LAB INDICATES PREGNANCY BUT DR. SAYS OTHERWISE

It was like a game of puzzle. She had the letters P-R-E-G-N, she only needed the letters A,N,T to score 100 points to win her opponent but the gods weren't on her side. It was her last move and all that was left in her tray was N,O,T.

Azuka missed her menses for about two cycles with symptoms suggestive of pregnancy. She obtained a pregnancy test strip from a nearby patent medicine store, rushed into her rest room as though she was in a hurry to catch up with her flight. After struggling with her tight bum short which almost made her irrigate her limbs with hot tempered urine, she got a sample and quickly conducted the test.

While she waited for the result, she made herself a little more comfortable by deflating her gut. The resulting phonics is better imagined. Amidst the performance, she suddenly exclaimed,
Aaaaaaaaah! Obago!! Azuka, you are too much, she said to herself on sighting double lines on the strip. She then sprung up from the toilet seat to do the kerewa dance, out of excitement.

One week later, she visited a clinic on account of blood stain which she observed after cleaning herself up.

After an ultrasound scan investigation, the doctor informed her that there was no evidence of pregnancy.
To her disappointment, she turned round to confirm if she was really in the right place and when she turned to the doctor, her forehead furrowed, her pupils dilated and her voice echoed a masculine tone as she asked the doctor to repeat himself. He tried to calm her down but the more he tried, he met with stiffer resistance. There must be a mix-up somewhere, it's probably someone else's report because am double sure about being pregnant.
With these words, Azuka walked out of the doctor's office angrily to a medical laboratory for a repeat pregnancy test. The result was contrary to the doctor's opinion. Quack doctor, she said, I knew I was pregnant.

She decided to visit another health Care facility to book for Antenatal Care but the same issue reared its ugly head again. She wished the doctor would say something different/positive but he looked at her in the face and unequivocally told her that she wasn't pregnant. This time she was broken, speechless and confused. She bent over the table and sobbed...
Madam are you alright? Asked the doctor. How can I be alright when you people are against my pregnancy? I don't understand you madam, the doctor replied. As though she was recovering from her mishap, she narrated her experience to the doctor and ended her story with this question,
How possible is it that I missed my period and confirmed my pregnancy with a lab test even with a recent one yesterday and you still say am not pregnant? The doctor gave her these explanations. 👇

FALSE-POSITIVE B-HCG

B-HCG stands for beta human chorionic gonadotropins. It's a hormone produced by a placental precursor. It's this chemical that your test strip looks for in pregnancy test. When the strip says it's present (by showing two lines) in a person who actually is not pregnant it's referred to as false positive and can be seen in conditions like:


INTERFERING ANTIBODIES: two persons (antibodies) are needed to indicate the presence of B-HCG in the urine or blood. The capturing antibody catches and holds the B-HCG in place while the signalling antibody binds to the chemical and announces it's presence by showing double lines. In some individuals there's a special antibody called interfering antibody. It gives the signalling antibody the false impression that it has captured the chemical thereafter the signalling antibody announces without confirmation, resulting in false positive result.

EXPIRED TEST KIT: every test kit has expiry date beyond which it's sensitivity and specificity is questionable. Hence an expired test strip would most likely give a false positive result.

CHEMICAL/BIOCHEMICAL: it is possible that she WAS pregnant but lost it before her presentation to the clinic. Sometimes pregnancies occur but for different reasons fail to continue. The HCG resulting from such pregnancies lingers for a while, up to a month, before it is completely removed from the blood. Therefore within this time pregnancy test would be positive.

CANCER: the tissues of pregnancy notably "the trophoblast" may under go abnormal development following chromosomal abberation resulting in Molar pregnancy, a condition referred to as "Gestational Trophoblastic Disease. This is a rich source of B-HCG which can be identified in pregnancy test.

PITUITARY HCG: the pituitary gland is an endocrine gland. It controls the reproductive system and in turn gets feedback regulation from same. When ovarian function declines significantly, feedback is lost and it produces significant amount in B-HCG. This is common above the age of 40 years.
This gland also produces other hormones that have similar structure with B-HCG viz, Follicle Stimulating Hormone,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone which can give a false positive result.

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Witch's milk mismanagement in baby ends in hospital admission and surgery

Whatever you lack knowledge about has an edge over you, so they say. Sometimes our actions, inactions or inappropriate actions may become regrettable, especially when it generates ripple effect. So it was in this one month old baby.

It is not uncommon for mothers to find out suspicious appearances on babies during routine bathing.
 On this faithful day Ezinne called out to her mother-in-law to come and see for herself. I hope my eyes aren't deceiving me, she added, these breasts are getting bigger, while pointing at her baby's chest. Bibiana ochoro ikpù añra? ( Is Bibiana growing breast) Chineke! (God)  this one beats my imagination o!

Out of curiosity she compressed the right breast and exclaimed when she saw breastmilk flowing out. This is not normal, how can a new born lactate? Who does she want to breastfeed? They took their turn to empty both breasts and felt a little satisfied after the exercise. The following day, the breasts had become engorged and even bigger. Ezinne spent more of her time trying to decompress the breasts.
In the evening of that same day the right breast had become swollen, reddish and tender (painful to touch), baby developed high grade fever with restlessness. With these developments, mother wrapped up her baby and zoomed off to a drug dispenser who told her that her child has a "hormonal imbalance". Six injections were given to the baby instantly and some take home drugs.
After two days of nightmare, she then brought the child to the clinic. By then, the child had developed "Right Breast Mastitis and Abscess" which therefore prompted surgical incision and drainage.

