Mother and Child

It is recommended that babies receive exclusive  breast milk  for at least six months to avert health complications, but the reality on the ground now is different.  Health experts say as days go by, the rate at which mothers breastfeed babies exclusively with breast milk keeps dropping. In Cameroon, 24 per cent of babies were exclusively fed with breast milk, according to 2004 figures.  In 2011, things seem to have gotten worse. Only 20 per cent of babies are reported to have exclusively received breast milk from their mothers according to preliminary findings of a health survey made public recently in Yaounde.  The survey was conducted by the National Institute of Statistics under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health from January to August 2011 in 15,000 households in the country. According to the findings, 98 per cent of babies less than six months were breastfed but only 20 per cent of them received exclusive breast milk. Some 76...

Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times of a woman's life.  The joy of bringing another human being into the world creates a tremendous feeling of contentment and anticipation, but it is also a time of great physical and emotional upheaval. Together with the ever-important trio of exercise, good diet and rest, essential oils can play an important role in helping a woman cope with the stresses of nine months of pregnancy, the pain of labour and post-natal recovery. Common Ailments Surging hormone levels and changes in your swelling body can bring a host of discomforts, many of which can be alleviated by aromatherapy treatments and other simple steps. Backache The lower back region takes a lot of strain during pregnancy, and will benefit from a firm massage with four drops each of lavender and sandalwood in two tablespoons of base oil. Six drops of lavender in the bath will help to soothe away the aches. Morning Sickness Eat little and ...

Immunization plays a vital role in keeping you and your family healthy. It helps protect you from getting an infectious disease. Immunization, also known as vaccination, is a process in which a person is given vaccine to make him/her immune or resistant to an infectious disease. Below are five important reasons to vaccinate your child You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations? Immunizations can save your child’s life . Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction– primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio is one example of the great impact that vaccines...

What is malaria? Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite which infects a certain type of mosquito. These infected mosquitoes spread malaria when they feed on humans. There are four types of malaria parasites which infect humans.  They are: plasmodium falciparum plasmodium vivax plasmodium ovale plasmodium malariae Plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax are the most common. Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly. What are the symptoms of malaria? The symptoms of malaria usually begin to show seven days or more (usually 10 to 15 days) after you've been bitten. They are similar to flu symptoms, which can make diagnosis difficult. Symptoms include: high fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, sweats, cough, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. In some cases of malaria, the fever occurs in 48-hour cycles of shivering and then extreme sweating. In pregnancy, symptoms may be slightly different. For example, the fever may be very slight or very hi...

Most often when a woman becomes pregnant with twins, she will find that she is experiencing some of the same symptoms that she would be if she were only pregnant with one child. However, the difference may be that she finds that the symptoms are a little stronger than they would be if she were only carrying one baby. There are many signs that a woman may experience early on in her pregnancy and all will vary from one woman to the next. While it is difficult to say which symptoms will appear with each pregnancy, here are some of the most common that others have experienced when they first learn that they are pregnant. 1. MORNING SICKNESS This is one of the most common ailments of a woman who is pregnant. However, for a woman who is pregnant with twins, she may find that her morning sickness is stronger than what it would be if she were only pregnant with one child. If you find that you are having severe morning sickness, this could be a sign that you are pregnant with m...

Many women/couples, especially those expecting their first baby, book to attend childbirth preparation classes. Childbirth preparation classes can be helpful if this will be either parent’s first baby or if you are hoping to feel better prepared and more actively involved in decision-making during your labour and birth than you were during your previous birth/s. It is a good idea to book into  Birth and Parenting Preparation Courses  before you are  20 weeks pregnant . Most providers aim to have women and their partners start attending classes when they are approximately  28 – 30 weeks pregnant  and finish before they are full term  i.e. 37 – 38 weeks pregnant. There are several different sorts of  Childbirth Preparation Courses  available. The most commonly available courses are  12 – 14 hours  long and usually consist of  6 – 7 evening sessions . Some providers offer Saturday morning classes or even compressed courses ...

Over that last few years, it has become common among pregnant women to request having a cesarean section, in lieu of vaginal birth. Experts have estimated that less than 3 women out of 100 will request a c-section; however, more women are having c-sections than ever before. In 2012, about 33 percent of births in the United States were cesarean deliveries, up from about 20 percent in 1996. The Risks If you are thinking about planning a cesarean delivery, there are a few risks that you should keep in mind. Take heed of the following: Cesareans may cause problems for future pregnancies. One potential future complication is a condtion known as placenta previa. This is when a placenta is covering or is too close to the cervix. Placenta previa is caused by having a cesarean from a previous pregnancy. This can also increase your risk of having to deliver prematurely. Another well-known risk is that of placenta accreta. This is when the placenta does not separate properl...