The presenting part is the part of the baby’s body that leads the way through the birth canal. When you get in labor the part of the body that will present first is the presenting part  It is very important. During antenatal your midwife can know through abdominal examination by performing pelvic examination.  An ultrasound scan can also help to determine the presenting part  Getting to the end of your pregnancy is one of the essential things your doctor or midwife will like to know.  It helps them to determine your mode of delivery  The presentation is often cephalic, that is baby coming with the head first  The presenting part can also be shoulder presentations, feet or buttocks  Always cooperate with your doctor or midwife when it comes to your birth plan.  A breech presentation, shoulder etc will need health professionals who are skilled or specialized in receiving similar cases  In some cases a cesarean section will be required for the best interest of the mum and baby

For many women, once they do a home pregnancy test and it’s positive, they conclude they are pregnant and all is well.

This is not always the case. In some instances the sac in which the baby will be formed will form, but no embryo is formed.

At times, the embryo stops developing and its reabsorbed into the body. The sac will continue to develop till a point usually around 12 to 13 weeks when the body will realize that there is no baby.

You will begin to have cramps and start spotting. #Miscarriage will eventually occur

Most #women will argue that since the pregnancy test they did is positive and they still have symptoms like nausea, breast tenderness etc, they are pregnant.

The reason is this, the hormone responsible for pregnancy Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is detected during pregnancy is also present and produced even if there is no embryo. It helps the sac to develop to a point when the body detects it.

In conclusion , know that you can test positive for a home pregnancy test, but it could be an empty sac. Sometimes even ectopic gestation. Some conditions even cause HCG to go high, meanwhile you are not pregnant. HCG will be positive.

Always make sure your pregnancy is always confirmed by your doctor.

Don’t rely on a home #pregnancy test to confirm pregnancy

If you are not sure of your diagnosis, you can always seek a second opinion. Some doctors will let you wait a little if they are not sure to see if #embryo will be seen after some time.

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🔴You are pregnant but haven’t bothered to start antenatal

🔴You don’t take your medications as ordered

🔴You don’t know your next visit to the hospital or clinic

🔴You are not aware of your risk, your own condition or even your basic information… Blood pressure, Haemoglobin etc.

🔴You take advice from untrained professionals and people around you who are not midwives or doctors

🔴You are eating without paying attention to the nutritional value of what you are eating

🔴You deliberately miss appointments

🔴You neglect selfcare example, personal hygiene, exercise, rest and sleep etc

🔴You don’t read or learn about pregnancy and how to adjust to it

🔴You think that safe delivery is automatic even without being guided

Don’t leave your pregnancy to chance!

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To reduce maternal complications we have to talk about the problems we face in Africa

The uterus is the organ that carries pregnancy till birth

It is recommended that if you have a baby you wait for at least two years so it can regain its strength before the next baby especially with cesarean section.

Mothers with previous c/s who get pregnant within two years are likely to go through another planned c/s so they don’t go into labor since it can lead to a ruptured uterus

Some mothers also take medications to speed up labor, when contractions are excessive it can lead to a ruptured uterus. It’s important that you never take any medication to speed up your birth at home.

Women who have given birth to many children and also in short intervals also have a high risk of ruptured uterus.

The risk is that the woman loses a lot of blood within a short time and can lead to fetal or maternal complications if an immediate cesarean section is not done to repair in minutes.

Speak to your midwife or doctor about your risk and how you can prevent it.

Note all these circumstances mentioned here can be managed and you will go through a successful pregnancy. Speak to your midwife or doctor now!

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The vulva is the outer part of the female Reproductive system. It’s what you see when a woman opens her legs wide.

It has the vagina opening and the urethral opening.

Just below it is the anus.. Where fecal matter is excreted from the body.

These openings are close to each other. It means infection can easily pass from one opening to the other if you don’t clean well.

It’s important to clean yourself after using the washroom from front to back. Meaning you clean from the Urethral opening, towards the vagina opening then the rectum.

This will prevent sending infection from the rectum into your vagina and urinary tract.

Always maintain strict personal hygiene and also wear clean and comfortable underwear preferably made from cotton.

It’s important to keep your perineum clean and dry to prevent infection.

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Uterine rapture is real and can be fatal… If you have a previous surgery or caesarian section always take note of the points below
After one previous cesarean section if you have waited for more than 2 years you can have a normal vaginal delivery if all other things are well and confirmed by your doctor

If you get pregnant shortly after a previous c/s, you will not be allowed to try a vaginal birth. You will also need close monitoring during the pregnancy
Women with more than two previous c/s in Ghana are not encouraged to have a vaginal delivery due to the risk of uterine rupture

Women with two previous c/s and also women who get pregnant shortly after one caesarian section should not wait to get into labor.

Always have a birth plan and plan your birth with your healthcare provider.

Once you start having contractions and pain especially where you had your previous scar… Report immediately to the hospital. You should not go into labor.

