Questions And Answers 101 – Ask Our Experts

Whether it’s your first time or your second time. Being a mum simply means there are so much you have to know about your body during pregnancy and even after pregnancy. Our body changes a lot from time to time. So, we would have a lot of question to ask but not sure who will answer? Well, we got covered. Here are few most asked questions ready to be answered by our experts.

Questions And Answers 101 – Ask Our Experts

Q: My two-year-old is shy and struggles to make friends at playgroup. How can I encourage him to be more sociable?

Counselling psychologist/marriage & family therapist expert Charis Wong says,

A group of little children at a playgroup may be too overwhelming as a first social platform for your shy two-year-old. Children at this age are still learning to make friends, and will usually have only one or two significant friends. So go through your list of friends and find a friend who has a child, about six months to a year older than your child, who can make a “good enough” playmate for him.

A “good enough” playmate is a child who is friendly, willing to share toys, takes turns, and plays well with other children. As your child’s primary attachment figure, you need to remain as a secure base for him to explore his world and reach out to other children, and a safe haven for him to return whenever he feels scared or anxious.

Therefore, do not abandon him in a strange environment or with a particular person until you are sure he is comfortable being left alone with the playmate and his parent without you. Instead, spend time hanging out with your friend while the children get an opportunity to be comfortable with each other and play together.

Your child may initially be clingy and stick to you but be patient and give your child the space to make friends at his own pace. With regular playdates in a familiar environment and with the same “good enough” playmate, your child will eventually learn to make a friend.

Once your child can get along well with this playmate, arrange other playdates with other parents so that your child gets to practice his social skills with other children. When he is good with one-to-one peer interaction, you may want to invite two of his playmates to your house for a threesome playdate. Hopefully, in a few years, your child will be ready to welcome all his little playmates over for a party!

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Q: I’m 37 and have been trying for a baby for the past 18 months with no luck. What help can I get?

Obstetrician expert Dr Choong Kuo Hsiang says,

You and your husband will have to consult a gynaecologist. He will take a detailed medical history from you. It may include some very personal questions regarding your social habits such as drinking, smoking and frequency of intercourse. Then a physical examination will be done to ascertain that both of you are in good health. You will probably get a pelvic ultrasound scan to exclude any gynaecological pathology like fibroids or cysts.

Further examination will necessitate a sperm evaluation for the man. Do not worry. They will not ask him to produce a sperm specimen right away. Then, your husband will probably be asked to come back another day, where the collection will do in discreet conditions. For you, tests will be done to ensure there is no blockage in the Fallopian tubes. It is done by X-ray or Laparoscopy. If all goes well, you will be put on fertility tablets to increase ovulation which will improve your chances of conception. If this fails, you will probably have to seek the services of a test tube baby doctor (infertility specialist and IVF doctor).

Q: My 10-month old baby got hospitalised recently for high fever and febrile seizure. Will the seizure reoccur in the future and can it cause brain damage?

Consultant paediatrician expert Dr Ling Shih Gang says,

Febrile seizure (FS) occurs in 3% of children, usually in children below seven years old.  Around 30% of those with the first FS will develop recurrence. Two risk factors that may increase the possibility of recurrence include:

•  Age below one year at the time of first FS and,

•  History of FS in parents or siblings.

If no risk factors are present, only 10% of such children will have a recurrence.  If one risk factor is present, the incidence increases to 40%-50%. Those with both risk factors have a 70% chance of developing a recurrence. Your child has at least one risk factor (i.e. age less than one year) and therefore is at increased risk of getting a recurrence.

If your child gets a febrile seizure, stay calm, turn him to his side to prevent the tongue from obstructing the airway, and wait for the seizure to stop. Seizures usually last less than five minutes. Generally, FS does not cause brain damage. Most studies have not shown any difference in intelligence and cognitive functions between children with and without FS.  However, in children with FS, there is a modest increase in the risk of epilepsy.

Q:  I’m experiencing robust Braxton Hicks. How do I know I’m not in labour? 

Midwife expert Ann Ibrahim says,

Braxton Hicks (BH) contractions actually happen from the time you are six weeks pregnant, but you’re more likely to feel it during the second trimester of pregnancy (about 28 weeks).

