Search Results for: antenatal

Umbilical Cord Care: What Every Mom Should Know

July 8, 2020 by Adeola Adebo

Shade was very concerned about the wound on her newborn’s belly button. This umbilical cord stump just wasn’t healing as fast as it should.

Her friend, Fola, wrongly advised her to pull the stump and clean it with alcohol to speed up healing. A few days later, Fola took this advice, and it backfired terribly!

Her baby started bleeding profusely from the stump site and a hospital visit became crucial.

What’s an umbilical cord stump?

The umbilical cord is the connection between the placenta and the baby. The cord transports nutrients and oxygen through from you to you baby.

At birth, your baby’s umbilical cord is clamped and cut close to your baby’s body. It is a painless procedure that leaves an umbilical stump attached to his/her belly button.

A baby’s umbilical cord stump typically falls off within seven days to two weeks after birth. When this happens there may be some raw skin exposed. This is okay. In the meantime, treat your newborn’s umbilical cord stump with great care.

Wipe baby’s cord with a clean cotton wool after each diaper change expose it to air

Umbilical Cord Stump: The Do’s & Don’ts

What You Can Do?

Taking care of yor baby's umbilical cord stump is easy — Source: GIPHY

Keep the umbilical cord stump very clean and dry. Wipe with cotton wool and clean water after each diaper change. Fold your newborn’s diaper away from the stump. This exposes the stump to air and prevents contact with urine.
Secondly, the same way you care for a circumcision, give your baby sponge baths. This is when you apply water to the body using a small wash cloth without actual immersion in water. Although, there is no harm in getting the stump wet, sponge baths make it easier to keep the stump dry.
Finally, during warm weather, dress your baby in a diaper and loose T-shirt to allow air circulation.

What You Shouldn’t Do?

Don’t put cow dung, latern soot, local herbs potentially unsterile mix on the umbilical cord stump. This can introduce germs and lead to an infection — Source GIPHY

Avoid dressing your baby in tight or full undershirts. This creates a lot of discomfort that slows down the healing process
Furthermore, do not attempt to pull off or cut the umbilical cord stump, even if it seems to be hanging by a thread. Doing this will increase bleeding in the newborn.
We are currently asked not to use alcohol (methylated spirit etc) to clean the umbilical stump. Studies show that this kills bacteria which keeps the cord dry and help it separate. Instead, expose the stump to air which dries out the base.
Don’t put cow dung, latern soot, local herbs potentially unsterile mix on the stump. This can spread germs and lead to an infection.

Signs of Infection of the Umbilical Cord

During the healing process, it is normal to see a little blood near the stump. The tip of the cord stump might bleed a little when it falls off.

However, the obvious signs of infection include:

Redness or swelling at the base of the stump (where it meets connects to the baby’s tummy)
Continuous bleeding
Discharge of yellowish fluid or white pus
Foul-smelling discharge
Your baby flinching or crying out when the stump is touched (a sign of pain)

As parents, our babies depend on us to keep the umbilical stump clean to prevent infections which could potentially land baby back in the hospital.

Furthermore, attempts to speed up the drying process such as pulling the stump or applying anything that hasn’t been prescribed by your doctor are dangerous and should be avoided. These tips should be provided during your antenatal visit. However, if you missed the class, this article tells you all you need to know.

References

Marble, K. (2018). Caring for your newborn’s umbilical cord stump. Accessed on 23rd June, 2020 from https://www.babycenter.com/0_caring-for-your-newborns-umbilical-cord-stump_127.bc
American Pregnancy Association. (2020). Umbilical Cord Care. Accessed on 23rd June 2020 from https://americanpregnancy.org/first-year-of-life/umbilical-cord/
Mayo Clinic. Umbilical cord care: Do’s and don’ts for parents. Accessed on 23rd June 2020 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/umbilical-cord/art-20048250

7 Signs yourbaby is hungry

Learn about baby teeth

March 5, 2024ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRENATAL YOGA

During pregnancy, it is important to stay as active, healthy and calm …

March 4, 2024HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR YOUR PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH

Selecting the right healthcare provider for your pregnancy and childbirth is a …

Preeclampsia

July 6, 2020 by The Edie and Amy Company

Melinda was a beautiful, 37 year-old woman who was pregnant with her second baby. After divorcing her first partner, she decided to try IVF with her new partner as she was getting older. Unfortunately, she died in childbirth as a complication of a medical condition called preeclampsia.

