.
After birth you are required to do pelvic floor exercises and abdominal crunches as soon as your doctor allows. Within no time you will be as good as new.
I am 19 weeks pregnant and never felt my baby kick. Is everything okay?
If you are a first time mom you feel the baby kicks from around 20 to 22 weeks, but in subsequent pregnancies the kicks are felt earlier. Everything should be well. To be more certain and at ease about your pregnancy, go for an ultrasound scan.
I’m newly married and planning for a baby. My concern is, some of my family members have had a history of still births linked to the Rhesus factor. Kindly explain to me the chances of mo being a victim of still births, and what I can do to avoid it?
The Rhesus factor is a protein found on the red blood cells of most humans. It was first described In the rhesus monkey, thus the name.
People with the Rhesus factor are denoted positive (B +ve or A +ve) and those without the Rhesus factor are denoted negative (O-ve, B -ve). The problem usually arises if the mother is Rhesus negative (-ve) and the father
of the child is Rn (+ve). If the baby conceived is Rh-ve, there are usually no problems. However if the baby is Rh (-r-ve) some reactions can take place and can even lead to the baby’s death. After the delivery, or should a woman have a miscarriage, she must have an Injection called antiD, which protects her body from sensitization by the antibodies from her baby.
What you need to do is to find out your blood group and that of your husband, then when you conceive, make sure you are followed up closely at an antenatal clinic. All should be well if you follow up your caregiver’s guidance. For details on the Rhesus factor refer to Pregnant Issue 10.
I am four months pregnant. Yesterday I saw red droplets on my panty. Am I ok? Is my baby safe?
The information you have given is a bit scanty for one to establish the most probable cause of the red stains. Some questions: Has the bleeding stopped? How much was it?
There are very many reasons as to why you could see a spot of blood on your underwear, and thus you should seek medical attention immediately.
Reasons for blood spots range from a threatened abortion to a urinary tract infection, to inflammation of the vagina or cervix, among others.
Associated symptoms and pointers include pain or discomfort, the events surrounding the bleeding episode (lifting heavy objects, sexual intercourse, a fall, trauma, etc).
A medical examination should give you the right answer.
END:PG29/07