The Nation Newspaper

Tag: foetus

  • Is sex safe during pregnancy?

    Is sex safe during pregnancy?

    Many women crave sex during pregnancy while others dread it. The good news – or bad news, depending who is looking at it – is that sex during pregnancy is extremely safe and desirous for most men and women.

    Sex on a regular basis is safe as long as the pregnancy is proceeding normally — but you might not always want to. Emotions and hormones often take a toll on one’s sex drive and can cause fatigue, nausea and potential adverse pregnancy outcomes.

    Miscarriages, preterm labour and excessive bleeding from sex is rare but still very important conditions to be aware of. Sex is generally not the cause of miscarriage as it is usually related to genetics and other chromosomal abnormalities — not due to anything you do or don’t do.

    However, poor lifestyle management such as an inadequate diet and lack of exercise can result in excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, hormonal imbalances and additional labour complications. These can increase the risk a large baby and the need of Caesarean delivery — also known as a C-section.

    Sexual activity – unless it’s excessively rough – won’t affect the baby. The baby is protected by the strong muscles of the uterus and suspended in a sac of fluid. The man-on-top position does become progressively more uncomfortable and should be avoided during the third trimester.

    At this time, the growing uterus can compress major abdominal blood vessels and cause an array of symptoms associated with diminished blood flow. A condition called supine hypotensive syndrome can develop if the blood vessels are compressed. This can change blood pressure, heart rate, and negatively affect the foetus.

    Experts agree that experimenting with positions is what works best. This approach allows you to keep safety in mind while still focusing on mutual pleasure and comfort. Popular positions include lying next to your partner sideways or have the female on top.

    Both men and women need to practice safe sex regardless of pregnancy status. Exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy can terminate the pregnancy or severely affect the health of the mother and unborn child. Conditions such as hepatitis B, HIV, herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and genital warts are easily transmittable.

    Anal sex is not recommended during pregnancy. Anal sex is often painful and uncomfortable with pregnancy-related haemorrhoids. Anal sex can cause trauma and bleeding that increases the risk of spreading infections between partners and foetus.

    If you choose to receive oral sex during pregnancy, make sure your partner does not blow air into your vagina. This act can cause a deadly blood clot that travels to the lungs. Oral sex is generally considered safe during pregnancy but it also has risks of STI transmission.

    Use a latex condom each and every time you have sex. Limit the number of sexual partners if you’re single, unmarried or not committed. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to catch a STI. To reduce your risk, practice monogamy. This means having sex with only one person.

     

    Regardless of if you’re pregnant or not, don’t use alcohol, tobacco or drugs before or after sex. These substances can damage the foetus and being drunk or high often prevents safe sex practices.

    Have fun, listen to your body and be responsible when it comes to sex during pregnancy. Sex during pregnancy is often better because the pressures are off.

     

    Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and global health care education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement. He can be reached via: 

    Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com

    Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard

    Twitter: DrCoryCouillard

     

  • Foetus found in hostel

    There was commotion at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, last Thursday, following the discovery of a fresh foetus in one of the school’s halls of residence. The foetus, said to be six-month old, was found by cleaners in a polythene bag dumped close to a refuse incinerator.

    When the cleaners raised alarm, students rushed to the scene, expressing shock at the sight of the foetus. The cleaners reported the matter at the central office of the school porters.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the foetus was dripping blood at the time of its discovery, suggesting that the aborted baby may have been dumped in by a resident of the hostel. It was gathered that the hostel porters traced the blood marks on the ground until the mother was found in a room, bleeding. The lady, identified as Izuka and a 100-Level student, was taken to the institution’s health centre for attention.

    A resident of the hostel, who pleaded not to be named, said it was not the first time strange objects would be discovered in the hostel, noting that the foetus was dumped before dawn.

    Another student, who also spoke under the condition of anonymity, said: “Aborting a baby of about six months old is an act of wickedness. Necessary action should be taken against the mother. We are students and our purpose in the school is what should take our priority.”

    There has been no word from management about the issue, but sources said the authorities may take punitive action against the aborted baby’s mother.

