HEALTH CHAT: FOLIC ACID INTAKE BEFORE AND DURING PREGNANCY

                         

So y’all know I am a pharmacist and even though this blog is a way of me escaping the 99.9% seriousness of pharmacy and the health world, I have decided to sometimes chip in some health tips. Don’t worry it might just be once in 6 months and I would try to make the post less boring and not filled with medical jargons.

I would just repost articles I see that might be helpful to you all. So today due to the fact that I have been reading a lot on anemia (that is my next presentation topic), I was reminded on the need for child bearing women to take folic acid before and during pregnancy. I remember my mum always insisting I take folic acid tablets (not like I listened) but now I have been reminded again I would try to take it. The key word is ‘try’ because even though I am a pharmacist it is hard for me to take drugs.

So here is the article or rather part of the article culled from www.webmd.com on the importance of folic acid before and during pregnancy. And for the guys who feel this is not important to them, if you are going to have kids someday I advise you to just spare a few minutes and read the article. I can bet you that you would learn something new.

Why is folic acid important before and during pregnancy?

Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida. These are major birth defects in which the baby's brain or spine is not fully formed. These birth defects usually happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy, before a woman even knows she is pregnant. 

If you are a woman who could get pregnant, experts recommend taking a daily vitamin to make sure you get enough folic acid. For folic acid to help, you need to take it every day, starting before you become pregnant. You can google on spina bifida to learn more.
 
And the amazing part of folic acid supplement is that the locally produced one (I ain’t saying that you get the imported brands which most of the time contain 400mcg) is a small tablet and contain 5000mcg i.e. 5mg of folic acid which is above the required daily amount for those that are of child bearing age (which is 400mcg) and is the required daily amount for pregnant women whose daily requirement for folic acid and iron is increased during pregnancy.

Which reminds me, please, please and please pregnant women endeavor to take an iron supplement daily to prevent anemia in pregnancy (recently saw a woman that has heart failure due to anemia in pregnancy). Yes folks! It is that serious! Pregnancy ain’t no joke so be serious! Eat right, exercise right and take your right medications and by God’s grace, you and your offspring (s) would be fine.

Whew!! That was not bad at all. Not too pharmacy at all. Hopefully I would find articles on topics that are easy to understand and help you folks leave a healthier life. I am thinking of talking about sickle cell anemia/sickle cell trait, cervical cancer and the importance of pap smear, breast examination and breast cancer, erectile dysfunction, depression in young people,  HIV and prevention. These are heavy topics, i don’t know how it can be simplified but I would try to see what I can do.

So did you guys enjoy today’s post? I did but this ain’t about me, it is about you. Please leave a comment below about how you feel about my idea of a health post once in a while. If you liked it, if you want it to continue, topics I could write on to the best of my knowledge, anything you feel just write it and I would see what I can do.

Luv ya guys and please stay healthy,
Petite Diva.

ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!! INTERNET BANKING......

                                                  

So lately I have discovered online shopping websites that sell 'high street' clothes, shoes and bags at mega cheap prices (and the ones that are not cheap I either don’t buy or I wait for them to have a sales offer) and the best part they ship to Nigeria for free or for almost free.

I have now decided to do my ‘once in a year’ wardrobe re-invention (or should that be rearrangement) with wares I buy online (I know, I am crazy uhn). But when you compare the thrifted high street aka ‘second hand’ prices in Nigeria, it is almost the same amount as the websites. The best part, THEY ARE NEW!!! Anyway, I recently spotted some shoes that I fell in love with and I want to get them. They don’t cost more than 3000naira that is about 20 dollars. So what did i do? I whipped out my GTB master card and proceed to pay, only to be told I need an ‘activation code’! Like for real?! An activation code! I don’t know what that means so I call GTB call centre and the lady tells me I need to get a token #rollingmyeyes  (whatever that means) and I have to start internet banking! LIKE FOR REAL!!! #supershocked

I am technologically backwards and I am not impressed with all these new technology. So I avoid any new ideas brought up. I have been cajoled by my friends to start using internet banking and I am like…….whatttttteeevvvveeeerrrrr. I am not going to leave my account open for anybody to have access to.

However now I have two choices: don’t get the token (which would cost me 2100 naira…..#bbmangryface) and forget about getting the gorgeous shoes which are on sale right now or get the token and start internet banking for that account. Choices! Choices!! Choices!!! So I thought to myself, since I am using an account that I don’t use except when I want to pay for something online why don’t I start the internet banking for only that bank account? That way when I need to use internet banking for anything I can easily put money in the account and do my thang……Cool? Uhn?

Not so cool but I guess I can manage with that…..(I would keep saying it, I HATE IT!!!). Oh well, it would be okay.

I am on call right now and believe me, I don’t want to be here but that is what I signed up for as a Hospital Pharmacist. So here is to a ‘non fun’ night……#cheerstome….lol.

Luv ya,

Petite Diva.

VIDEO PICTURE TIME.........

Hey guys, we have been having some birthday fun lately and i decided to share some pictures with you. Was thinking of uploading the pictures when i was reminded about the fact that i could make a video with the pictures by friend, Fatima.

So here is it, hope you enjoy it...... (Oh! by the way, i know i got back......lol)

Luv ya guys,
Petite Diva......

WORK AND POST GRAD THINGS…….

Hey guys, I am so sorry that I have been MIA for a looooonnnnnnggggg time but things are getting a little busy for me nowadays.

I have been reading like crazy. I am trying to read work stuff, post graduate stuff (yeah, I have started a post graduate course finally and I have loads to read. I have not officially started reading but I really, really need to start), personal/emotional stuff too……whew! So much to read and also I have to go to work and eat and live in a clean house and have a sound mind. I am telling you guys it ain’t easy at all.

