Blog 6

“A stitch in time saves nine.” I think prenatal care should be available to all women. Not only does prenatal care ensure that the mother to be is healthy to carry a baby full term, routine prenatal care could be a means where by birth defects, conditions and complications could be discovered leading to timely remedy options.

With more women choosing to have children later in life, the need for prenatal care has never been more compulsory. As a woman ages, the chances of giving birth to babies with defects increases; prenatal testing offers a means of catching these birth defects and employing treatment options that will ensure optimal health to a baby and its mother.

Women are waiting longer to have children due to various factors which include: education, careers and freedom. Women that have an urge to pursue education or advance in their careers find that children could be obstacles that could possibly hinder their advancement. This outlook is not from a selfish perspective, women see a need to be there for their children as they grow up and feel as if concentrating with school and careers could adversely affect their children’s upbringing.

Women in the 21^st century are therefore faced with tough decisions on the right time to raise families. The need for women to remain child free for a particular time has increased the use of contraceptives. Women have to make decision on the form of birth control that is most suited with their bodies and causes the least amount of health risks. The good news is that the research performed on the safety of birth control methods and the reduction of estrogen on birth control pills adversely favors women who choose to control their fertility.

Women experience freedom when allowed to determine the right time to start families; as a result, they are more prepared to bring up children and raise them as society permits.

Blog

I was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. My parents were extremely conservative as is the culture back home. Let me begin by saying that I was not prepared for menarche. No one had ever talked to me about it. It caught me by surprise. It happened in school and therefore my teacher was the first to explain it to me. Much later my mom talked to me about it. It was not a celebrated experience for me per se, I would like to say it was more informational about the anatomy of the woman’s body and the consequences that can result there of. I was definitely embarrassed when it happened, I was extremely scared as I did not know what was happening and was always cautious of when I would have my next period because I did not want to embarrass myself like I did the first time. I wish someone had talked about menarche before I experienced it, I would have been adequately prepared for the experience. If I ever have a daughter, I will make sure that I inform her of the experience and celebrate this vital passage of life.

Blog 3

Redd Foxx once said “Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing." As sardonic as this may sound, reality is that a lot of people are ignorant of health because they feel as if it does not matter what they do; they will some day die of something. This approach to health puts many people at risk of developing unhealthy eating habits, drug and alcohol abuse, and sedentary lifestyles.

I am one of those people Redd Foxx was referring to when he wrote the quote. I pay close attention to my health and the health of my family. Being a semi-vegetarian, I will eat salmon and tilapia for proteins; I do make sure my family eats a balanced diet. I try to walk for half an hour at least four times a week. I must admit that I do not get adequate sleep due to the fact that I have a family and a young child to take of; as a result, as a result, I devote to studying late at night.

I ensure that I use preventatives measures while driving like using a seat belt. None of my family members consume any alcohol. I rarely have to resolve conflicts but when I do, I always preferred talking it out with the other person.

Health is important to me and my family. This attitude forces me to make healthy decisions every day. The saying “it is all in your mind” is very factual. If health is on your mind, then you find yourself living it.