You see that whitish substance on your baby’s #skin after it’s born? What is it and what’s its purpose ?
Some even think it’s dirt or as a result of eating ayilo/shile/Pica. But this is not the case. This is what you should know.
When your baby is born, he might be covered with a thick, white, cheese-like layer called vernix caseosa. The older the baby is the less you find it on their skin. It begins to form around 25 weeks and desolves into the amniotic fluid with time.
It’s benefits
In the womb, vernix helps protect your newborn’s delicate skin from the acidic quality of the amniotic fluid
It hydrates her skin, insulates her body, and maintains a proper and comfortable temperature in utero.
Vernix also does doubles as a lubricant, helping your baby slide out of the birth canal a bit easier.
It gives that new born smell your baby has, it helps mum and baby to bond
The World Health Organization advises delaying baby’s first bath for at least 6 hours, although 24 hours is ideal. This will help baby to adjust to the new environment and the vernix plays a role as well
Wash #vernix off right away if Baby has meconium staining, or if the mother has HIV or hepatitis.
Do not force to remove all at a time. With time all will be removed.
Thanks
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Yes, so this week, I came across a lady who was pregnant with twins.
She went into labor, 10 cm dilated and was asked to push.
The first twin was born successfully via vaginal delivery.
The second twin was delayed in coming. All efforts and maneuvers did not work.
They had to prepare her for the cesarean section. The second twin was born via cesarean section and it was successful!
In the end she experienced vaginal birth and cesarean section within a few hours. A first time mum.
That should be a stressful journey but yet she made it.
Both mum and babies are doing well.
The lesson here is no matter your birth plan or whether you have been told you will by all means have a vaginal birth, you should not close your mind on cesarean section. Also read about it
And most importantly choose a facility that is ready for emergency, has a theater and strong medical team.
Imagine this lady delivered in a facility that had no theater, and a good medical team.
Referral is good but the time that will be wasted before getting to the referral hospital is a problem.
Delay to referral hospitals has caused lots of problems
Do choose your hospitals carefully
If you choose a facility without a theater or you prefer home delivery. Kindly make sure there is a clear policy on what happens in an emergency. At least the referral hospital should be close
On this note I salute all women. You are indeed strong!
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Just as humans we breath in and breathe out air, we just can’t survive without the air that is around us. Immediately there is no supply of oxygen, life begins to end.
In the same way babies in utero are rather surrounded by fluid called amniotic fluid (water). It’s main function is to protect, nourish, and support the new born in uterus to grow and develop properly.
This fluid should not break before term, if it does it gives room for possible infection to the baby and the uterus, since the protective barrier around the baby is broken. It can lead to malformations in baby if the amniotic fluid around the baby is reduced significantly
If you break your waters before labor sets in during pregnancy. Report to the hospital immediately for help. Your baby in utero cannot survive without the amniotic fluid around them. Don’t wait till the next day… Think about what happens to a fish when taken out of water…Your baby begins to struggle for life
For most births, the waters break before birth occurs, but in the picture below baby was born with sac/and amniotic fluid intact. It happens 1 in about 80,000 births. Isn’t it wonderful!!!
She was shouting… Jesus! Jesus! Jesus….. Then tongues followed… “Hebababababa….. “
Her baby was in fetal distress and needed an emergency cesarean section to save the baby’s life.
She never thought this will ever happen in her life
She had 3 previous vaginal deliveries and this time the story is different.
She could not accept the fact that she has to go through an emergency cesarean section.
The health team spoke to help calmly, played some music to sooth her and finally agreed to do the procedure.in no time baby was out and fit.
She was also out without any issues.
Its really a problem that women still attach so much fear to caesarian section.
We still see women who have gone through caesarian section as though they are weak or less of a woman
We still criticize women for going through caesarian section
We fail to educate ourselves about it
Its important to prepare your mind or learn about caesarian section even if you are going for a vaginal birth.
During a vaginal birth, even in a very healthy pregnancy emergencies can occur and you will need to have a caesarian section.
In fact emergency cesarean sections are a major part of the total number of operations done in many hospitals
Hope you learn a lesson from this
And please let me add that, having a successful caesarian section is a blessing from God. It is not against any religion to have caesarian section! Don’t risk your life unnecessarily!
Don’t leave your pregnancy to chance!
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After the birth of your baby, its not over. The delivery of your placenta follows.
Within 30 minutes after birth the placenta should separate and be delivered.
It’s a very critical time and if not well managed can lead to serious complications like bleeding which is life threatening.
The placenta has membranes covering it, lobes that faces the mum(maternal surface) and a smooth part that faces the baby. The cord has two arteries and a vein.
The midwife/ doctor has to inspect the the placenta to make sure everything came out. There should be no missing lobe. The membranes should come out completely.
Any retained product can possibly prevent the uterus from contracting and cause bleeding.
Retained products can also get infected and cause problems several days later.
If after birth whilst in the recovery room or at home your bleeding doesn’t subside but you are actively bleeding call the team to re examine you.
