The Muslimah Midwife

12/06/2023

Dear Momma, when was the last time you checked in with yourself?

When was the last time you lived within yourself ie you sat in your essence and just breathe and evaluate yourself?

We live in a fast paced world where we live "without" ourselves.

We have a lot of commitments. We have a lot of demands to meet. We have a lot of expectations to match up with.

Where does that leave you as a person? Remember, YOU need YOU. A lof of times we miss out on signals our bodies send to us because we're busy taking care of everyone else.

Sweetheart,tune in to yourself. Check in with yourself. Take care of yourself. You'd be grateful you did.

31/05/2023

Have you been woken up at night from your beauty sleep by a jolt of pain in your calf?

Yikes!

It can be quite discomforting and painful.

What's this pain?

It's called Muscle Cramp or Charlie Horse.
A muscle cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles (particularly those of the calf) that happens abruptly and is most commonly experienced at night.

This is experienced by approximately 50% of pregnant women. It is characterized by: involuntary tightening of the muscles, occurs suddenly and it's accompanied by sharp pain.

It's caused by: dehydration, lack of essential minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium), weight of the pregnancy compressing the nerve endings of the legs, changes in circulation of blood to that area.

How to prevent it? Increase fluid intake; water and lots of water rich fruits such as watermelon
Stretch your muscles before exercising or any form of extensive use
Eat healthy diets that contain all the nutrients you need
Take your prenatal vitamins regularly.

What do you do when you have a cramp?
Massage the muscle and its nearby muscles
Stretch the leg
Apply warm compress or ice pack
A warm Epsom salt bath will also bring a whole lot of relief.

So next time that cramp hits, you know just want to do.
Enjoy your pregnancy journey ♥

23/05/2023

Tokophobia
For many women, pregnancy is a joyful experience which despite being a major physical, psychological and social even in their lives, they're are happy and excited about the experience. But for some, this isn't the case.

Tokophobia, also called parturiphobia, is a pathological fear of pregnancy and can lead to avoidance of childbirth.

Types
Primary tokophobia is a morbid fear of pregnancy and childbirth in a woman with no previous experience of pregnancy or childbirth.
Secondary tokophobia develops after a traumatic pregnancy or labor or any previous form of traumatic obstetrics event.
It can also stem from other fears such as fear of needles, fear of pain, fear of hospitals etc.

Causes
📌 Previous history of r**e or other sexual abuse
📌Internalized horror stories about childbirth from others
📌Preexisting phobia or depression
📌Hormonal changes
📌 PTSD from a previous birth
📌Psychosocial factors eg not having access to adequate healthcare facilities
📌Family history of tokophobia

Treatment
Speak with your midwife/obgyn if you have any fears concerning pregnancy or childbirth
See a mental health specialist
Journaling helps a lot
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) helps a great deal
And never underestimate the power and comfort of a solid support system.

If you're going through this or know anyone who is, with adequate help, it gets better. You're not alone and you can get through it. Motherhood is a splendid experience. If you want to have it, don't let fear hold you back.

I'm rooting for you! ♥

03/05/2023

30/04/2023

📢📢📢

Let me put this out there as a PSA.

When a woman has develops a health problem in pregnancy, labor or pueprium ie in the postnatal period, the issue will most likely recur in subsequent pregnancies.

This is why proper management matters.

This is why sticking to and following strictly medical advice matters.

This is why giving complete medical and obstetrics history to your care giver matters.

Knowing this can greatly reduce complications related to childbirth.

Motherhood should not be the highway to death or a miserable life.

Thanks for listening.

26/04/2023

When women from certain tribes in this country like the Fulanis, Hausas, Nupe any tribe from North-Central to Northern Nigeria, come to the labor ward telling you they are in labor and still looking all peng and composed. Bíko, run. Don't waste time. Because one moment, they're on their feet telling you it seems they're in labor, next moment, they're going on their knees and you'll hear the baby's cry.

It's that simple and easy for them.

How? Why is their own different from ours?

Come to class, let's show and tell you how.

https://bit.ly/TheMuslimahMidwifeNg

24/04/2023

However form your pregnancy, birth and motherhood journey takes, it is valid.

Whether natural conception or IVF
Whether vaginal or any form of assisted birth
Whether they're biological or adopted children; they are yours.
Whether it is immediately after marriage or years later.

You are a mother just like any other mother.
You are a complete, wholesome and capable mother.
Don't let anyone tell you or make you feel less.

10/04/2023

Our for this week is self care.

As women, we're always trying to balance so many scales. No matter how mú h we try to "tidy up", there's always at least one loose end.

Knowing that you can't do it all at once, you can't do it all and you can always ask for help goes a long way.

You need your peace, sound mind and health to function optimally for yourself and those you love and for your acts of worship.

Sleep well. Eat healthy. Exercise. Read good books. Find time for self reflection. Enjoy great company. Enjoy great scenery...... Take care of you. You'll be glad you did.

07/04/2023

Exercise in pregnancy is generally safe except contraindicated.

Exercises help improve the pregnant mother's over all health, reduces discomfort such a s backache and fatigue, improves her posture, improves muscle tone, strength and endurance, improves cardiovascular strength and also helps improve the mood. It also helps prevent constipation and excess weight gain.

Here are some exercises that are great in pregnancy

🟥 Pelvic floor exercises aka Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles which support the uterus, bladder and bowel.
🟥 Walking: improves circulation, helps maintain a healthy weight and increases stamina
🟥 Stretching exercises: improves flexibility, balance and muscle tone
🟥Swimming: strengthens muscles and increases cardiovascular strength.
🟥 Strength training: helps improve muscle tone and strength.

Ensure to check in with your doctor or midwife before embarking on any form of exercise.

Enjoy your bump!

04/04/2023

One of the major challenges of pregnancy is attaining a comfortable sleeping position.

Sleeping on your back is safe in the first trimester but as the pregnancy gets bigger and heavier, sleeping on your side is safest.
Research shows that sleeping on side in the third trimester ie from 28 weeks is the safest position as sleeping on your back increases your risk of stillbirth.

Sleeping on your side with your legs slightly curled is best as this increases blood flow to the heart, kidneys and uterus thus increasing oxygen and nutrients supply to mother and baby.

Use of extra pillows to support the bump and in between the knees makes it more comfortable. You can also use pregnancy pillows, these are specifically designed to give support and comfort while lying down or sleeping.

And obviously, sleeping on the stomach becomes impractical as the bump gets bigger.

For questions, enquires and classes, I'm just a DM away. 😉

30/03/2023

Fasting or not, always ensure to eat a balanced and healthy diet. You need it and your baby deserves it.

Keep rocking that bump!

27/03/2023

Call it gut feeling. Or maybe maternal instincts. Or it could be parental instinct. But it definitely one thing, a feeling or instinct put in parents, particularly mothers that serve as a means of protection for their child(ren) and sometimes, by extention, children very close to their hearts. More often than not, when a mother feels like something is off with their child, it most likely is.

It's not uncommon to hear of, witness or even be that mother who, just by gut feeling, averted an impending danger or potentially heartbreaking situation such as stopping a child from attending an event only to hear of something going wrong there, showing up at the child's boarding school to meet a sick child, or mostly, while pregnant, to feel like something is off and this is confirmed at the hospital. No, it's not paranoia. It's just you, being a mother.

Although, it's good to point out that there's a thin line between paranoia and maternal instincts therefore for the latter to be honed, one needs to be attune with herself vis-a-vis her mental wellness and her state of mind.

You should know, dear momma that you're not crazy, neither are you worrying too much. You're just being what and who you are; A MOTHER.

Share with us a time where your maternal instincts save the day. ☺