Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s presence at the Children’s Easter Carnival with Rechael Okonkwo popularly known as Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, held at Government Field, Nsukka, Enugu State really excited thousands of children, who were amazed to see their Governor interact with them live.
The Governor, while wishing the elated kids a Happy Easter celebration, advised them to be committed to God and virtues of good behaviour as the leaders of tomorrow.
The carnival was organised & sponsored by Nkoli Nwa Nsukka as a means of giving back to the society through distribution of gift items such as bicycles, school bags, food items, books and other writing materials, etc to the children.
The event, was also witnessed by other Nollywood celebrities, who came to celebrate and entertain the kids.
People living with disability in Nigeria now have a policy
document that guarantees their inclusion in reproductive health care delivery
in the country.
The document which was launched Tuesday by the Minister of
Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, is designed to address sexual and reproductive
health needs of adolescents and pregnant women particularly, women with
disability with the aim of scaling down the rate of maternal mortality among
child bearing mothers.
According Professor Isaac Adewole, the document is aimed at
repositioning all sexual and reproductive health programmes to reach and serve
the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls with disabilities
who are disproportionately affected.
The policy is also expected to serve as an advocacy and
resource mobilization tool to stimulate government and community actions at all
level of health care delivery system.
Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high in Nigeria,
with the country ranking among the highest in the world while the rate of
reducing these deaths have been slow as many of the contributory factors remain
unaddressed.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report estimated that
Nigeria has approximately 58,000 maternal deaths, accounting for 19% globally.
This means that at least 800 women die in every 100,000 live births.
Northeast of Nigeria is said to have the highest maternal
mortality rate, compared to other regions, with 1,549 deaths per 100,000 live
births.
To address the high maternal mortality rates, Minister of
Health, Professor Isaac Adewole in July 2017 inaugurated a 34-member Task Force
to accelerate reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Adewole said the Ministry will continue to work with its
development partners to reduce the prevalence of deaths due to child birth
among women in the country.
He added that the federal government is committed to providing qualitative and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare service to all Nigerians, while also reiterating Federal government’s commitment to achieving the Universal Health Coverage mandate for all Nigerians.
Dr. Irene Ojiugo Patrick Ogbogu
Earlier in her goodwill address, Dr. Duchess Irene Ojiugo,
the Executive Director, Disability Rights Advocacy Centre, DRAC – one of the
major development partners resourceful to the drafting of the policy document –
said the document which was put together after painstaking years of research in
collaboration with other developments partners will help strengthen the health
system at the community level where health services is most needed, and it is
expected to be distributed to all health service points across the country.
It was Dr J. Allan Petersen that said, “Sex is beautiful, delightful and necessary. God made it so; it is an expression of oneness, a total commitment, a complete self-giving and a sacred obligation.
Sex is not a right to claim selfishly, not a cavour to withhold childishly, not a weapon to dominate one another, not a reward for good behavior.”
In marriage, sex is important is so important that any couple that mishandle it may end up with a terrible Marriage. Marabel Morgan The Author Total Woman (a Book that sold more than 10 Million copies) said, ‘’when Marriage hit the rock, the rock is in the Mattress’’ Married Couples should take good care of their Bedroom life, it is the Engine room of Marriage, the following are the purposes of sex in Marriage:
PURITY
‘Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.’ 1 Cor. 7:2, 3. The primary reason for sex is to preserve your purity. It is the only thing that you are not allowed to get from any other person except your husband. In order for you and your husband to remain pure before God, get the best of sex from each other.
PLEASURE
Sex is also the gift of pleasure from God to married people. It will be totally wrong for you to say you will only do it when you need a baby. It is meant for pleasure, satisfaction and fulfillment. Get it at home and don’t look outside for it. If your spouse is not in the mood, should sex be off radar?! ‘Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. “And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?’ Prov. 5:19, 20.