So what is preeclampsia, you may ask?

Preeclampsia is a condition seen in pregnant women and it shows the following characteristics:

High blood pressure
Presence of proteins in the urine
Swelling of the legs and hand due to accumulation of fluid in the body.

High blood pressure is one of the symptoms of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is usually seen at after the 20^th week of pregnancy, although it can occur before that.

Some women may also complain of other symptoms like severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, a dramatic weight gain due to increase in body fluid, belly pain and dizziness.

Signs of pre-eclampsia

What are the causes of preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia develops only as a complication of pregnancy. Some studies attribute it to issues with the way the placenta implants to the mother’s womb. There has been no certified reason. However, risk factors include:

Age. If you are quite young (less than 18 years) or older than 35, you have a higher chance of getting it.

Obesity. The risk of preeclampsia is higher if you’re overweight or obese.

Multiple pregnancy. Women carrying more than one baby (twins or more) are at a higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

Interval between pregnancies. If you have less than two years’ interval between your children, or there are are more than 10 years between them, you might be at higher risk.

History of certain conditions. Women with a previous history of diabetes, chronic hypertension are also at higher risk.

New paternity. Like Melinda, each pregnancy with a new partner increases the risk.

First pregnancy. The risk is highest during your first pregnancy.

Race. Black women have been shown to be at higher risk of developing preeclampsia.

History of preeclampsia. If anyone in your family has had pre-eclempsia, there is a chance it might occur again.

Complications

Some complications of preeclampsia include:

Fetal growth restriction. Preeclampsia may affect the arteries carrying blood to the placenta. This would lead to a reduction in nutrients reaching the baby and thus, stunted growth of the baby.
Preterm birth. Severe preeclampsia is a medical emergency and can lead to preterm. Prematurity can lead to breathing and other problems for your baby.
Eclampsia. In severe cases, the woman might progress to eclampsia, which is characterised by seizures
Organ damage. Preeclampsia may result in damage to organs like the kidneys, liver, lung, heart, or eyes. It can also cause a stroke or other brain injury. The extent of the damage depends on how severe the preeclampsia.

The earlier it occurs in pregnancy, the greater the risks for mother and child.

Prevention

There is no clear-cut way that has been proven to treat this condition. However, some studies have reported an association between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of preeclampsia.

Before you become pregnant, it is quite important to be in your best state of health. Also, using your Body Mass Index (BMI), try to attain your optimal weight and make sure other conditions, such as diabetes, are well-managed. Last but not the least, please visit your antenatal clinic as regularly as possible.

References

Kee-Hak Lim; 15/06/2020; https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1476919-overview

WebMD; 15/06/2020; https://www.webmd.com/baby/preeclampsia-eclampsia#1

10 Reasons Why You May Experience Periods While Pregnant

July 2, 2020 by The Edie and Amy Company

Most women celebrate the news of a positive pregnancy test for many reasons, one of which is a much-needed break from monthly menstrual periods. During a menstrual period, the womb sheds off the extra lining it has built up in case of pregnancy.

Although a woman may experience uterine bleeding during pregnancy, it is not due to a period. It is not possible to have a true menstrual period during pregnancy due to the hormonal changes which prevent you from menstruating.

In addition, it is also impossible for your womb to shed its entire lining while maintaining a pregnancy. However, it is possible to have menstrual-like bleeding for a variety of reasons during pregnancy.

Some of these reasons include:

1. Implantation or Decidual Bleeding

Women who complain about having periods during pregnancy are simply experiencing Decidual Bleeding, in which a small part of the uterine lining might shed for the first few months of pregnancy.

A phenomenon called implantation bleeding, which is spotting that can cause period-like bleeding in early pregnancy and can occur in the first month of pregnancy. It usually occurs around the time of the first ‘missed’ menstrual period.

2. Changes in the cervix

The hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause alterations in the cervix, making it softer and more prone to bleeding. In addition, a harmless overgrowth of tissue may form in the cervix.

In both cases, spotting or light bleeding may be occur after sexual intercourse or a pelvic examination.

3.Vaginal Infection

A vaginal infection may cause spontaneous vaginal bleeding during pregnancy. An abnormal vaginal discharge may accompany the bleeding.

