JUMOKE Amoo has a story to tell. The story is about how her sister Nike, a mother of two, died during childbirth as a result of obstructed labor, a treatable complication. Nike was at home in suburban Osogbo to give birth, as she had with her first two children, but her third contraction did not progress.
My baby’s head got stuck. Nike needed a Caesarean section, but died before reaching a hospital with doctors capable of performing the procedure.
Nike is one of the many women who die during childbirth in Nigeria. Some 82,000 Nigerian women died from pregnancy-related complications in 2020, a slight improvement from the previous year but an increase in recent decades.
Causes of death included severe hemorrhage, hypertension (preeclampsia and eclampsia), unsafe abortion, and obstructed labor.
Professor Akintunde Odukogbe, a consultant gynecologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, asserted that for every woman who dies, 20 women are handicapped in their attempts to build the next generation.
“What is so surprising is that these deaths were due to five major preventable diseases and conditions, including severe bleeding, hypertension, eclampsia, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labor.” refused.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risks associated with pregnancy. Some solutions need to be built from scratch. Some require women to make the right choices for themselves and their babies.
Professor Emmanuel Otororin, who is also a Consultant Gynecologist, stressed the importance of self-care and knowledge in navigating pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria.
His new book is titled “How to Survive Pregnancy and Childbirth in Nigeria: A Personal Guide” and is written to provide guidelines to literate pregnant women. He documents guidelines for quality childbirth and postnatal care of mothers and newborns, including information on options for some complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
Pregnancy is full of choices and challenges, from the physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, nutrition, preconception care, antenatal care, understanding labor and birth, and postnatal care, to managing the complications of pregnancy and childbirth. It’s decision time.
Professor Otororin said that in low-resource settings like Nigeria, where access to health care is limited, self-care is an important component of healthy pregnancy and childbirth, and therefore empowers women to take charge of their own affairs. I was adamant that I needed to give. health and happiness.
“Self-care leads to knowledge. Part of it includes prioritizing rest, maintaining a nutritious diet with local means, and doing moderate exercise, which helps pregnant women Learning relaxation and breathing techniques can not only help you manage stress, but also help you prepare for childbirth.
“Ignorance is pervasive by superstitions and myths that tend to distract from the truth and mislead innocent pregnant women who are interested in giving birth to a live and healthy baby. Pregnant women who are knowledgeable about the signs and the life-saving treatments available will take steps that can actually positively impact the outcome of their pregnancy.”
In Nigeria, pregnant women are often under tremendous pressure from various parties competing for their attention, giving them unsolicited and unsolicited advice, and asking them what to do during pregnancy and childbirth. You’re trying to influence the decision-making process about what to do and what not to do. childbirth.
However, Professor Otrolin says that while most advice from untrained people may be harmless, some may actually be very harmful and can significantly alter the course of the pregnancy and possibly the fetus. said.
“In this day and age, some people have turned to Google as their medical provider. Searching for medical advice online can be risky and cannot replace the expertise of a medical professional. It can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis. “They can ignore connections, ignore important details, cause unnecessary anxiety and worry, and even delay treatment for serious conditions,” he said.
Not all pregnancies are safe. Also, science cannot always predict who will experience life-threatening complications during pregnancy, childbirth, childbirth, or even after birth. In fact, approximately 15 out of every 100 pregnant women end up having life-threatening complications that lead to an unwanted termination of their pregnancy.
However, Professor Otrolin said it was important that women also had access to information about the main causes of life-threatening complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Factors that increase the risk of these complications and available preventive interventions can increase your chances of surviving pregnancy and childbirth.
“The World Health Organization recommends that all pregnant women should be managed by skilled maternity health professionals who can address any complications that arise,” he added.
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