Sex safe during pregnancy -- Expert

In this interview with MOTUNRAYO JOEL, a Sonologist,  Akan Akpome, debunks myths about sex during pregnancy

 What are the common symptoms that pregnant women experience?

The common symptoms of pregnancy are weakness and vomiting, especially after brushing and water intake. The woman will also experience slight fever and whiteness of the palm. The menstrual period will stop as soon as the woman becomes pregnant.  However, some women don't experience any symptom. Some are confused with a few blood stains, in the early stage of pregnancy, giving the wrong impression that the monthly menstrual flow is coming. This could go on for three months. It is therefore important for women to have a scan whenever they notice a strange behaviour in their body system.

Why do women still experience menstrual flow when they are pregnant?

One of the causes of this is what is referred to as implementation bleeding. When the baby gets to the womb, it begins to dig into its surrounding tissue. At that time, the woman may experience blood spots for a day or two. The second cause is if the baby implants close to the outlet called the cervix of the womb. When the baby is digging the surrounding tissue of the womb, there will be bleeding from the placenta. In such cases, the woman experiences a threatened abortion. Through a scan, the doctor determines if the baby will survive or not. With time, the placenta goes up and gets used to holding the baby. There are cases when the bleeding is heavy but the baby still survives the pregnancy.

The term for this situation is low-line placenta. Other causes of bleeding are when the woman has infection in her genital tract. It is called cervicitis. This happens when there is inflammation of the uterine cervix, especially after she meets with her spouse. The first symptom of cervical cancer is blood stain. Once the woman sees blood stains, she should go for a check-up.

Is it possible for a woman who is breastfeeding to be pregnant?

This is possible and it is a common occurrence. When a woman is practicing exclusive breastfeeding, she won't see her period for about six months. Some women see their period within the first three months, but this is on rare occasions. There is a slim chance of getting pregnant during this period but it's not advisable to take advantage of the period without proper care, because anything can happen. There are cases of women who become pregnant while breastfeeding.

Is it safe for a pregnant woman to breastfeed?

It is very safe. I asked an elderly woman why women fear breastfeeding when they are pregnant and she told me that they felt there are secretions that come out through the nipple which may be poisonous to the child. I believe this is just a myth. They are traditional thoughts that haven't been proven. In my opinion, it is very safe for a pregnant mother to breastfeed her baby. The only side effect is that she may experience weakness because she will be feeding two babies at a time. But if the baby is not yet six months, it's her duty to make sure the baby gets enough breast milk. However, every mother should practice child spacing due to the economic situation.

What is your advice to pregnant women who feel uncomfortable having sexual intercourse with their partners?

During the first stage of pregnancy and towards the end, the woman's physical strength reduces. As her hormonal status changes, her desire for sex reduces, it is normal. Some animals don't have interest for sex during pregnancy. It is normal for women to feel uncomfortable having sex with a protruding belly. However, having sexual intercourse with your partner is not wrong, it is allowed. Some men take it personal when you deny them sex.  It is also important for men to show understanding during this period.

Does sex during pregnancy pose any risk to the unborn baby?

It doesn't have any physiological effect on the baby; but there are cases when the woman bleeds in her vagina. It is advisable for her to rest the pelvic area. If she has been diagnosed with placenta praevia, she is advised to stay away from sex. Because any form of excitement around that area can provoke bleeding. I've seen so many women who were advised not to have sexual intercourse because they had placenta praevia. Some of these women were rushed to the hospital and they eventually lost the baby. These are the only cases when a pregnant woman should avoid sexual intercourse.

What type of food should pregnant mothers eat and avoid?

In our environment, we don't take enough fruits, and these fruits contain vitamins that are essential for immunity-building. They should also take a lot of green vegetables. They shouldn't overcook it. Vegetables contain iron, and the woman needs extra blood for herself and her baby. Also, she should take protein in form of meat, egg, milk. A pregnant woman's diet should have enough protein, less carbohydrate and fat.

Our regular foods do not pose any risk to the child. However, there is an erroneous belief that when an expectant mother drinks beverages, her baby will get big. This is not true. Women should be calorie-conscious. Also, the woman should avoid energy drinks. They are harmful to babies. Alcohol is also bad for pregnant mothers.

How true is the myth that couples who want to have a boy should meet late in the night?

The problem of gender in our environment is very common. Most women want to have boys because of traditional belief. But, the chances of a woman having a boy are not increased by the period she has sex with her parner. However, medically, a theory says when a woman meets her spouse two hours after she ovulates, the chances of her having a boy are higher because the sperm carrying the X gene will swim faster when the woman ovulates. But if she delays, the chances of her having a girl are high. My opinion is that this works for some and doesn't work for others. It is God that decides the sex of a baby.

Are there certain categories of drugs women should take before pregnancy?

There are drugs that women can take before falling pregnant. They are called preconception drugs. Doctors say when a woman is deficient in folic acid, the chances of the patient having a baby with abnormality is high. This abnormality includes the spinal cord or brain not forming well. These drugs can be taken three months before pregnancy. If there is any deficiency during pregnancy, it is automatically corrected. However, if a lady eats right, she should be during pregnancy.

Can a pregnant woman take caffeine?

Caffeine should be avoided during pregnancy. It does a lot of harm to the baby. Caffeine has no benefit for pregnant women.