Vaginal Infections May Sometimes Occur During Pregnancy
Source: Shutterstock

4. Sexual intercourse

Most women continue to have sexual relations while pregnant, unless a doctor advises otherwise.

In some cases, certain women may experience light spotting or bleeding due to increased sensitivity of the vaginal and cervical tissues.

5. Molar pregnancy

Molar pregnancy is an abnormality of fertilization which causes an abnormal tissue to grow within the uterus.

This is not a typical pregnancy, but the growth within the uterus leads to the typical symptoms of early pregnancy.

A molar pregnancy cannot result in a normal fetus or delivery, however, vaginal spotting or bleeding can be a symptom of molar pregnancy.

Other Causes Are;

6. Ectopic pregnancy

Mild vaginal bleeding and increasing tummy pain may indicate the presence of an ectopic pregnancy. This condition arises when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus.

Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy may be located in the uterine tube. As the pregnancy grows and the tube stretches, the tummy pain becomes increasingly severe.

Sometimes these pregnancies rupture the uterine tube, leading to significant blood loss. Sometimes the amount of visible blood lost bellies the actual amount you are loosing in your tummy.

7. Subchorionic hemorrhage

In this condition, blood accumulates between the wall of the womb and the sac of fluid encasing your baby. Normally, the body frequently reabsorbs these blood clots, however, dark blood or small clots may be discharged from the vagina.

8. Cervical examination

A doctor may inspect your cervix to check for any abnormalities. This procedure can result in some minor bleeding during pregnancy.

9. Uterine rupture

This is a medical emergency that occurs when the womb tears during labour. This condition is likely to occur in women who have previously had a cesarean delivery or surgery on the womb.

10. Placental abruption

In this instance, the placenta starts to separate from the uterus (womb) before the baby is delivered. It is also a serious medical emergency and the baby’s life is at risk.

What’s The Next Step?

If you experience any form of bleeding during pregnancy, it is advisable to note the colour (is it bright red or brown ?), amount (how many pads did it soak up?) and consistency ( were there clups or bits of tissue in it?). This info is important when you speak with the doctor during antenatal clinics. It will give the doctor a clue as to the source and severity of the bleeding.

Bleeding during pregnancy does not mean that you are experiencing a menstrual period. In addition, heavy bleeding may indicate a health issue that requires medical attention. Whenever bleeding during pregnancy is observed, it should always be reported to a doctor in order to rule out miscarriage and other complications. Learn about bleeding after delivery.

References

Nall, R. (2018). Can you have a period while pregnant? Accessed on June 12, 2020 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322598
Danielsson, R. (2020). Potential Causes of Bleeding During Pregnancy. Accessed on June 12, 2020 from https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-it-possible-to-have-a-period-during-pregnancy-2371251
Blocker, W. (2019). Bleeding During Pregnancy (First, Second, and Third Trimester). Accessed on June 12, 2020 from https://www.medicinenet.com/pregnancy_bleeding_during_the_first_trimester/article.htm#what_should_you_know_about_bleeding_during_pregnancy

Watch the replay of our instagram live on recovery from caesarian sections

Pregnancy and Your Mental Health: Titi’s Story.

April 30, 2020 by Adeola Adebo

I planned my pregnancy. I married my best friend. We had a plan. The plan was to enjoy our marriage and take time to learn more about ourselves before we had a child. So after our wedding, I got on birth control.

Two years later, we were ready to have a child. I had a great job, as a senior executive with a top audit firm in Lagos. My husband is an entrepreneur, business was doing great. We were ready to be parents, we had dreamt about it even before our wedding. He wanted a baby girl, I wanted a boy. We had names ready, if it was a boy we’ll call him Oluwadunbarin. If we had a girl, she was to be called Aduke.

Our dreams came true!

Four months after I went off birth control, I got pregnant. I was over the moon, we both were, my husband and I. Our dreams were coming true. We had prepared for this throughout our courtship and marriage. I immediately signed up for antenatal classes, with a top private hospital in Lagos island. We wanted only the best, we could afford it, so why not? Our doctor was the best, he was so kind. He told me all about what to expect. Okay, maybe everything.

He said I could expect morning sickness, feeling like crap all morning, you know, throwing up and stuff. I was expecting those like a security guard to expect an important mail for his boss, I was alert and ready. It never came though. I had no morning sickness in my first trimester, everything was perfect. This made me glad because it meant that I had no issues at work. I was full of energy until I wasn’t.