PASSION
It is also for sexual love called passion. This helps to strengthen marriage and make the home stronger and better. Passion is what differentiates the marriage relationship from any other human relationship. ‘A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits’. Song of Solomon 4:15,16.
PRESERVATION OF YOUR MARRIAGE
If you are both happy there will not be the need to open your bed to a third party; this will guarantee the security of your marriage. Once your home is secured, your marriage will be preserved. One of the reasons why you need to take sex seriously is to preserve your marriage.
PEACE
Good sex in marriage brings up passion, satisfaction, fulfillment and purity which all combine together to generate peace in marriage. One of the major causes of misunderstanding in marriage is sexual denials. When a couple gets to the level of mutual sexual satisfaction they hardly fight and easily settle their differences. When you seek to give your husband sexual satisfaction in your marriage, you have secured peace. There is nothing else that can either make a man so happy or angry in marriage. When there is a constant good performance in the bedroom the home experiences a deep peace.
PROCREATION
God wants us to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. The only way we can fulfill this is through matrimonial sex. ‘And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth’. Gen. 1:28.
PARTNERSHIP
Good sex in marriage helps our partnership in marriage. It aids agreement. It enhances communion. It leads to bonding and deep intimacy. It leads to togetherness, fondness and oneness at home.
PROTECTION
When sexual fulfillment is gotten at home, it leads to protection of couples from sexually transmitted diseases and binds them together. A marriage void of sex will easily open the man to sexual immorality and many deadly diseases. I agree perfectly with a marriage counsellor that said ‘a married man with an unfulfilled libido is a danger going somewhere to happen.’ In order to protect yourself and your husband in your marriage, you must ensure your husband is sexually satisfied. PROGRESS When couples agree, walk in purity and peace as a result of sexual fulfillment in marriage, progress is assured. It guarantees prosperity for that family. When couples open the room for sexual temptation and open the door widely for infidelity, it will affect every other part of their lives including their progress.
When you allow your husband to sleep with you, in a satisfying manner, you are only calling for progress and prosperity in your home. Now that you have known the purpose of sex in marriage, you will do well to be a generous giver to your husband. Start a fulfilling romantic journey by inviting him to have a nice time with you in the bedroom, just the way you normally invite him to the dining table to come and eat. Your husband will appreciate the gesture. He will be happy to have you as his lover girl.
For the rest of this article, I will be opening your eyes to all these, I will make you know the right thing to do to become an irresistible wife. If you put just 50% of the things you are going to learn in this article into practice, I can assure you of extraordinary love from your husband and you will be able to beat your chest to declare that nobody can snatch your husband.
Bisi Adewale is a family and relationship expert; author of Secret of Irresistible Wife and more than 90 other books on marriage and family.
Edet Essien Inyang, a 30-year old, has been nabed by the police in Calabar for attempting to sell two of his children to escape poverty.
Edet reportedly took his two children, one male and one female, to Murray Street where he sought buyers to enable him raise money.
An eyewitness identified simply as Ekem recounted his experience with Edet shortly before he was nabbed: “He came here with the children and asked after one rich man on this street and when he did not see the man we asked him what he was looking for the man for and he said was looking for someone to buy his two children. He said the male child is N200, 000 sand the female N150,000.”
Shocked at Edet’s disclosure, Edem said in order to stop him from taking the children somewhere to sell they had to “delay him while making efforts to contact the Police at Atakpa Police Station which is close by, and immediately sent a team to arrest him”.
“He said he is from Akwa Ibom State but resides in Using Inyang in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State,” Edem added.
At the Atakpa Police Station, the Divisional Police Officer confirmed the arrest of the man, saying the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Division at the Police Command headquarters for further investigations.
DSP Irene Ugbo, spokesman of the Police Cross River, said she was yet to be briefed on the matter.
Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says his generation has failed the country.
Speaking on Hard Talk, a BBC programme, the professor said the dreams people of his generation had about the country had not materialised.
Zeinab Badawi, anchor of the programme, had asked the literary scholar: “Has your generation of older Nigerians failed the people?” and he responded, “Yes, I believe so.