I have tried organizing my life into a time table but I don’t know how good it is cos some days it works and some days I couldn’t be bothered. Hopefully by God’s Grace I would find a way to balance everything without breaking down.

I don’t know how I would be able to keep writing on this blog. I really hope the idea that I have been thinking about would work. I would start tomorrow and if it works I would let y’all know.

Right now I am a little unhappy cos I am not pleased with my friend right now. He said something and I don’t think I can forgive him that easily. And before you guys start thinking all sorts, he is just a friend. A very good friend or so I thought. We keep butting our heads like crazy. It is the same things/characters that made us get close that seem to be tearing us apart. I guess it is time for our friendship to take a break. I really do think the best thing for me right now is to kick him out of my life or simply stop talking to him. I know I might feel sad and guilty that I am not talking to him but the way I see it, I have 2 choices: continue talking to him and keep butting heads every day or stop talking to him and have peace.

I think I would try the latter option. That is my only choice right now (at least that is what I feel). Oh well, let’s see if my idea works.

I gotta go. I have a new policy now. Sleep early, wake up early (at 5:30am) and hopefully make it to work early.

Luv ya guys,

Petite Diva.

HAPPY EASTER GUYS

Hi you guys, just popped in to wish you all a HAPPY EASTER....... May the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ cause a resurrection of favor, peace, joy, happiness and joy in all your lives.

Hope you all enjoy the holidays. I am enjoying mine because i am not on duty throughout this long weekend....#Bigsmile

Luv,
Petite Diva.......

GETTING BACK ON TRACK ……….EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE

If you all remember, some months ago I set some challenges for myself. With the exception of my hair challenge which I even revised, I have not faithfully followed through with my challenges. However about a month ago or so, I bought 2 books on an impulse buying spree. I felt guilty after buying the books but when I started reading one of the books, the guilt flew away. It was replaced by ‘God, thank you for ordering my steps to that place and thank you for providing me with the money to buy the books’ kind of feeling.

The name of the books are ‘Think like a man, act like a lady’ by Steve Harvey and ‘Secrets of an irresistible woman’ by Michelle McKinnney Hammond. I started reading the secrets of an irresistible woman because it is a Christian book and I wanted to know what it was all about. Also because I had watched the movie of ‘think like a man, act like a lady’ and I gave the book to a male friend to read first so that I can ask him questions when I was reading it so I felt I could read it later.

Reading the ‘secrets of an irresistible woman’ made me realize that my mindset on marriage, dating and courtship might need a little tweaking. She made me realize that I had never really thought about what marriage involved. And I don’t think I am the only one who is guilty of this. She explained that marriage is more than the ceremony; it is a life time work in which both parties are there to be a blessing to each other. It is more than marrying because you are old enough. It is more than having a husband or wife, it is more than sex, it is more than having children and it is more than having that ring(s) on your finger. She made me understand where I had been wrong in my previous relationships, made me realize what my heavenly roles as a wife and mother are, made me realize the kind of man that God wants me to have and made me realize I shouldn’t settle for less. She made me realize that I don’t need to stay idle and that being single doesn’t mean I can’t have a life that is meaningful.

I think one of the parts about the dating and courtship advice that I knew was meant for me was the fact that she said ‘if a guy doesn’t take interest in you and pursue or rather approaches you then girl, walk away. Don’t pursue him.’ I don’t think I have pursued a guy but I know that in my previous relationships, the guys never worked before they got me. I was always too easy for them and I never studied them well. And I also tried to make a relationship that I knew was not working, work by all means possible. I tried too hard! Well, I know better and hopefully my next relationship I would be wiser and do things the right way, the way God ordained it to be.

As I was reading that book, my friend asked if I had ever read any of Joel Osteen’s books. I replied that I had one that I bought almost 3 years ago when I arrived in Akwa ibom. I didn’t know the title but I later found out that it was the same one he was reading. He encouraged me to read it, that the book was a blessing to his life. With all that said, I bumped the other book I wanted to read to third place and picked up the book.

I am just at chapter 8 but I can tell you that I am kind of disappointed in me. I have had the book for 3 years and I never read it. The book has changed the way I look at life (I am borrowing his words) but that is the best way to describe it.  Oh! The name of the book is ‘Your best life now: 7 steps to living at your full potential’. I have come to realize that though some friends might not last in your life, they at one point would impact your life either for good or bad. Well even if he never impacts positively in my life again, I am extremely grateful to God for sending him to spur me to read the book. I hope I would be able to impact his life in a positive way too. Thank you Dearie for a time such as this (and before you all start hearing wedding bells cos I wrote dearie, he is just a friend. Nothing can ever happen between us! So get your minds out of there.) Maybe I should have written ‘Thank you Doc’ but then I wouldn’t be the drama queen that I am……lol. Anyway, thank you so much. You are the best, sometimes when you are not annoying me!

So yes, I think I am back on track on the emotional/spiritual challenge; I am reading at least one chapter a day and progressing gradually. I hope I would get my professional/study challenge back on track too. Actually I need to! I have 2 presentations to prepare for and update courses that I am going to attend this year, so I can’t play anymore.

As for my financial challenge, we are working on that with a vengeance because I have a major project coming up and I won’t allow my finances be the cause of not achieving that dream. So I have had to cut a lot of things and let people know that I am restricting myself so I can’t be anybody’s back up plan anymore. By God’s Grace, my 2^nd major dream of this year would come to pass. This is my year of dreams fulfilled and giving!

Well, that is all for now. I would have written earlier but my modem was acting up. Had to take it to airtel office only to find out that the problem was my laptop not the modem….*rollingmyeyes at this laptop….lol

Have a lovely, favor filled week guys……#kisses

Luv,

Petite Diva