It all began in my second trimester, we had just found out the sex of our baby; we were buzzing. It was a girl. My husband was over the moon. We were excited to see baby, Aduke for the first time, through the screen. The joy on my husband’s face made me happy. I was a fortunate woman, most men where I’m from would want a baby boy, he wanted a daughter he could make Tiktok videos with; you know the cute father-daughter videos.

Dark clouds…

Although I wanted a boy, I was happy, I’ll have a mini me. I’ll shower her with love and joy, all the joy in my heart. One morning though, I woke up feeling sad, I was 5 months pregnant at the time. I couldn’t place it, I was moody all day, my colleagues noticed. Everyone kept asking what was wrong, “Did you have a fight with David?” My boss asked, with a look of deep concern. There was no fight, I just felt down. Thinking back, it was weird. It was like someone flipped a switch, my joy was gone.

My husband said he had gone online run a search on google. Eventually, all the search results said it was normal. Women could feel moody and have mood swings during pregnancy. I felt better, I apologized to my husband and promised to snap out of it. I was naive.

Subsequently, days turned to weeks, and I basically felt down and sad all the time. With the sadness came irritability and weeping spells. I would literally break down in tears without provocation. Sometimes, I would snap at my husband, and shout at him to leave me alone. I couldn’t recognize myself, I felt like a horrible wife.

Sadness, irritability, guilt and unending exhaustion during pregnancy or after childbirth are signs of perinatal depression — Sadness, irritability, guilt and unending exhaustion are some signs of postpartum depression

I needed help

My husband did not deserve it, he was a good man. I felt guilty, and confused. I cried and cried, it’s how I remember the rest of my pregnancy, I was a cry cry baby. It was not until my 7th month that I realized I was depressed.

I was speaking with a friend who volunteers for an organization called Postpartum Support Network (PSN) Africa. She told me that she thought I was depressed. At first I rebuked her. Depression is not my portion, from where to where? I told her postpartum depression happens after childbirth, she pushed back, explaining with kindness how postpartum depression can start during pregnancy. I didn’t want to believe her. But deep down I knew she was right, I was depressed. A couple days after our conversation, I called my friend Ibukun, and asked her to refer a therapist I could speak to. It was the beginning of my journey to recovery.

Isn’t it crazy that no one tells us about this? How is it possible to actually be depressed and struggle with anxiety during pregnancy? That sometimes it’s not just mood swings? Here’s a list of some of the symptoms I had and what I learned during therapy that helped.

Symptoms

Sadness
Irritability
Guilt
Low self esteem
Constant fatigue (I was basically exhausted from the moment I woke up in the morning.)
Low sex drive (up until my 5th month, I was sexually active, it was down from then on)
Feeling empty, like my life had no meaning

What helped?

Keeping a journal (My therapist had me write down exactly how I felt each day. At the start it was challenging but it helped me greatly. I was an outlet and an opportunity to make sense of how I was feeling each day)
Three good things – Each night before I went to bed, I will write three good things about my day or life. I thought it was a silly exercise when I was asked by my therapist to do it. But it helped me greatly, to shift my thoughts from what was sad about my situation to things I had going for me.
Exercise – My therapist said if exercise was a pill, every doctor will prescribe it. Giving my situation, I could only do very little exercise, like going on walks, but they saved my life. Go on short walks daily.
Identify, challenge and replace negative thoughts. I learned that our thoughts often trigger negative feelings. So I guard my thoughts. When I notice I might be thinking about negative things, I challenge the negative thoughts and replace them with more rational thoughts. It is one trick I learned during therapy that has helped me till date.

I am a warrior mum…..

I had my baby safely, and months after I continued to struggle with sadness and guilt. Honestly, I felt like a bad mom, not good enough for my child and husband. I continued therapy, and by my 5th month postpartum, I was doing great. In the end, I beat depression!

I wish I knew all these before my pregnancy, I wish I knew that one could be depressed during pregnancy. It’s why I’m being vulnerable and sharing my story with you, so that you don’t have to suffer alone. There’s help and there are things you could do yourself to feel better.

You are not alone……..

I had my baby safely, and months after I continued to struggle with sadness and guilt.

Guest writer Kachi Ekwerike, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of the Postpartum Support Network.

What makes a baby male or female?