Witch's milk/ Neonatal milk

During pregnancy certain hormones become elevated in the woman, including Prolactin and Growth hormone. These are transferred to the baby during breastfeeding. When significant, they stimulates transient breast development and lactation in both sexes.
Thyroid hormones which also peaks in babies after delivery (to help in temperature regulation) also contribute to this phenomenon referred to as Witch's milk.
The production of breastmilk may last up to two months before it resolves.
N:b it's a normal occurrence seen in some children.
It does not require any TEST or TREATMENT.
DO NOT COMPRESS THE BREAST OF AFFECTED CHILDREN.
The term "witch's milk"does not imply that the baby is a witch but from history it was thought that the breastmilk was a source of nourishment for witches.

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28 years old lady battles with her life after inserting drug into her vagina

Despite different Heath education on the dangers of self medication people still pay deaf ears to warnings from health experts.

In the wake of yesterday, a young lady name withheld, in the beautiful city of Owerri, Nigeria was rushed to a private clinic in an unconscious state.

Infirmation at our disposal has it that she opened an Ampiclox capsule and poured the powder into her vagina.
She did this following itching which she had two days proir to the incident.

After the drug application she felt an intense burning sensation and dizziness before she passed out.
She has been revived in the clinic thanks to the medical team on call.

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LEO'S BLOG: BREASFEEDING MALPRACTICE: Baby doesn't get filled ...

LEO'S BLOG: BREASFEEDING MALPRACTICE: Baby doesn't get filled ...: With zero enthusiasm and just to fulfill an unholy righteousness she sat down on the hard metal chair to listen to the day's talk. As ...

BREASFEEDING MALPRACTICE: Baby doesn't get filled or add significant weight

With zero enthusiasm and just to fulfill an unholy righteousness she sat down on the hard metal chair to listen to the day's talk. As the instructor introduced herself, Caris, distracted herself with assessing her instructor's physic and outfit. Cheap shoes, she whispered to herself...
She had heard so much about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding but the fourth point as outlined dropped on her rich soil like the parable of the sower . It was  the fact that breastmilk improves the intelligent quotient ( IQ)  of children. She adjusted herself and focused on the instructor, like one hypnotized by a psychologist ,with her eyes dilated with curiosity. The weighty words sank deep into her subconcious and turned on her centre for creative imagination. She saw her child with awards for excellent academic performance and just when he was about receiving  the best graduating medical student award, she received a tap on her shoulder which disconnected her from her day dreaming.
It was her loquacious friend, Omasiridiya, who came to seek for her company home, since the antenatal class was over. Seeing she was lost in thoughts, Omasiridiya  lowered herself and in sympathy asked her friend, Caris, if all is well with her. But when she wasn't yielding for fear of being engaged in a never ending gossip, Omasiridiya prompted Caris, asking "I hope its not about your husband again this time? But she gave her a smile, shook her head in response, picked up her bag to go home.

 On their way home,  Omasiridiya persistently poked her friend with words until she eventually engaged her in a conversation. They chewed and digested the antenatal topic. Caris smartly raised the topic before Omasiridiya would choose her victim from her archive for gossip. For Omasiridiya, the fact that exclusive breastfeeding keeps her baby away from frequent hospitalization, saves her some money, reduces the risk of breast cancer, serves as contraception, reduces the incidence of diabetes in her child and increases the bond between her and the baby, was enough to convince her. As usual Omasirudiya did most of the talking while Caris listenl to save herself some energy but they both agreed on exclusive breastfeeding.

Caris had put to bed and waited anxiously for the breastmilk to begin flowing so she can transform her child's brain to that of a genius. It came, in answer to her prayer, first like a drizzling rain and later like a fountain. Out of curiosity and enthusiasm she began quizzing her five days old baby...

Breastfeeding soon became frustrating for her following increasing demands from her baby. The intermittent cries, sleeplessness and occasional dizzy spells squeezed the life out of her and like a fragile egg, she cracked and in a jiffy threw all her memories and dreams away like ashes. Her mother-in-law recommended water to complement the breastfeeding. A suggestion she grabbed with both hands and with thanksgiving.
One week later, the baby was rushed to the hospital on account of high grade fever and stooling.

WHY BABY MAY NEVER GET FILLED OR HAVE SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT GAIN DURING BREASTFEEDING

The concept of foremilk & hindmilk

The MATURED BREASTMILK (breastmilk produced after colostrum) as it flows varies in it's component. The initial milk is watery with more sugar (lactose) than fat. This is referred to as the foremilk. The foremilk quenches the baby's thirst, provides energy and simulates brain development but doesn't fill-up the child.
The milk that flows later in the course of breastfeeding is creamy and contains high fat, higher calorie, vitamin A&E. This is referred to as hindmilk and stimulates baby's growth and therefore promote weight gain.
Both types of breastmilk are equally important and each round of breastfeeding should be such that adequate amounts of both types be obtained- balanced diet.
Improper breastfeeding practices like abnormal posture and frequent switch between breasts results in imbalance. Excess foremilk causes gassing, abdominal pain, irritability,passage of loose greenish colored stool with possible blood stain. This is due to excess sugar in the foremilk.

WHAT TO DO

• Increase the frequency of breastfeeding to less than three hourly.
• Eat good food rich in protein and fat.
• Ensure by inspection that a child gets the hindmilk during each breastfeeding session.
• If observed that the foremilk is in excess, it may be expressed.

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