FemmeFocus Junction

  As an obstetrician and Gynaecologist we work in a female-dominated environment, however, a lot of the high management posts are held by male doctors. We assume a lot of female doctors compromise on work and research to try and have time to build a family. Even though a lot of the male partners try and be hands-on fathers and help with the raising of kids, the mothers carry most of the burden and they are the organizing and nurturing person who keeps the family together.  I was very privileged to train in the Wits Obs and Gynae unit under the leadership of Professor Yasmin Adam from 2017. I stepped into community service at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2017 and she was the head of the Obs and Gynae Unit. I was extremely overwhelmed to see the high number of registrars and consultants who work at Bara and the high turnover of the patients. Professor Adam was an excellent leader. She could easily manage the clinical aspect of work which involved patient care and academi...

  I am on call and about to leave my house at 6:30, and I get a phone call that a pregnant patient has been admitted to labour ward with eclamptic seizures. The medical officer on call was concerned that despite loading the patient with Magnesium Sulphate the patient had another seizure and was considering other agents such as intravenous Lorazepam and Diazepam. Instantly a lot of things go through my mind, regarding this patient's management. We know that stabilizing the mother takes priority over the baby, and we know once the mother is stable and loaded with Magnesium Sulfate and her blood pressures are controlled we can plan the delivery of the baby which is the ultimate treatment for pregnancy-induced hypertension.   Pre-eclampsia is a severe complication related to hypertension affecting pregnant women. It can be life-threatening for the mother and the baby. It is still on top of the list of the causes of maternal mortality. In our facility, we had about 3 maternal dea...

  Preconception care refers to health measures and planning done before becoming pregnant to ensure a healthy pregnancy and birth outcome. It is best to ensure that reproductive-age women are in optimal health before falling pregnant.   o    Women are encouraged to stay fit, and eat a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients such as folic acid, iron, and calcium. Any chronic illnesses such as anemia, diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid disorders are identified and managed accordingly   o    Women should be up-to-date with their vaccinations especially Rubella and Varicella, to avoid infection during pregnancy which can affect the fetus and cause severe abnormalities. We also offer screening for various sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis, and Syphilis to make sure we treat the mothers and their partners and reduce vertical transmission.   o    We advise women to avoid harmful habits such as smoking, excessive...

  My mother and I have a wonderful relationship together. Since I had a baby myself, I have needed her support even more these days. We are very blessed to stay in the same residential complex. Every morning I drop the baby by her and I know I can focus on work while she is taking good care of her. If I am running late from work or there is an emergency the baby can stay with her longer. My first memories of my mom, were probably when I was about 5 years old. My favourite bedtime story was the ugly duckling, and every single night I used to cry to that story even though it had a happy ending! The other memories are from the time my little brother was born. Back then we did not have disposable nappies and washing and drying the special cloths used as nappes was a process. I remember my little brother’s nappy time, bath time, and feeding times. The best memories of me and mom in my adult life is our little trip to Mauritius. Another prominent part of my childhood was grandma. She...

  There is a lot of pressure on women who are trying to conceive. Usually, there is a flicker of hope when they miss their period for a few days, and the hopes and dreams shatter when the period comes. This means the uterine lining gets thickened and becomes secretary with all the Estrogen and Progesterone, but the egg and the sperm do not get together to fertilize, therefor the endometrial lining sheds and menstruation occurs. To work out the best time to fall pregnant we need to know how the menstrual cycle works. This starts from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) until the first day of your next period. On average this cycle takes 28-32 days. Based on a 28-day cycle, and counting from the first day of your LMP, the date of ovulation can be anywhere between days 11-21. This is when women are most fertile. There is usually an increase in cervical mucous, which is the perfect medium as it helps to protect and nourish the sperm as it proceeds towards the egg. The ...