Breastfeeding Challenges – Flat or Inverted Nipples

April 30, 2020 by Dr. Ijeoma Idaresit Founder - Edie & Amy Co

“We were told about the inverted nipples during antenatal; In fact, a nurse came to help me drag it out. It was sooo painful.”, Mrs E said.

“I cried eeh! Especially when the nurse was pulling my nipple, her fingers gave me bruises, although I endured the pain for the sake of my baby. My husband had to tell her to stop oo. They said during pregnancy, last trimester after each bath we should use blue seal vaseline to needle the nipple, like drawing it out, that it will prevent it. I couldn’t breastfeed my baby. That night I contacted you, my baby was crying and my friend told me about nipple shields.”

*A nipple shield is versatile, facilitating breastfeeding for mothers with inverted nipples, sores, overactive letdown or babies with tongue-tie*.

“That’s why I started asking you about nipple shields. The latch assist was my lifesaver. That day I breastfed my baby, I was so happy.”

This is Mrs E’s story.

What’s An Inverted Nipple?

An inverted nipple (also known as a retracted or invaginated nipple) is described as one where it is turned inward so that it looks like a dimple on the breast.

Some people are born with their breasts like that, and this is just considered as being “different” as opposed to abnormal. This inversion can, however, also occur later in life as a result of disease (eg. breast cancer) or injury. The challenge with flat or inverted nipples for breastfeeding mums is that getting the baby to latch on (grasp the nipple and the surrounding area with the mouth to draw out breast milk) is more difficult and sometimes impossible. To check for the presence and severity of inversion, a simple “pinch test” can be done.

The Pinch Test:

Hold your index and thumb in a C shape about an inch behind the nipple around the areola.

Gently close off the c while pushing back towards your chest.

A Grade 1 inverted nipple will protrude and and retract over time

Grade 2 will retract immediately after you release the pressure.

Grade 3 will remain retracted.

The grade of inversion determines types of solutions that will be effective.

So some mums just need to stimulate their nipples with touch or cold temperatures to temporarily reverse inversion.

*Latch assists are used specifically for painlessly reversing flatness or inversion in nipples*

Some mums can use a breast pump, some mums need a latch assist or shield or breast shells. In extreme cases, surgery may be required.

Using a syringe is old school, painful and quite traumatising .

Dear new mum, you are resourceful; you are stronger than you realise. Life may not always turn out exactly as you planned, but there are solutions to most challenges.

During antenatal visits/pregnancy is the best time to start preparing for your breastfeeding journey.

Don’t wait till baby arrives.

Monitoring Your Baby’s Well-being during the Lockdown.

April 30, 2020 by Dr. Ijeoma Idaresit Founder - Edie & Amy Co

Do you remember what it was like the first time you felt your baby kick? It initially feels like flutters or brushes on the inside of your tummy and as the baby grows becomes full-on punches, swishes, and rolls, often visible on your tummy.

The first kicks felt are called “quickening” and mum’s feel this for the first time between 16-24 weeks into their pregnancy.

The well-being of your unborn baby can be monitored at home using a fetal kick count chart especially once you are past 28 weeks pregnant (third trimester).

How do you do it?

Timing: The best time is to schedule this at the same time every day, preferably in the evening once you are done with your chores and can lie down.

Get a pen and paper, and note the time you want to start. Lie down on your left side, and while lying down make a tick each time baby makes a full range of motion and stops. This is 1 kick.

All you really need is a timepiece, a pen and a piece of paper

Once you have gotten 10 kicks, stop and note the time again. You expect 10 of these kicks in at most 12 hours (this is the Cardiff method).

If you don’t get up to 10, have a glass or two of water and try again in an hour.

Drawing up your fetal kick count chart is pretty easy

Do you need to monitor your baby’s movements?

Mums who have been told they have diabetes, hypertension or have had a difficult pregnancy or classified as high risk need to pay more attention to their baby’s movements.

What to do if you feel kicks are less than usual?

First of all, do not panic.

Call your doctor or midwife as soon as possible. They will interview you to assess how you are doing and if you need to come in for further checks which may include an ultrasound scan, listening for your baby’s heartbeat, and so on.
Have you used a fetal kick chart before? It’s easy to create.

References :

WHO recommendation on daily fetal movement counting

RCOG Guideline on reduced fetal movements

Counting Fetal Kicks: Too much info?