Always remember once you have a previous cesarean section or previous surgery, mention it to your midwife during antenatal and also alert them when you report to the hospital in labor since it can pose a danger to you and the unborn baby.
Uterine rapture definition: It is the spontaneous tearing of the uterus that may result in the fetus being expelled into the peritoneal cavity. Uterine rupture is rare. It can occur during late pregnancy or active labor. Uterine rupture occurs #most often along healed #scar lines in women who have had prior cesarean deliveries.

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🔴For most women this is a question we often ask ourselves and our health practitioners. Sometimes we wonder whether to depend on the scan or not…. How do we even get the due date?

🔴Let me make it simple for you

🔴Always keep records of your menstrual cycle. Record the first day of your monthly. The first day you see blood.

🔴Once you do this. It’s easier to calculate your due date. If you miss your period and pregnancy is confirmed, do this to get your due date

🔴Take the first day of your last menstrual period and add 280 days to it or 40 weeks and you get your expected date of delivery to it. It’s that simple

🔴Alternatively if you do not keep record of your menstrual cycle, you will need to depend on an early scan to determine your expected date of delivery. Early scan is the most reliable for determining your expected date of delivery.

🔴Lots of women get confused when they take a late scan and it gives a new date… Rest assured just use the first scan if it’s from a reliable source.

🔴Remember baby can be born two weeks before or two week after your due date. Meaning it can be between 38 to 42 weeks

🔴At 41 weeks if delivery hasn’t occurred you need close monitoring.

🔴Your pregnancy should not go beyond 42 weeks.

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EDD: 4th and 9th August

DOB: 25th July.

Birth weight: 3.5kg

Long post alert

For whatever reason I can’t explain, I just didn’t want to go to bed alone that night. So I became a P.A  for my husband who was glued to his computer to finish up his workload so that we can go to bed together.

We went to bed very late  around 2am.

Around 3am I felt some mild cramping but I just ignored it and kept sleepinging until around 4am when I realized the cramping was becoming frequent, not intense tho.

I quickly went to freshen up to get ready for the hospital, it was then that it started getting intense.

By 4:30am we were ready to set off to the hospital.

On our way to the hospital I had one giant contraction  and tons of pressure, I felt like the baby was right there. I would scream, cry and accuse my husband of shaking me anytime he drove over a pothole.  On a normal day it takes just 10 mins drive  from my house to the hospital but we spent about 25 mins because i couldn’t stand it when the car moves fast.

We arrived at the hospital about 5 mins to 5am.

The midwife asked me questions like:  Has your water broken? Have you seen any mucus discharge? Are you bleeding? My answer to all these was no. Then she goes like, what makes you think you are in labor? I explained the frequency of my contractions. then she told me she’ll examine me to confirm if i was truly in labor.

Lo and behold after the examination she just exclaimed “wow! you are 8cm dilated.

I was quickly moved to the labor ward and within 5 mins I moved from 8cm to 10cm dilated.

The moment arrived to meet my baby and it was a mixed filling. My water was still intact so the midwife broke it. Then I was asked to push but I told them I felt like pooping, they told me it wasn’t poo but rather my baby so I should just push. My husband was also with me in the labor room encouraging me and telling me I can do it and that gave me a lot of energy.

So with one giant contraction and 3 pushes, my long awaited angel was in. weighing 3.5kg. about 2 mins later, the placenta also came. I was given a little incision which was neatly  stitched after.

I remember settling in and thinking to myself ‘this really happened, she’s on my chest. We just had a baby within 25 minutes of being inside the Hospital.  I was overwhelmed and tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. It was a moment of  mixed emotions, gratitude and Joy.

I was discharged about 6 hours later the same day.

What worked for me:

1. God.

I prayed and believed God every step throughout this pregnancy journey. I would recommend to every expectant mum to read Supernatural childBirth. It’ll build your faith.

2. Midwife Sally’s pregnancy school.

I followed all her teachings, I watched all the videos and asked questions when needed. I wish every pregnant woman will have access to this kind of class because knowledge is power.

3. Choice of Hospital

I chose a hospital that had the needed facilities and many medical professionals and specialists. And oh it’s a Government hospital and they did amazing.

God bless you midwife Sally, God bless women.

Don’t leave your pregnancy to chance!

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Sally, I have been trying for a long time. I want to get pregnant but it’s not happening. What should  I do?

Sally: Have you visited the hospital with your husband to be checked as well? Answer…. “No”

Unfortunately many women carry the blame when it comes to issues with fertility, but it’s not supposed to be so.

When it comes to infertility it’s not one sided.
No matter how well you are if your partner or husband is not involved you may not yield any good results.

Infertility has so many other causes and every one’s cause may differ.

Today, my focus is on women taking all the blame, doing everything possible and not getting results

Involve your partner. For a man’s sperm to fertilise an egg it has to be of high #quality #quantity and should I be able to swim. #motility

Unfortunately problems with sperm are real. But they can be treated.

The point is to involve your partner when there are issues of infertility. He may also need some care.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than a year without any results. It’s time to speak to a Gynaecologist. Someone’s remedy is not your remedy!

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