Presentation refers to the baby’s body that leads, or is expected to lead, out of the birth canal.

There are various presentations

1. Cephalic presentation.. Baby is coming with head first

2. Breech presentation…. Buttocks first

3. Shoulder presentation… 

4. Compound presentation… Many parts together 

The most favorable for vaginal birth is the cephalic presentation where baby comes with the head leading

The other presentations vaginal birth is also possible but with more skills. The midwife or doctor should be experienced to avoid complications

Also know that presentation can be known through scan or abdominal examination, so you and your doctor or midwife can make an informed decision concerning your birth

In all forms of birth seek skilled birth! And yes the presentation of the baby with other factors can also determine your mode of delivery

Don’t leave your pregnancy to chance. 

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I find myself telling new mums how easy it can be to keep your newborn healthy and strong. With these basic and inexpensive tips, your newborn will be strong and healthy…..

🚼Keep baby in a clean and well ventilated room. Baby’s easily get infections and it is necessary to clean the home before the baby arrives.

🚼Baby should sleep in mosquito net to prevent malaria.

🚼Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended. Breast Milk has all the nutrients your baby requires. Breastfeeding is golden!!! Feed on demand. Breastfed babies do not easily get sick and are within the right weight.

🚼Baby should be protected for excessive cold and excessive heat. Keep the baby warm by dressing the baby in cotton cloths. Do not over dress the baby. The dressing should suit the weather.

🚼Wash hands before breastfeeding baby. Any one who wants to touch the baby should as well wash hands and be in clean clothes before doing so.

🚼Reduce visitors and do not allow people who have cold or respiratory tract infections to hold the baby

🚼 If baby has any danger sign, seek medical care immediately example fever, diarrhea, jaundice, convulsions, vomiting, bleeding circumcision etc

🚼Take care of the cord as ordered by your midwife. If it bleeds report to the hospital as soon as possible

🚼Make sure your baby gets immunized against diseases as recommended

🚼Child walfare clinic (weighing) is crucial as it will help to monitor the growth and well-being of your baby.

🚼Circumcise your male child at the hospital or within a sterile field. If there is bleeding circumcision visit the hospital immediately.
Ensure both mum and baby get enough rest.
Share with other mums as well.

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The statistics around breast cancer is unacceptable! 1 in 8 women are likely to get breast cancer in their lifetime.

But we can do something about it. Remember Early detection saves lives!

In a middle income country it is still relevant that  women conduct self breast examinations to help detect changes in the breast and report if they feel lumps as well.

Though not 100 percent accurate in determining whether a woman is going to have breast cancer or not, it is still relevant

Perform procedure in front of a mirror if possible, especially during inspection to help identify skin changes

You can do it while standing, sitting or lying down.

Perform self breast examination without your clothes on in privacy please!

It’s best done  monthly at the same period… Just before or after your menses

What to look out for

🔴Lumps in the breast usually painless

🔴Skin changes in skin around the breast.. (Especially if it becomes like the peel of an orange).

🔴Change in size and shape

🔴Abnormal breast discharge

🔴Sores on the breast or nipple

🔴If your nipple is retracting, kindly speak to a doctor about it.

Other recommended investigations include mammograms among others. Speak to your doctor or midwife.

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This is one of the most frequently asked questions after birth. Many women  assume they can’t get pregnant after birth since menstruation hasn’t started. Some also have the perception that it takes three to six months for fertility to return and so use it as a free period only to end up with surprises and unplanned pregnancies.

Let’s get this clarified. As women our bodies are different and we can’t generalize everything. We are unique. After birth the hormone prolactin helps in the production of milk, the more you breastfeed the more it is produced and  helps prevent pregnancy since the levels of other hormones that aid fertility will go down.

So women who breastfeed day and night without any other substitute can rely on this for some time to prevent pregnancy reliably for six weeks.  How reliable and effective this method is depends on the individual and also how well she breastfeeds. It may work for someone for six months but not for everyone!!!

Another issue is that some women think you can’t get pregnant until you start menstruation. This is totally false. You can be pregnant! Ovulation can occur even if you haven’t menstruated. Some women become fertile just six weeks after birth. Menstruation can also resume as well.

My advice.. Breastfeed exclusively day and night and visit the family planning unit for counseling and also to take a method of contraception during your postnatal visit at six weeks. There are methods that do not interfere with breastfeeding. If you want to use the natural family planning method, midwives can as well help you.

Avoid surprises by taking the right steps…

Thank you.

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During ovulation the cervical mucus can stretch and doesn’t break easily

The cervical discharge looks like egg white

It means you are in your fertile time

Its ability to stretch helps the sperm to travel up to meet the ovum

If you want to get pregnant it could be a sign you can rely on to determine your fertile time

To avoid pregnancy, avoid unprotected sex during this time.

But in all these you need to pay close attention to your body to be able to identify your fertile time.

Other signs of Ovulation should also be considered include

🔴A Positive Result on an Ovulation Predictor Test.

🔴Fertile Quality Cervical Mucus.

🔴Increased Sexual Desire.

🔴Sustained Basal Body Temperature Increase.

🔴Fertile Cervical Position.

🔴Breast Tenderness.

🔴Fertile Saliva Ferning Pattern.

🔴Mittelschmerz Pain (Ovulation Pain)

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Hello, Midwife Sally! I responded and asked where do you know me please ?

I follow you on tiktok. I watch all your videos.