Sex safe during pregnancy -- Expert


In this interview with MOTUNRAYO JOEL, a Sonologist,  Akan Akpome, debunks myths about sex during pregnancy

 What are the common symptoms that pregnant women experience?

The common symptoms of pregnancy are weakness and vomiting, especially after brushing and water intake. The woman will also experience slight fever and whiteness of the palm. The menstrual period will stop as soon as the woman becomes pregnant.  However, some women don't experience any symptom. Some are confused with a few blood stains, in the early stage of pregnancy, giving the wrong impression that the monthly menstrual flow is coming. This could go on for three months. It is therefore important for women to have a scan whenever they notice a strange behaviour in their body system.

Why do women still experience menstrual flow when they are pregnant?

One of the causes of this is what is referred to as implementation bleeding. When the baby gets to the womb, it begins to dig into its surrounding tissue. At that time, the woman may experience blood spots for a day or two. The second cause is if the baby implants close to the outlet called the cervix of the womb. When the baby is digging the surrounding tissue of the womb, there will be bleeding from the placenta. In such cases, the woman experiences a threatened abortion. Through a scan, the doctor determines if the baby will survive or not. With time, the placenta goes up and gets used to holding the baby. There are cases when the bleeding is heavy but the baby still survives the pregnancy.

The term for this situation is low-line placenta. Other causes of bleeding are when the woman has infection in her genital tract. It is called cervicitis. This happens when there is inflammation of the uterine cervix, especially after she meets with her spouse. The first symptom of cervical cancer is blood stain. Once the woman sees blood stains, she should go for a check-up.

Is it possible for a woman who is breastfeeding to be pregnant?

This is possible and it is a common occurrence. When a woman is practicing exclusive breastfeeding, she won't see her period for about six months. Some women see their period within the first three months, but this is on rare occasions. There is a slim chance of getting pregnant during this period but it's not advisable to take advantage of the period without proper care, because anything can happen. There are cases of women who become pregnant while breastfeeding.

Is it safe for a pregnant woman to breastfeed?

It is very safe. I asked an elderly woman why women fear breastfeeding when they are pregnant and she told me that they felt there are secretions that come out through the nipple which may be poisonous to the child. I believe this is just a myth. They are traditional thoughts that haven't been proven. In my opinion, it is very safe for a pregnant mother to breastfeed her baby. The only side effect is that she may experience weakness because she will be feeding two babies at a time. But if the baby is not yet six months, it's her duty to make sure the baby gets enough breast milk. However, every mother should practice child spacing due to the economic situation.

What is your advice to pregnant women who feel uncomfortable having sexual intercourse with their partners?

During the first stage of pregnancy and towards the end, the woman's physical strength reduces. As her hormonal status changes, her desire for sex reduces, it is normal. Some animals don't have interest for sex during pregnancy. It is normal for women to feel uncomfortable having sex with a protruding belly. However, having sexual intercourse with your partner is not wrong, it is allowed. Some men take it personal when you deny them sex.  It is also important for men to show understanding during this period.

Does sex during pregnancy pose any risk to the unborn baby?

It doesn't have any physiological effect on the baby; but there are cases when the woman bleeds in her vagina. It is advisable for her to rest the pelvic area. If she has been diagnosed with placenta praevia, she is advised to stay away from sex. Because any form of excitement around that area can provoke bleeding. I've seen so many women who were advised not to have sexual intercourse because they had placenta praevia. Some of these women were rushed to the hospital and they eventually lost the baby. These are the only cases when a pregnant woman should avoid sexual intercourse.

What type of food should pregnant mothers eat and avoid?

In our environment, we don't take enough fruits, and these fruits contain vitamins that are essential for immunity-building. They should also take a lot of green vegetables. They shouldn't overcook it. Vegetables contain iron, and the woman needs extra blood for herself and her baby. Also, she should take protein in form of meat, egg, milk. A pregnant woman's diet should have enough protein, less carbohydrate and fat.

Our regular foods do not pose any risk to the child. However, there is an erroneous belief that when an expectant mother drinks beverages, her baby will get big. This is not true. Women should be calorie-conscious. Also, the woman should avoid energy drinks. They are harmful to babies. Alcohol is also bad for pregnant mothers.

How true is the myth that couples who want to have a boy should meet late in the night?

The problem of gender in our environment is very common. Most women want to have boys because of traditional belief. But, the chances of a woman having a boy are not increased by the period she has sex with her parner. However, medically, a theory says when a woman meets her spouse two hours after she ovulates, the chances of her having a boy are higher because the sperm carrying the X gene will swim faster when the woman ovulates. But if she delays, the chances of her having a girl are high. My opinion is that this works for some and doesn't work for others. It is God that decides the sex of a baby.

Are there certain categories of drugs women should take before pregnancy?

There are drugs that women can take before falling pregnant. They are called preconception drugs. Doctors say when a woman is deficient in folic acid, the chances of the patient having a baby with abnormality is high. This abnormality includes the spinal cord or brain not forming well. These drugs can be taken three months before pregnancy. If there is any deficiency during pregnancy, it is automatically corrected. However, if a lady eats right, she should be during pregnancy.

Can a pregnant woman take caffeine?

Caffeine should be avoided during pregnancy. It does a lot of harm to the baby. Caffeine has no benefit for pregnant women.





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