Severe lower abdominal pains which is extreme after birth should also be reported for re examination.
Doing so in time can save your life!!!
Bleeding after birth is the no. 1 cause of maternal mortality worldwide.
EDD – 11/05/24 DOD – 11/05/24 Through C/S First time mum
My pregnancy Journey was very comfortable and smooth. I’ve not had any issue throughout; no vomiting, no spitting of saliva , no shortage of blood everything was intact. Just that I got exhausted along the line which is normal.
My contractions started on 10th March 2024 @ midnight. I managed through to morning called my sister to come drive me to the hospital cox initially I taught I could drive myself to the hospital because there was no bloody show, no water break too but contractions were very regular. Then I heard the doorbell, it was my Dad and my Uncle. They brought a bad news but didn’t know how to tell me. The long and tall of it is that my mum had passed. I couldn’t control my tears , having contractions and crying hmmmm it wasn’t easy at all for me. Who will bath my baby now, I had to put myself together at a point and make a decision, which I did with God being my helper. Got to the hospital around 1pm, was checked and I was only 1cm eeii with all this regular contractions only 1cm yooooo. Evening at 8pm was 2cm, meaning I was just not progressing. They had to do what they will do by putting some infusions , contractions became more painful but still slow progress now 5cm the next morning around 10am.
Baby in distress now so emergency SC. I even opt for it before they could say anything. I signed and was prepared for the Theater within 30mins by 12:30 in the afternoon my bundle of joy was out and crying. We stayed at the hospital ( Ga East Municipal Hospital ) 3days and was discharged. Reaching home, i want back to watch video on wound care after CS by Midwife Sally and Midwife Eunice, took my medications on time, eat well and got a support person.
Guys, within two weeks my wounds healed. I even had sex with my husband in the within a few weeks. hahahaha
In fact I will encourage everybody to take the classes seriously coz it has helped me a lot. Thanks Midwife Sally for adding me Thanks midwives God bless you all Thanks to the Doctors and Nurses of Ga East Municipal Hospital, Kwabenya. ( ANC , Delivery Suite and Obs & gyne) God bless them for me. God bless all mums and mums to be on the platform. #OnGod
From mum.. Sally’s Pregnancy School Join our Pregnancy class to learn more 024 228 1957
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I was 37 weeks gone and woke up on the Saturday morning eagerly looking forward to eating my choicest food.My mom had come around to help me with my house chores so I quickly rushed to the hospital (a private one)for my antenatal and return to savour my fufu and then beans with plantain which was on fire.
Prior to this antenatal visit,that was a week before my Doctor realised through a scan that the fluid around baby was low(a condition called oligohydr…something something) so he encouraged me to drink more water and rest well if possible..I did that drinking almost three litres per day.So on this fine day I went and unfortunately the fluid was virtually finished around the baby.He requested for an Immediate emergency section.
My reaction: Growing up I heard women who did CS was a sort of curse..thus hearing this from the Doctor I literally begged him if he could wait to see improvement(But thank God for his patience…together with his wife who was also a doctor,they sat me down and counselled me on the benefits of having the CS ,which will go a long way to save my life and that of baby).After the session I cried …i mean really cried still wondering why it had to be me.
Hubby was not around as at that time(he had been transferred to another region)so I called to inform him amidst tears. However before leaving the hospital I prayed a quiet heartfelt prayer that God should take control. You wont believe it…I felt peaceful within me. My side sorted I went home to pack my things still praying.
Immediately I opened the gate to enter my home..I heard my mother scream ”Jesus I will not allow that .My daughter will not undergo any knife-me twem w) Yessu Din mu”(apparently Hubby had just called her to inform her).Upon seeing me she enquired why and that I shouldnt allow the Dr to do any surgery.
To cut my story short I went back to the hospital before five ,got prepped up by the abled nurses and the Drs wife who were so nice and encouraging me trying to make jokes to cheer me up. At six pm ,was wheeled to the theatre(I had never entered one before) and everything happening looked like a movie to me. The anesthetist was so kind and also spoke kind words as he administered the injection.. when the Doctor came in to do the surgery he said a word of prayer which made me more calmer as he began.
Sometimes God works in mysterious ways we never understand. As baby was brought out the umbilical cord was apparently tied twice around his neck who had not been seen during my scans. The Doctor and everyone was surprised. As he removed the cord lo and behold i heard the cry of my first baby.. very loud and all I heard after was congratulations
I was glad I listened to my Doctor and also Gods intervention through the prayers cos I could have easily lost my life and that of baby if I had allowed the myth surrounding surgery and the fact that I wanted to push myself to override the needful thing to do.Imagine pushing in this situation…hmmmm..so grateful to God.
Anonymous mum
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ou can Book a one on one session, Buy your baby Items, Book for an interview or other matters and also Buy a copy of our book and it has all the information you need! from us. 024 228 1957
My expected date of delivery (Edd) was 26th April 2024. Per the ANC policy at my hospital, a pregnant woman is supposed to have her membranes swept by the doctor when she gets to 38 weeks. They did the sweeping for me at 38 weeks which I was 2cm dilated by then that was on 19th April and when I came home I started having this on and off contractions hopefully thinking baby would come the next day but that wasn’t the case.