I asked, why are you here? She replied. “I have been diagnosed with complete placenta previa. Am six months pregnant but I have to be at the hospital till delivery. They dont want me to go home. The risk of placenta abruptio resulting in severe bleeding has been explained to me.

I don’t have to stress myself. Also if there is any issue and am in the hospital something can be done immediately.“

That was her story. She stayed in the hospital for three good months!

In complete previa the placenta is completely covering the cervix and may detach first if labor starts. It can lead to serious bleeding.

Strict monitoring and observation is needed

A planned cesarean section will be done to save you and your baby. Delivery should be in a hospital.

Back to the story. This morning she saw me again and shouted, Midwife Sally… I looked back and she had a bouncy baby boy 😊

She bled a little during the cesarean section and told me how another woman with the same condition lost her life right in her face. She was so grateful to God for the safe delivery done via cesarean section

Mums… Know your placenta location.  Work with your doctor or midwife for the best results

A big congratulations to her. Am so happy she made it!

Don’t leave your pregnancy to chance.

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Many women are concerned about the size of their bumps during pregnancy. They are always asking if my bump is small and it is not growing as big as I expect. Will it affect my baby? Is it safe?

The answer is your fundal height is what usually gives a midwife a clue as to whether the baby is small for date or big for date. Fundal height is what you see a midwife using tape measure to measure the bump. So it does not really depend on the appearance of your bump. A scan can also be done to determine your fetal weight. Your midwife or doctor will alert you when there is a deviation.

At birth your expected fetal weight considered normal is 2.5 kg to 3.5 kg. Anything less or more is considered as underweight or overweight.

Babies that are born and are overweight or big come with their own problem. Some include respiratory problems , birth injuries, hypothermia, hypoglycemia/reduced glucose level in the blood, still birth etc

Before your due date your doctor will request a scan. This scan can predict your baby’s weight. Together with measuring your fundal height, a doctor may diagnose that you are likely to have a big baby.

Birth has to be done by a skilled attendant in a hospital. If the baby is very big, the doctor may request a caesarian section.

Mothers with gestational diabetes are likely to have big babies and it is important that birth is done in a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit to resuscitate the baby where needed. During pregnancy glucose should be controlled to prevent complications

Eating a well balanced diet, exercising and taking prescribed medication can help you get a healthy weight for your newborn

After reading this, I hope you see that having a healthy baby does not mean the baby should be big or your bump should be big!

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Mum 1
Gm. I’m still wondering if ante-natal and postnatal counseling is given.
I had an episiotomy before an SVD. It’s been about 5yrs now but I still haven’t got over it. It has had a toll on my ‘intimate’ life.
Guess expectant mothers can be counseled regarding such likely procedures during delivery, healing process and how to overcome the likely psychological effect.

#mum 2
I had a serious vaginal tear which wasn’t sutured properly. Cos de tear wasn’t straight and the workload of the midwife at night was many so she was in a hurry. It took me more than 6 wks for the wound to heal and ma problem now is the wound left a scar n anytime i Ve sex there is always a sharp small tear on de scar which is very painful

During Childbirth many women especially first time mums are given a cut within the perineum to expedite birth for various reasons. It is important to educate yourself about episiotomy before your labor sets in. Especially self care and pain management after the procedure.
Though it is helpful in some cases, some women have been left with complications that affect their quality of life, especially their sex life. There is no need to hide this and suffer in silence.

Talk to a gynecologist or a surgeon if you are having problems with its healing process or having a toll on your life.

Always include this in your birth as to whether you want the procedure to be done or not. It is not and should not be a routine. Ask your midwife how you can prepare your perineum to prevent tears and episiotomy.

Hope my colleague Midwives will do this procedure only when it is very necessary and not routinely. Let’s educate our clients well during antenatal and after the procedure to minimize its complications

Thanks. Until our voices are heard there will be no change. Share with a friend or midwife we need some more education on this. Thanks

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Severe headache  during pregnancy could be a sign of stress, hunger, poor ventilation, dehydration, malaria or an indication of pre eclampsia .

It could also be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy.

Anemia or low Hemoglobin levels can also cause headaches

To avoid headache,

🔴Rest in-between your activities,

🔴Take in enough fluids, water, healthy drinks, soups etc

🔴Take  your malaria prophylaxis as ordered to prevent malaria

🔴Always check your BP and urine protein at the clinic if headache is severe

🔴Your doctor will  rule out the specific cause and treat accordingly.

🔴Take prescribed analgesics

🔴Regular exercise

🔴 Eat on time and food should be nutritious.

🔴Proper ventilation to reduce stuffiness

🔴Eat on time and inadequate proportions

🔴Also take your daily dose of prescribed haematinics

If the headache is persistent and doesn’t go away with rest, report immediately for further investigations and treatment. It’s a danger sign of pregnancy

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Let me use every day language

When your doctor says your cervix is weak whist you are pregnant, this is what he is saying

The cervix is the opening of the uterus

When you are pregnant it has to be firm and closed.

This will help maintain the pregnancy( cervical sufficiency)

On the other hand if it is weak, it’s length shortens, it is easily taken up, meaning it can easily open with little pressure. (Cervical insufficiency)

When this happens when your pregnancy grows and it becomes heavy. The little pressure can lead to an abortion.

If you have had previous continues miscarriages in your second trimester. Speak to your doctor before your next pregnancy

If a weak cervix is detected earlier a cerclage will be done to prevent a spontaneous abortion.

Causes may vary, speak to your doctor about it

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