“I compare today with dreams and aspirations we had when we all rushed home after studies abroad. We considered ourselves the renaissance people that are going to lift the continent to world standards, competitors anywhere. It hasn’t happened.”
Asked to comment about the 2019 presidential election, he said: “The 2019 election is one of the most depressing elections we’ve been through. Talking for myself, it wasn’t possible for me to make a choice for the simple reason that both candidates (President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar) both had histories— one immediate, one past —which made one look for alternatives.”
He explained why he was soft on Buhari in 2015 when he referred to the president as a born again democrat.
Soyinka said Buhari did not win the 2015 election because the people were endeared to him but for the fact that Nigerians could not continue with former President Goodluck Jonathan in office.
“General Buhari didn’t really win the first election, he won by default. It was impossible to continue with Jonathan (back in 2015),” he said.
“As it happened, yes, I did use that expression ‘born again democrat’. When somebody competes in an election three, four times and persists, he must believe in democracy… the circumstances in Nigeria, the fact that Nigerians have shown the military what a huge failure they were makes it possible for one to identify the possibility of exceptions when they seem to behave like democrats.
“But in any case, I kept emphasising that Nigerians had a very difficult choice and as I said, It was between the devil and the deep blue sea.”
The special persons under the aegis of Deaf Women Association of Nigeria have called on governments at all levels to, as a matter of urgency ,provide sign interpreters in all agencies in the state .
They made the demand during an awareness rally in Ado, Ekiti state capital to commemorate international women’s day.
They also expressed concern over the high rate of discrimination against them in the society.
Speaking with newsmen through sign interpreter, the National President of Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN), Deaconess Adedoyin Beyioku-Alase, also worried over the poor attention of government to their plights hence the need for the rally so as to attract the attention of the appropriate authorities and to further educate their members on their right.
“We want the government to include us in everything, even in politics, We need signed interpreters in all government offices as well as hospitals, for effective communication and easy comprehension of our needs.
Mrs Bryioku Alase challenged Government to create more empowerment programmes for the deaf persons such as loans, vocational trainings and employment.
According to her, every citizen is equal irrespective of health status saying government should stop treating them like a slave.
The special persons had earlier paid homage to the Ewi in council and the office of the wife of the governor Erelu Bisi Fayemi where they also made their grievances known and solicited assistance in building better life for the deaf.
Presenting a paper a Guest Lecturer Mrs Uri Ngozichukwuka called on government to develop policies that would protect the interest of deaf women and girls.
She commended president Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the disabilities bill but called for its effective implementation.
She called for more stringent punishments for those abusing deaf persons.
Challenges Buhari, APC leaders to swear with Quran, Bible on rigging election
by Victor Ogunyinka
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Buba Galadima, has hit out at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying it will enter the Guinness book of records for organising the worst election in history. *Oshiomhole, APC chairman; Galadima, Buhari’s former and President Muhammadu Buhari This is just as Galadima challenged chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari to boldly swear before the Holy Quran and Bible that they didn’t rig the recently concluded presidential election.
