Michael O. Oluwafemi

27/11/2025

A Story: The Day Amina Fainted

Amina was eight months pregnant and lived in a small village surrounded by rivers and tall grass. She attended the antenatal clinic when she could, though sometimes she missed appointments because her husband traveled often for work. One hot afternoon, while preparing lunch, Amina felt dizzy. Her head pounded, and her skin felt strangely hot and cold at the same time. Before she could call for help, she fainted.

Her neighbor, Fatima, rushed in and quickly called the village health worker. Amina was taken to the clinic, where the nurse noticed her pale eyes and high fever. A blood test was done immediately. The result confirmed it—severe malaria.

The nurse asked, “Have you been taking your preventive malaria medicine during your clinic visits?” Amina looked down. She had missed her last two visits and had stopped sleeping under the mosquito net because it felt too hot at night. The nurse gently explained that malaria in pregnancy is dangerous—parasites can hide in the placenta and affect the baby’s growth.

At the clinic, Amina was given safe antimalarial treatment suitable for her stage of pregnancy. She stayed for monitoring and slowly regained her strength. After two days, her fever reduced, and her baby’s heartbeat was stable. She promised never to skip antenatal visits again.

Two weeks later, Amina safely delivered a baby girl. She named her “Nafisa,” meaning “precious one.” From that day, Amina became an advocate in her village, reminding other women: “Malaria is silent—but it can be deadly if we do not prevent it.”

Pregnancy weakens the immune system, making it harder to fight infections. Malaria parasites may also accumulate in the placenta, affecting blood flow to the baby.

Possible Complications
For the mother:
-Severe anemia
-Fever and weakness
-Organ failure (in very serious cases)
-Complications during delivery

For the baby:
-Low birth weight
-Premature birth
-Miscarriage or stillbirth
-Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

How It Should Be Managed
-Prevention First
*Sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN) every night.
*Take Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) during antenatal visits.
*Keep surroundings clean to reduce mosquito breeding places.
*Early Detection

If symptoms like fever, chills, headache, or weakness appear, seek medical care immediately.

*Rapid diagnostic tests or blood smears can confirm malaria.

Safe Treatment

Only use medicine prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Treatment depends on the stage of pregnancy—some drugs are safe only in specific trimesters.

Never self-medicate.

Malaria in pregnancy is dangerous but preventable and treatable. Regular antenatal care, proper prevention, and early treatment protect both mother and baby.

23/11/2025

💛 Amina’s Story — The Day Hope Returned

Amina, a 32-year-old fashion designer from Lagos, had always dreamed of becoming a mother. But when she began having painful periods and heavy bleeding, she became worried. After months of discomfort, she finally saw a doctor — and the scan revealed uterine fibroids.

Her aunt whispered, “Ah… fibroids? They block pregnancy. It may be difficult for you.”
Those words sank deep. Amina stopped talking about motherhood altogether.

But her doctor explained something different. He said, “Fibroids don’t automatically mean infertility. Many women still conceive — naturally or with help. The key is knowing where the fibroid is, how big it is, and how it affects the womb.”

Amina started treatment — small lifestyle changes, medication, and later a myomectomy to remove the troubling fibroid. She healed physically, but emotionally she was still unsure. Until one year later — two pink lines appeared on her pregnancy test.

She cried — not from fear, but relief. Today, she has a baby girl named Imani, meaning faith. Amina now tells other women:

“Fibroids are not the end of fertility. Knowledge is power. Don’t wait in silence — speak, check, and treat.”

Her journey changed her life — and now she’s changing others’.

📘 Understanding Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus, made of muscle and fibrous tissue. They are very common among African women and can vary in size from tiny to large masses. They are often linked to hormonal factors (estrogen & progesterone) and genetic predisposition.