Throughout the weekend I started loosing the mucus plug and seeing the bloody show. So when I went on with my usual daily walks, squats and sex to help kick start labor. On 22nd April I went to see doctor again and he repeated the sweeping and I was 3cm dilated. I came home and started having the contractions again but it tapered off the next morning that was on 23rd April.
I went on with my house chores and in the afternoon at 2:45 pm I wanted to take a nap. While sleeping I felt this long and painful contractions and it stopped, and then another one came again but with this one, my water broke at 3:30pm so I quickly called my husband to pick me up to the hospital. Upon arrival at 4pm I was 4cm dilated and the contractions kept coming without rest in between. By 6:15 pm I was 10cm dilated and was taken to the delivery room, I pushed 4 times and my rainbow baby was born at 6:30pm weighing 3.2kg.
I thank all the midwives and everyone one here on this great platform. Your teachings and questions made me learn a lot from this group. God bless us all.
Definition for a membrane sweep: A membrane sweep is a common procedure performed after 39 weeks of pregnancy to induce labor naturally. It’s performed by a healthcare provider and involves them inserting gloved fingers into your cervix to loosen your amniotic sac from your uterus.
So I saw my bloody show Tuesday morning though I had started having little inconsistent contractions form Sunday. I monitored to see if contractions will pick up so I go to the hospital. The whole of Tuesday, nothing happened, just on and off contractions. Then Wednesday dawn, I started having contractions that were coming every thirty minutes then it went off.
Later in the morning it started again and I saw another show. Around 12pm, I realized my bump had become very hard, the contractions were not coming and baby’s activities had gone down. I called hubby and we rushed to the hospital. When we got there I told the midwife my story and they sent me to the labor ward for examination.
In my mind I had dilated about 4 going to five bi anaa six mpo aa, they said 2. And I was like I have had contractions since dawn ooo.. So the nurse started a ctg to examine baby and my contractions. The contractions were getting intense and painful but dilation was not taking place. As for vaginal examination, I did it like Nov Dec , doctor will check, midwife will check, after two hours, I was checked and was at 4. Sister, I just cried.
I remember telling my hubby so God didn’t listen to all our prayers to make this birth easy and without complications. After another hour, midwife said I had to be prepared to theater for cs… Be like after all this pain? After another hour they checked and I had reached 6 but the pain was too much. Hubby couldn’t stand the pain and we realized baby’s heartbeat was going down.
I was given pain medication and made ready for theater. The midwife checked me again and I had reached 9cm but doctor wasn’t happy because baby was in distress. When we got to the theater I had a very strong urge to puupuu, I told them and they asked me to go ahead. While lying I head the doctor say give me episiotomy something something then I felt a sharp pain down there.
Then he again asked them for a #Vaccum machine. I was asked to follow my urge to puupuu and I did heavily then I felt something leave my vagina… Oooh my baby was out but he wasn’t responding. I started crying and asked the theater attendants if he is okay. They assured me and just like that, I didn’t even care about the suturing they were doing under there but to hear my boy cry.
After few minutes of resuscitation, I heard him cry and I dropped some tears of joy too. They showed him to me, cleaned me up and sent us to the ward. God is good, and yesterday, he really proved himself so to me.
Thanks to everyone for the love and to Midwife Sally , God bless you for your wonderful education. It helped a lot.
What’s a vacuum Delivery : During a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery, a health care provider applies the vacuum — a soft or rigid cup with a handle and a vacuum pump — to the baby’s head to help guide the baby out of the birth canal. This is typically done during a contraction while the mother pushes. – – Source : Mayo Clinic
PINK-The color of your new born baby at birth should be pink. Baby may not need help with breathing at birth. It shows that baby has enough supply of oxygen to all parts of the body
BLUE-If the palm and feet are blue, it indicates a sign of cyanosis, a sign of reduced oxygen. Cyanosis or reduced oxygen is more severe when the chest region is blue. Baby may need some form of resuscitation.
YELLOW SKIN- Baby is jaundice and will have to be seen immediately to prevent complications. It can also be een in the eyes, nail beds, palm and sole of the feet. Furthermore investigation and Phototherapy will be needed
PALE- If your new born baby looks pale kindly let your midwife or doctor check on the baby too. They may have to check if cord is not bleeding or any other issue is apparent.
Call the attention of your doctor immediately
Report if your baby is blue, pale or yellowish in color.
If your baby is dark in color and you cannot see the pink color, check the palm or the sole of the feet. It should not look pale or bluish.
You can Book a one on one session, Buy your baby Items, Book for an interview or other matters and also Buy a copy of our book and it has all the information you need! from us. 024 228 1957
. A first time mum.
, having contractions and crying hmmmm it wasn’t easy at all for me. Who will bath my baby now, I had to put myself together at a point and make a decision, which I did with God being my helper.