In an interview with the Sun, Galadima said: “INEC was only independent in name during the elections as it surrendered its mandate to the whims and caprices of Buhari and APC. With the way it conducted the election, INEC will enter the Guinness Book of Records as having organised the worst election in Nigeria’s history. “The election was a national embarrassment. It was far from being free and fair. Not only that, it was clear to everybody that INEC, the military, and the police all colluded to work for APC. “What all these clearly show again is that Buhari is not fighting corruption. Corruption is not only about stealing money. There are other things that you do that amounts to corruption. Rigging election is another form of corruption. “All APC leaders including Buhari, their hands are not clean over these elections. Then if you know that somebody is corrupt and you protect such a person that means that you are also corrupt, Galadima said. He also added the “The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won the presidential election but INEC chose to declare President Muhammadu Buhari the winner. The whole world knows that Atiku defeated Buhari hands down but the election was heavily rigged in Buhari’s favour. “I boldly challenge Buhari and other APC leaders to swear with the Holy Quran, and the Bible if they were sure that Buhari won that election. If they are sure that Buhari defeated Atiku, Buhari, APC leaders should take up my challenge. I’m throwing this challenge openly, I’m making it public, and I’m waiting for any of them who is bold and sure of himself to take up this challenge,” Galadima said. In what can be described as a once upon a time relationship, Galadima revealed that he can “never” work with President Buhari in the future. “He (Buhari) doesn’t know anything about governance. He has become part of Nigeria’s problem and the solution is to vote him out of power with his party. These people are impostors. “I can never work with Buhari. I can never work with him or any of these APC people including, Oshiomhole. How can I work with Buhari? Is Nigeria making progress under him? No, Nigeria is going back to the stone age under Buhari.”
Greg Simon was born into the family of Late/Mrs Simon M.
Kazashshim on 30th June, 1991 in Fadia Bakut at Zango Kataf Local Government
Area of Kaduna state. He is the last born from his own mother in a polygamous
home, his mother had Eight children, four of his siblings died so he was left
with three siblings. Greg Simon a motivational speaker, a volunteer with Scott
Foundation UK as a Disability inclusion coordinator and a humanitarian acquired
his primary education at LEA Fadia Bakut, Zonkwa from 2000-2005, later he went
to GSS Fadan Kaje in 2005 for his secondary education but he couldn’t cope as a
result of his disability even though the school was special school. He was transferred
to GSS Nassarawa Street, Kaduna where he obtained his SSCE in 2011. In 2015-2016,
he was at Abubakar Tatari Ali polytechnic Abuja where he obtained an OND certificate
in Mass Communication. He is currently planning to go back to school for higher
degree certificate. He is also the founder of Ability Journey, an organization (not
registered with CAC yet but at the process) designed to carry out humanitarian
work for people with disabilities since 2017.
In this interview, Greg Simon shared with us his disability
came about, how he overcame disability in the face of obvious challenges and
his future plans.
Can you recall how
your disability came about?
Hmmmmm I recalled even though it happened at my tender age
of five. It is amazing that I still recalled that I was wearing yellow cardigan
at the fateful day. Suddenly, I was sick, I was taken to the hospital after series
of scans and diagnosis, my parents were told that I had polio. So, I am a polio
survivor.
Are you facing any
discrimination and stigmatization as a result of your disability?
Stigmatization, I will say no because I have built an image
that nobody can look down on me. The discrimination I face is unfriendly environment
all over Nigeria.
You said that you don’t
face stigmatization because of the enviable image you have built for yourself,
was there a time you faced stigmatization before this image that everyone now admires?
Yes, during my childhood, some of my peers were not allowed
to play with me, also my days in the higher institution. My first two weeks, no
student was closed to me, they all had fears that I may infect them with disability.
What then happened that
made these students to change their attitude towards you?
‘He smiled’ I could remember one fateful day that our
lecturer taught us the qualities of a good presenter. After the lecture, he
asked that one student should summarize the lecture. Out of 350 students, I was
the only one who could summarize the lecture. That was how my course mates came
to realize that disability is not limitation. From that day, everybody wants to
be my friend.
You said that you are
a volunteer with Scott Foundation UK? A volunteer, not an employee, how are you
surviving or is there any way you are being rewarded or is there other things
you do to earn a living?
Some other NGOs do engage me for motivational public speech
and I am being paid for that. I also do some little things and the NGOs I volunteered
for, have been supportive.
Will it be impossible
for you to share those little things you do?
Hahahahaha, I do some home lessons
Are you married or single?
‘Smile’ I am still
single
Are you in a
relationship?
Hahahaha…. For now, I keep my relationship secret.
How did you get her?
I am sorry my relationship is mute. At the right time, the
world will know about it.
From your
introduction, it was established that you acquired some levels of education,
how did you fund your education?