Common symptoms include:
– Heavy or prolonged menstruation
– Pelvic pain or pressure
– Frequent urination
– Anemia in severe cases

Effects on Fertility:
Not all fibroids affect fertility. Many women with fibroids conceive naturally. Fertility issues arise when fibroids:
✔ Distort the uterine cavity
✔ Block the fallopian tubes
✔ Affect implantation sites
✔ Cause repeated miscarriages

Complications may include:
– Severe pain
– Chronic anemia
– Reduced quality of life
– Rarely, pregnancy complications

Management options in Africa:

Watchful waiting for small fibroids

Medications to shrink fibroids

Myomectomy (surgical removal) – preserves fertility

Uterine Artery Embolization – cuts off blood supply

Hysterectomy – only for severe cases or completed family size

Early diagnosis and proper assessment are the key. Fibroids are common — but with correct guidance, fertility can still thrive.

20/11/2025

The Morning That Lasted All Day — Amaka’s First Trimester Story

Amaka opened her eyes slowly as the sun peeked through her curtains. She hadn’t even sat up when it struck again—that familiar wave of nausea. It wasn’t just morning sickness; today, it felt like morning, afternoon, and evening sickness all at once. Beside her bed was her new morning ritual: crackers, a bottle of water, and ginger tea her mother insisted on.

Just a few weeks earlier, she had been overjoyed to see the two pink lines on the pregnancy test. But nobody told her her sense of smell would become supernatural or that the aroma of fried eggs could send her running to the bathroom. She soon learned that almost 80% of pregnant women experience morning sickness, especially during the first trimester, due to rising levels of hCG and estrogen in the body. “It’s a sign that your pregnancy is progressing well,” her doctor had said with a reassuring smile.

But some days were harder than others. Once, she felt dizzy at the supermarket simply because someone was peeling an orange nearby. She wondered if she was normal—until she learned there was an even more serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, where vomiting becomes severe, leading to dehydration and weight loss. Her symptoms weren’t that bad—but she promised herself she’d seek help if they ever got worse.

Amaka began trying new coping strategies:
– Small, frequent meals, instead of three large ones
– Avoiding spicy and greasy food
– B6 supplements, after her doctor’s advice
– Resting whenever her body asked for it

Slowly, things began to improve. By her 14th week, she noticed something strange—she had gone eight hours without nausea. She felt strong again. The morning that lasted all day was finally ending.

One evening, her husband found her smiling gently, hand placed on her belly. “Was today better?” he asked. Amaka nodded. “Yes… and now I understand. My body isn’t fighting me. It’s preparing me.”

Morning sickness may be uncomfortable—but as Amaka learned, it is often a sign of a healthy pregnancy and a new life growing silently inside. With medical guidance, good nutrition, and emotional support, every expecting mother can get through it—one sunrise at a time.

Understanding Early Morning Sickness in Pregnancy

Early morning sickness refers to nausea and sometimes vomiting experienced during early pregnancy, usually in the first trimester. Despite its name, it can occur at any time of the day. It’s mainly caused by hormonal changes—especially increased hCG and estrogen—and affects around 70–80% of pregnant women.

How to Manage It:

Eat small, frequent meals instead of three large ones.

Avoid greasy, spicy, or strong-smelling foods.

Try plain crackers or ginger tea before getting out of bed.

Stay well-hydrated and get enough rest.

Vitamin B6 supplements may help (only with medical advice).

When to See a Doctor:
Seek medical attention if:

Vomiting is persistent

There is weight loss or dehydration

You struggle to keep food or fluids down

This may suggest hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious condition requiring treatment.

Early care ensures a healthy mother and baby. 💛

12/01/2025

Craw-craw....
Kurunaaa!!!!!
LoL!
I know you have heard about s*xually transmitted infections; STI, but are you informed that Craw-Craw can be s*xually transmitted?

Hehehehe!

Yes! Craw-craw, aka Scabies, can be a s*xually-transmitted infection.
The condition is caused by the organism Sarcoptes scabei which can be introduced through ge***al contact during s*x.

So, you probably feel safe using a condom, but little do you know that you can still catch Scabies from the small bodily contact during the act!!

Get wisdom, abstain!
Don't get Craw-Craw!

16/03/2024

Unsafe abortion

Unsafe abortions are one of the leading but preventable causes of maternal death and illness worldwide. In fact, around 45% of all abortions are unsafe for the mother and most of them take place in low and middle-income countries.