BH is thought to aid the flow of fluids and blood through the placenta. It is also to tone the uterus as the baby grows. It is also said to help in softening the cervix, but not in its dilatation.  As pregnancy progresses, BH may become more intense, and instead of just being uncomfortable, the sensations may be more painful to some women. The feelings are akin to a painful period and are usually concentrated around the abdomen and lower pelvic areas.

A common term for BH is ‘false’ or ‘practice’ contractions because the sensations mimic real birth contractions, and it also happens at the time when one would expect to be going into labour (late pregnancy). The differences between the two, however, are distinct and definable.

BH contractions can be triggered when you are dehydrated or have a full bladder. They can also occur after sex when you or your baby are very active, or there’s an external stimulus such as someone touching your abdomen. To alleviate the symptoms, keep yourself hydrated by drinking right amounts of water (about ten glasses a day), lie on your left side and relax, practise relaxation and deep breathing and empty your bladder regularly. Continuing sex is alright, as long as it does not become painful.

Q: What are the usual causes of plugged ducts or mastitis?

Lactation expert Rita Rahayu Omar says,

With very much related conditions, causes, symptoms, side effects and treatments, the only way to differentiate them is through feeling and observation. A plugged duct is an area of the breast where milk flow obstructed. The obstruction may occur at the nipple pore (also known as nipple bleb/milk blister) or further back in the ductal system of breasts.

It usually comes on gradually and affects only one breast. A hard lump or distinct wedge-shaped area of engorgement may feel tender, hot, swollen or look reddened. Sometimes there won’t be any noticeable lump but instead, a localised tenderness or pain. Typically, a plugged duct will feel more painful before/during a feed and less tender and lumpy afterwards. Sometimes a mother may experience a low fever.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that can be caused by an obstruction, infection and allergy. Most common in the first two to three weeks but can occur at any stage of lactation, and mastitis may come on abruptly, and usually affects only one breast. The symptoms are the same as a plugged duct, but the pain/heat/swelling is often more intense. There may be red streaks extending outward from the affected area. Typical mastitis symptoms include a fever of 38.5°C or higher chills, flu-like aching, malaise and systemic illness.

Cause

Continued breastfeeding during mastitis is safe as the antibodies in the mother’s milk protect the baby from any bacteria. Do not decrease or stop nursing as this increases the risk of complications (including abscess). Temporary weaning is an unnecessary hardship at a time when the mother is not feeling well as it is much more comfortable for the mother to continue breastfeeding.

Additionally, mastitis clears up more quickly if the mother continues to breastfeed because the breast is not allowed to become overly full, lessening the risk of the abscess. The treatment for both conditions follows these guiding principles: use heat and gentle massage before nursing, get as much rest as possible and empty breasts frequently and effectively. To reduce pain and inflammation between feedings, apply cold compresses.

Q: How much of total weight should I gain during my pregnancy? I’m afraid of piling the extra kilos and would like to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight quickly after delivery.

Mothers-to-be tend to perceive that being pregnant means doubling your food intake and giving in to all food cravings. In reality, that’s how the extra kilos are gained, making it difficult to lose them after delivery. Expected weight gain for the whole pregnancy depends on your Body Mass Index (BMI), as shown below.

The energy requirement for a pregnant woman is also different throughout the trimesters. An extra 360 kcal/day can attain from consuming additional tuna sandwiches (two slices of bread with margarine spread sparingly) for afternoon tea with a glass of low-fat milk/dairy products at night.

Avoiding junk food, oily food and high-calorie beverages are the key things to controlling a healthy weight gain throughout your pregnancy. Please consult your dietician if you experience a sudden excessive weight gain or no weight change during your pregnancy to prevent any complications during delivery.

BMI = Body weight (kg) / Height²

*** Height² (meter x meter)

How about that? Do our experts help in answering most of your burning question? I hope so. If we missed out anything, do let us know. We’d be happy to hear from you. For more Q&A session, make sure to stay tuned. Check out Motherhood.com.my for your baby needs online.