My siblings sponsored me from Primary to Senior Secondary
1(SS1), then a pilot (name undisclosed) saw me through the WAEC while Christ
Alive Power Assembly Church funded my higher education.
You quitted a school
to another as result of your disability, how much did disability affect your
schooling, was your schools inclusive and accessible?
‘with tears in his
eyes’ my schools were not accessible, I had to crawl on all fours to attend
lectures upstairs. I hardly go to the library because of the stairs. It was
hell for me but I thank God I won.
What are the challenges
you are facing in carrying out your daily activities?
Accessing public offices, banks, libraries, and
transportation is a nightmare for me, unfortunately, I confront it daily. Let
me use this opportunity to call on government as a matter of urgency do something
about accessibility especially at government owned agencies and transportation
system.
As an expert in
Disability inclusion, can you share with us how far you have gone in achieving
your objectives in Disability inclusion?
It has been awesome touching lives. I also want you to know
that I have my own initiative named Ability Journey which I have used to do a
lot within my resources and pace since 2017 till date. I have reach out to 50
students with disabilities in Bauchi state where Ability Journey shared out
educational materials to them. We have organized a mentorship programme on
disability inclusion for 27 teachers. We have secured scholarship from UK based
NGO for two young warriors. We have also in a number of occasions shared
foodstuffs and have supported many financially. We have carried out awareness
campaigns on disability issues through Ability Journey and some persons with
disabilities have gotten wheelchairs and other mobility aids through our effort.
Wow, you have done quite
a lot with Ability Journey even though it is not registered with CAC yet, how
do you fund all these activities?
With the help of my
friends on social media, they have been supportive, few CEOs from other NGOs in
UK. Also, from my little earning, I have always seen what I can do to make the
vision stand.
In spite of the fact
that Ability Journey is not registered with CAC and the enormous challenges
associated to funding, what do you have going for you to continue to attract supports/funding?
One thing I believe in this humanitarian work is being transparent
and accountable. Be honest and straightforward. People must see your efforts
from what you preach. Back in 2015, I was having two wheelchairs and I discovered
that one of my course mates sold his tricycle to pay his school fees. Watching him
crawling to school all day, I was not happy. Guess what I did, I gave him one of
my wheelchairs, the most expensive one. People were watching. So, I think the
support I get is because I have been seen as being truthful and passionate to
this cause. I pray for more grace to continue being truthful.
As one who have lived
beyond disability, what advice do you have for other persons with disabilities
who are confused and are still wondering on which way to follow?
Believe in yourself, associate with positive thinking
persons. Never look down on yourself. Believe that you can make it. Don’t pity
yourself and never have this thinking that people should help you because you
have a disability. But doing something to help yourself and others. Support will
naturally come your way.
Recently, exactly 23rd
January, 2019, Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Bill
2018 was signed into law by President Buhari, how do you feel about it, what
advice do you have for government on the implementation?
Actually, that was great victory for all of us (PWDs). But I
must say that I am not a politician but an activist. I pray that it is not just
a way for that President to win the heart of the PWDs for the sake of the
election. He has to prove some people wrong by putting modalities in motion to
ensure that the implementation commence immediately by setting up a commission.
This we hope will be done before May 29.
How do you view the
performance of the states towards PWDs?
Yeah, some states are really trying. States like Lagos, they
have done a lot in terms of disability inclusion. BRT buses made free for PWDs
and other laudable programmes for PWDs in Lagos. Plateau state is another state
that is doing much for disability inclusion. Other state should start doing
something on disability inclusion, it is not enough that we have a disability
rights act but yet the PWDs are not enjoying it.
What are your life
aspirations?
Only God can say about the future. But I know I will be a
man who will live forever in the heart of many especially the disability
community in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
You are always
appearing as if you are a model, if I may ask, do you have plans to be the
first Nigerian model with disability?