Abortion is legal in Mozambique, but women and adolescent girls in rural areas still face challenges accessing .

Social stigma, the financial cost and a limited availability of services affect women’s ability to make informed and independent decisions about their s*xual and reproductive health and rights ( ).

“I had heard of safe abortion but didn't know about the specific procedures to provide it,” says nurse Lina, 1 of 264 health-care providers trained on s*xual and reproductive health and rights, including safe abortion care, through the Her Future, Her Choice project.

Her Future, Her Choice aims to support women and adolescent girls by empowering them to access s*xual and reproductive health and rights information and services, training health-care providers and breaking negative stigmas to allow women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies.

That’s how the project has positively affected over 114,000 people including more than 79,000 women and girls across Mozambique.

Together, Oxfam Canada and the Government of Canada support the s*xual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Mozambique through the Her Future, Her Choice project.

As part of its Feminist International Assistance Policy and 10-year commitment to global health and rights, Canada continues to advocate for the s*xual and reproductive health rights of women and girls around the world. This initiative supports Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5.

Learn more: https://www.oxfam.ca/story/how-sharing-information-on-safe-abortion-is-transforming-lives-in-rural-mozambique

Women and Gender Equality Canada
Healthy Canadians
UN Women
Canada in Mozambique, Angola and Eswatini
United Nations
World Health Organization (WHO)

15/03/2024

UNSUPERVISED/UNASSISTED/UNATTENDED BIRTHS

The concept of unsupervised births is becoming rampant in today's world in light of socioeconomic devastation and media corruption. Media trends show popular figures attempting to set a landmark by giving birth at home, in pools or unsupervised by trained medical personnel. Other women who wish to deliver in hospitals under supervision of trained accoucher miss the opportunity from terrible financial constraints, and delays in receiving healthcare.
Mrs. D.A. suffered this date at delivery of her second child. She is a 25 year old petty trader who is married to a 50 year old farmer who had three other wives and ten children. She couldn't book her pregnancy at a hospital. On a fateful Saturday, she developed on and of contraction pains which made her know that her delivery was due. She called on her husband to take her to the hospital or health centre nearby. He had no car so he had to call on his friend to bring his car. The friend came about three hours later. The nearest hospital to them was about twenty miles away. The road to the hospital was full of potholes so the ride was slow. It took them almost two hours to reach the hospital. Just as they were approaching the gate, Mrs. D.A. felt a strong urge to poo. It was her baby's head pushing on her re**um. Just as their car entered the hospital, she delivered a male child with the placenta still in her womb. It took another hour before they could get admitted in a ward following which the placenta was clamped, cut and delivered. She had lost about a liter of blood. The baby was admitted to the neonatal unit and her packed cell volume was highly elevated. She developed jaundice a few days later and had to be on admission for almost two weeks. On the other hand, Mrs. D.A. had to be transfused with two units of blood on account of the postpartum hemorrhage.
Mrs. D.A. and her newborn child are just one of the several examples of the people who've had to suffer unsupervised childbirth as a result of medical emergencies or inadequacies of the health and socioeconomic system.
Problems of unassisted childbirth include:
Maternal:
-Precipitate Labor
-Hemorrhage
-Ge***al tract injuries
-Ge***al tract infections
-Retained placenta tissue
-Prolonged hospital stay
-Increased health care cost
-Death

Fetal:
-Birth injuries such as fractures, intracranial bleeding
-Jaundice
-Respiratory distress
-Asphyxia
-Neurological impairments
-Death

23/01/2024

WHEN WILL MY BABY TURN HEAD-DOWN?

