Mrs Obikwere Concilia is a qualified professional Midwife, Pharmacist and CEO of Save Souls Nig. Ltd who has been in practice for over 20 years. In this interview with MERCY IGNITUS she highlights some issues associated with pregnancy amongst others…
How true is it that a virgin who gets pregnant goes through more labour?
Well it is a known fact that when a virgin gets pregnant she goes through more labour than a non-virgin. Simply put, the birth canal or cervix is still very tight. The cervix of the virgin is very tight so it takes more time for it to relax and actually with the birth of the first baby it makes it loose for other children to pass through.
Definitely we call them primps. They go through more labour because it takes time for the relaxation of the muscles, the virginal muscles, especially the cervix, the neck of the womb is called the cervix for it to relax and work towards labour it takes time, that is a known fact. Any woman or virgin or whoever has not been pregnant for the first time she is called primp, a primigravida.
What are the benefits of folic acid for pregnant women?
Folic acid is very beneficial to pregnant women because it forms the basic amino acids that help in the normal development of the baby which include: B complex found especially in leafy green vegetables, kidney, and liver.
Do Midwives assist only at child birth?
Midwives don’t only assist in child birth; they assist before birth in terms of taking care of the woman and we call it ante natal care, you check the woman that is pregnant right from the time she misses her period, the midwife educates her, checks her, checks the heart just like that until she gives birth, even after child birth she takes care of the mother and the baby until after the first six weeks. After which the woman can now resume her sexual relationship with her husband, and the midwife takes care of that, advising her or if they have to use some contraception or contraceptive devices she has to advise her.
Is it proper for a woman who is pregnant to have sex with her husband?
Why not? It is proper. The fact that she is pregnant does not mean she will not have sexual relations with her husband; in fact it helps in mutual relationship you don’t need to leave the man alone still carry the man along but with advise, in the first trimester especially when there is the history of abortion or miscarriage that they should leave that period for the second trimester and then in the third trimester they have to assume the position that is comfortable for the woman but the woman that is pregnant cannot just leave the husband alone because this has accounted for many becoming flirtatious and then being promiscuous try to bring the man closer and then to keep your marriage.
What are the days in the menstrual cycle that a woman is likely to get pregnant?
The days in the menstrual cycle a woman is likely to get pregnant is called the fertile period though it varies in women but it is usually after the first ten days most women ovulate at twelve, some at thirteen, while some at fourteen but usually fourteen days before the next cycle within that period she is very fertile and likely to get pregnant and so we call that time the fertile period. And for her to determine when she is fertile technology has made it easier now, there is an ovulation stripe she can be directed well by a lab technician or ordinarily she is thought. The stripe will be used to test herself during that period under guided instructions and it is interesting to know that it can be bought in the market. Usually a woman determines it, though there is what we teach them there are mucus signs, there are fertile mucus, we have the early pap, late pap and the egg white. If she sees the egg white that is usually the time she is more fertile than any other days. Although it has been scientifically proven that there are some egg pap that can hide sperm for up to five days. But usually, pregnancy takes place when she sees her egg white.
Are the symptoms of pregnancy the same with every woman?
They are not the same with every woman although we relatively have general signs; there are some signs that are general but every woman has her own way most of them vomit, some call it early morning sickness, but most women, like me for example I do not vomit. Most women vomit excessively until they give birth. Most vomit, most just spit especially during the first trimester and then they stop, but some continue that way, but there are signs that most people experience together a lot of people have similar signs during that period, yes morning sickness, some have their own type which is just vomiting. Hyperdymis clamydamis is that kind of vomiting early in pregnancy within the first trimester which is very noticeable, most of them cannot even eat anything, some are even hospitalised in most cases until the trimester is over but most women have their different signs and ways of going through it.
What effect does stress have on pregnancy?
Stress in pregnancy can cause a lot of things, the BP might be high. There is also what we call stress diabetes, the woman might just see sugar in her urine, the BP might be high and if not controlled it can be very fertile especially in the first pregnancy; in the first pregnancy there is what we call eclampsia preeclampsia. What is this eclampsia, it means illness that occurs at the later stage of pregnancy and involves high blood pressure. The prognosis is very poor and this is one of the essence of ante natal care, we try to advise women to shun stress but in the third trimester you ask them to do some exercise but not so stressful as it can cause problems. Stress itself can cause abortion; she can lose the pregnancy if the stress is much. Stress can cause Intra Uterine Death (IUD) in the baby. One of my patients some years back lost her pregnancy because of stress at the NYSC camp and it was traumatic. So it is good to prevent stress.
What vitamin supplements should a pregnant woman take?
It is very necessary. We advise that they take a lot of these supplements but majority of the supplements should be vitamins B and C especially the one you get from fruits, they help in the development of the baby. If she has a baby, especially if she takes a lot of fruits you see the baby’s skin very clean. You’ll know it just had a nice birth from the womb. But if there is a deficiency in these vitamins you see the baby cannot grow hairs, in fact the baby is messed up. But with these vitamins the baby looks better. So we advise they have a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and some other minerals. But vitamin A should be taken after child birth while vitamin E is known as fertile vitamin.
How much weight should a pregnant woman gain?
The woman is expected to weigh 12.5kg which is the total weight gain that is normal. Though with every pregnancy there is additional weight, but if it comes you have to try and shed it.
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