Yes, I am an aspiring model, but not the first model with
disability in Nigeria, already we have a few of them. But I am working to be a
renowned model and actor on a wheelchair. I am working on that and by God’s
grace my movie a story on my life journey will be produce.
Keep us posted on your movie, we will be pleased to help
publicize it. Can you please mention some of these models with disabilities?
I know of Rita Ofili. She is a professional model on a
wheelchair based in Lagos. There are others but I can’t remember their names
now.
Thank you, I have
really enjoyed my stay with you, you have been so exciting and fun to be with
but before I leave you, I will love to have your parting words.
Thanks so much for the honour to share my story with
Nigerians. If your legs can’t walk, your hands can work. Disability is not an automatic
ticket for laziness. To the able bodied it can be you tomorrow never look down
on us if you can’t gather, don’t scatter.
There is every reason to take advantage of
your morning routines. Because we are always more productive after we wake up,
taking advantage of the morning will prove beneficial in the short and long
term. Waking up feeling successful is the best way to start your day. Following
a system of taking charge of yourself and your early hours will make you
structured, organized, and prepared to tackle the remaining part of the
day.
1. Drink a glass of cold water with
lemon
It is more tempting to take a cup of coffee
and get your day started. However, it is more beneficial to start your day
by drinking a glass of lemon water. Drinking this healthier beverage
instead helps you wake up faster, reduces the feeling of hunger, aids your
digestive system, gives you a large amount of vitamins, and it freshens your
breath of course.
2. Set and review your goals
We all have goals. These could be big or
small. There are things we all want to accomplish, but our daily struggles
could derail us from where we are headed. This is why it is best to review your
progress towards your goals at the start of the day. Create plans to reach your
goals, visualize what your day would be like and determine which task
has to be accomplished.
3. Use technology to improve your routine
Technology can also be helpful in
improving your daily routine. There are plenty of apps that can make your early
hours smarter. Coach.me is an app that could help you stick to and maintain new
habits during your early hours of the day. There are other apps that do everything
from tracking your sleep cycle, to one that offers you different breakfast
recipes. Let technology improve your morning routine.
4. Exercise
Every successful person out there
exercises. Working out in the morning makes you healthier and stronger. It also
increases your longevity. It is difficult to excuse yourself from working out
if you want to have a more productive day. Remind yourself that doctors, mental
health experts, and gurus all advocate that exercise makes your day better.
5. Embrace the morning light
Don’t stay in the dark. Embrace the
natural light that starts the day. Once the sun is up, it can brighten your
mood, heighten your perception, improve your performance of tasks, and regulate
your body’s Circadian system.
6. Eat healthy
Be careful with what you eat during the
early hours of the day. While cereal is a popular breakfast for many of us, it
will not serve you best for the morning hours. Protein may be a better choice
for you in the morning.
7. Meditate
A five minute meditation could be
helpful against stress. It also improves your creativity, gives you a sharper
focus, and an increased memory. The more you meditate, the more you are in tune
with the process, and the more time you will allot to this relaxing activity.
8. Retain a positive mindset
Look in the mirror and tell yourself that
you are ready to take on the world and win! Rather than focusing on
negative things that could drain your energy, focus on what you can do to build
your self-esteem and confidence. Tell yourself things like:
“I am a kind and successful
person.” And,“I will add value to the world around me today.”
You can accomplish so much when you boost
your confidence through reciting such affirmations. Getting your day
started with the positive mindset attracts goodness and positivity to you.
9. Have a list
Create a list of the most important tasks
you want to accomplish during the day. Having a list or a schedule will keep
you aware and prepare you for the challenges of the day. Besides, it makes you
better structured and less anxious about how the day will turn out.
Start improving your day today. Use these
tips to get the best out of your morning!
Pregnancy can be an exciting time for both
expectant mothers and their families as they prepare to bring a new life into
the world. However, pregnancy often brings unexpected complications that can
cause quite a bit of discomfort for the mother to be. One of the biggest
complaints is back pain and spasms.