  • Foetus found at UNILAG hostel

    Foetus found at UNILAG hostel

    There was pandemonium at Madam Tinubu Hostel of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), last Wednesday, following the discovery of a fresh foetus at the sewage area. Residents of the hostel woke up to find the foetus said to have been flushed through the pipe that carried dirty water from the bathrooms to the sewage.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the foetus may have been dumped by a resident, who had an abortion. Students gathered at the scene to rain curses on the perpetrator.

    Some residents of the hall, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described the act as “callous”, saying they did not expect a “sane student” to engage in such act. They condemned the act, which they said could lead to serious health implications for residents.

    On close examination, CAMPUSLIFE observed that the  foetus was about five months old. Its legs, hands, eyes and other human features were already formed. The foetus was fresh, fueling speculation that the perpetrator may have removed it in the middle of the night.

    A resident and Actuarial Science and Insurance student, Abimbola Oshin, described the sight of the foetus as “disgusting”. She said:

    “When I saw the foetus, I was pained and became sad, because it was disgusting. Even if the perpetrator did not want the baby, it does not speak well to dispose the foetus in that manner. She may want to use the act to tarnish the image of the school and other residents of the hostel, because people would think it is a common practice among female students’’.

    Abimbola said the perpetrator also endangered her own life in the process of terminating the foetus. “Students should learn how to have protected intercourse if they don’t want to have children,” she said.

    Another resident, Elizabeth Aringbangban, a Mathematics Education student, said it was callous for any student to terminate and flush a foetus down the sewage pipe. “I was very irritated when I saw the foetus. I felt bad for the girl who could have done it. She is not human,” she said.

    Elizabeth urged students to desist from engaging in open intercourse to avoid embarrassing situations.

    She said: “They should abstain from intercourse and face the main purpose for which they are in school. Entering a relationship that is baseless will only lead to distraction and destruction. I wish the mother would have kept the baby instead.”

    Peace Anosike, a Marine Sciences student, said: “When I saw the foetus, I felt ashamed as a woman. The features of the baby had formed but the mother thought it had to be thrown away. This is sad.”

    She advised women to concentrate on their studies, rather than “running after men, who will impregnate them and run away”.

     

  • ‘My husband is fetish, he killed the foetus in my womb’

    MY husband is fetish, he killed the foetus in my womb,” a 37-year-old housewife, Ajoke Abiodun, told an Igando Customary Court at a Lagos suburb .

    “He gave me `Suya’ to eat during the early stage of my pregnancy and the baby in my womb started to breath faster and later died,” she said.

    Suya is a spicy shish kebab which is a popular food item in West Africa and it is generally made with skewered beef, ram, or chicken.

    According to  reports the husband, Mr Dare Abiodun, 40, a businessman, had approached the court, seeking the dissolution of his 15-year-old marriage over threats to his life.

    Ajoke, a mother of three, who did not object to the dissolution bid, told the court that her husband was fetish.

    She said:“I saw my bra inside my husband’s brief case, I queried him but he said he wanted to take it to his church for prayers.

    “He also brought a handkerchief home and gave it to me to clean my private part and return to him but I refused.

    “He has been bringing home different types of soup and other liquids for me to drink which I also refused because I do not trust him.”

    “Apart from his fetish nature, he has also turned me to a punching bag.”

    She said that her husband had always blamed her for his predicament in life.

    Abiodun, in a counter-accusation, said:”My wife is always threatening my life with dangerous weapons as she chased me with knife in our street to stab me.

    “She is a good fighter; her hobby is fighting as I have on at least five occasions bailed her at the police station.

    “She fights with friends, neighbours, even in the church and I had to leave that church for her because of this shameful act.”

    The estranged husband, who described his wife as adulterous, claimed to have caught her with a man friend in his room “chatting and eating”.

    “I came back home to pick something in the morning and I met my wife with her lover inside our room eating food bought from an eatery.”

    He urged the court to dissolve the loveless marriage.

    The President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, has fixed May 10 for judgment.