I was at the clinic last Saturday and Mrs. Sarumi walked in to the consultation room.
"Good morning, doctor", she greeted.
"Good morning,ma. How are you?", I responded.
We exchanged pleasantries. She had come for antenatal clinic. We spoke on her health status.
As we were rounding off the conversation, she asked me a question, " Doctor, when will my baby turn heads down?".
I smiled and looked at her, ready to give her the explanation she needs.
Mrs. Sarumi is 28 weeks pregnant and has been overtly worried that her baby is yet to turn from the buttocks-down position. She has heard and read online that such a position connotes danger in pregnancy and at delivery. She was also aware that most women with such positioning of their unborn babies end up having caesarean delivery.
When a pregnancy is less than 34 weeks, the chances of the baby being in different positions, especially buttocks down is so high. The reason for this abnormal or malpresentation is due to the high ratio of amniotic fluid to baby size. The baby is smaller, with high amount of fluid surrounding it, thus, there is so much space for it to move and play. Another explanation is the head to body ratio at this gestation. This allows the weightier areas to move down under the force of gravity. As the pregnancy grows and nears 36 week, the volume of amniotic fluid declines and the head to body ratio rises. This automatically turns the baby to a head-down position, except when there are other coexisting abnormalities such as fibroid, tumours, masses, multiple gestation (twins, triplets) and structural abnormalities of the womb, which may prevent the normal turning of the fetus.
However, it only becomes abnormal if after 36 weeks, it remains in any other position aside the heads-down position. Health workers often call it the breech presentation or malpresentation.
I was able to allay Mrs Sarumi's anxiety and counselled her to have a repeat USS at 36 weeks.
I saw her 2 months later. She came with an ultrasound scan report. I couldn't remember her face until she screamed "Doctor, my baby has finally turned".
Battle won! Sarumi junior is coming!

02/12/2023

CRITICAL AGE/WEIGHT FOR FERTILITY

She must be of age and weight; there is a critical weight and age for pregnancy, not as though one cannot be pregnant outside such, but for a good and positive pregnancy experience, the critical age and weight of 20 years and 45 kg is preached. This is essential for adequate nutritional reserve.
The bones and muscles of a growing child attain the adult status only around age 20 years. Malnutrition affects bone and tissue growth, and a major indicator of malnutrition is weight. A 20 year old lady less than 45 kilogrammes is most often malnourished, until proven otherwise.
Balanced nutrition is encouraged in female children and they should be allowed to grow fully before conceiving. The pelvic bones should be allowed to grow fully to the normal female pelvic contour and configuration. This is crucial for pregnancy and labor. Majority of underweight, malnourished and underage pregnant women, often have difficult labor, deliveries and most likely have surgical interventions to aid their delivery and save their lives and their babies’.
They often develop perineal tears, obstetric fistula, puerperal infections, perinatal morbidities and mortalities. This is a major contributor to maternal mortality, especially in developing countries. Another major problem of teenage pregnancy is gestational hypertension.

22/11/2023

Normal physiology and anatomy of the female body

The human body, at puberty, undergoes drastic changes ahead of marriage and pregnancy. It sets in order the mechanism essential to fertility and conception. Puberty is set in motion usually at about 8 - 13 years. It involves physical and emotional changes that can be exciting, as well as, challenging. Rather than dreading these changes, they should be appreciated as step stones to womanhood. The female body secretes s*x hormones in higher quantity which brings about several changes.

Pubertal changes include breast development, growth of p***c hair, maturation and growth of ge***al organs, onset of menstruation and fertility, fat distribution that brings the female body shape.
The female child may notice an onset of acne and increased sebum production. This may be a temporal condition, though may warrant further examination in some.

The pubertal period is a call for stricter hygiene and improved nutrition to allow the body adapt to these changes peacefully.

Adolescence overlaps with puberty, then adulthood sets in. The fertility of a female child is high during puberty and adolescence and as such, female teenagers and adolescents should be taught s*xual health education, have knowledge of contraception provided to them and abstinence promoted as much as possible.

It is also within this period that girls sense heightened s*xual urge and attraction to the opposite gender. Thus, there is a call on the older women and men to enlighten them on their reproductive capacity, even at such tender ages.

The frequency, duration, volume and abnormalities of menstruation should be understood. Abnormal symptoms may be an early indicator of diseases, even if irregular. It could also be a normal finding, especially when the body is adapting to puberty.

22/11/2023

In the coming weeks, we will be discussing the "NEED-KNOWS" before pregnancy; an exciting series.

02/10/2023

Yes, sir and ma.

01/10/2023

Obstetrics!