Back Pain Causes
There are a few different reasons why
women experience back pain during
pregnancy. The common reason is actually quite simple – weight gain. During
pregnancy, women can potentially experience dramatic weight gain.
In reality, it’s hard not to gain weight.
You are growing a new human, after all. This new weight gain is centered around
the abdominal region shifting your center of gravity and causing an adjustment
in your normal posture. This will put greater pressure on your back often
resulting in pain.
Sometimes, however, the back pain might be
more serious. Pain in the back could be the result of uterine contractions and
could be a sign of early labor. Like a heart attack, which shows itself through
pain down the left arm, early labor symptoms can cause referred pain in the
back. If your pain comes and goes, it could be a sign of early labor and you
should see a physician as soon as possible.
If you are like many women who are
pregnant, you have had to deal with back pain as part of the pregnancy process.
There are many different ways you can relieve your back pain that is safe for
both you and your baby. Here are 5 ways to relieve normal back pain during
pregnancy. As some back pain can be a sign of a serious condition for both you
and your baby, please ensure that you inform your healthcare provider about
your back pain before implementing these methods.
1. Exercise
One of the best ways you can stop back
pain is through exercise. Strengthening your muscles in your back and improving
your overall physical fitness can help you carry the extra weight of that baby
much more easily and comfortably, helping you avoid back pain altogether.
Some of the best exercises for pregnant
women are walking, swimming and riding a stationary bike. Talk with your doctor
or physical therapist about what exercises are safest for you and your baby
before you begin any exercise routine or program.
2. Massage Therapy
There is nothing like a good massage to
relax your muscles and relieve the tension in your body. A good massage can
help you relax tensed muscles that are beginning to get sore and can even help
you relieve stress so at the end of the day you feel less stress. Once your
tensed muscles are relaxed and you are less stressed, you will begin to feel
less pain in your back.
3. Hot and Cold
Placing hot and cold compresses are an
easy way to provide a little relief to your aching back. Assuming your health
care provider approves, begin by placing a cold compress on the painful area of
your back for 20 minutes each day for two to three days.
After that, switch to a hot compress to
the same area and continue to alternate. When applying heat, be sure to avoid
applying it to your abdomen while you are pregnant.
4. Improve Your Posture
When you are pregnant, you face extra
pressure on your spine and are forced to carry around extra weight. In many
instances, this causes slouching putting even more pressure on your spine.
While you are working or sitting, try placing a towel in the small of your back
and make a conscious effort to sit up straight at all times. This will help you
maintain good posture and relieve the added pressure on your spine resulting in
less pain after a long day.
5. See Your Doctor
If all else fails, or if your pain is severe,
you should consider paying a visit to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to
look at both your health and the health of your baby to determine if something
more serious is happening and will then be able to prescribe a better treatment
that can help you with your pain while also ensuring your unborn child remains
safe.
More Tips to Help Prevent Back Pain
In addition to steps above, you should
also actively try to prevent your back pain from happening. With just a few
changes in your lifestyle, you can stop many of the causes of back pain before
they happen.
If you need to pick up something from the
ground, do not bend over. Instead, bend your legs into the squat position to
grab whatever you dropped. While you may like the way high heels look on your
feet, while you are pregnant consider switching to flats instead to relieve the
pressure that high heels place on your back.
When you go to bed, avoid sleeping on your
back. Many doctors advise against sleeping on your back anyway due to some
dangers it places on both you and your child, so instead try sleeping on your
side to relieve the pressure on your back.
Pregnancy is truly a beautiful miracle of
life and should be embraced. However, back pain from pregnancy can put a damper
on how you feel and prevent you from enjoying what is supposed to be a truly
special time in your life.
If you are dealing with back pain while
you are pregnant, try using these solutions to help relieve the pain so you can
enjoy this magical time and embrace it the way it was meant to be. If your pain
continues, talk with your doctor and see how they can help you relieve the pain
so you can get back to preparing to be a mother.
