Women
Preparing For Healthy Delivery
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, and it pays to be in good health while pregnant, Lolade Adefemi, in an article published for expectant mothers, writes that “pregnancy is both magical and miraculous, nothing compares to it. It is a way of being involved in the creative process of life”. The involvement of the woman in the creative process of human life, singles her out of every creature of God. As a priviledge, her status naturally entails an enormous responsibility.
Many women would say, “after all, pregnancy is a mystery, I have no role to play in its facilitation” This group of women believe that they are insignificantly or not at all involved in the making of their babies, and so, they are less concerned.
Ofcourse in our own society, you need not be told that as soon as you knot the nuptial cord with your spouse, one full year is so long a time for you not to be with a child. Such great expectation placed on you as a woman, does not in any way justify your procreation of an unhealthy child at the end of the day.
Therefore, from the axiom that anything worth doing is worth doing well, Planning ahead for pregnancy becomes a worthwhile venture. It does not only improve your chances of doing well through the entire process, but also of having a healthy baby.
A good lifestyle before and during pregnancy affects your baby’s health. It is, therefore, important to avoid exposure to harmful substances.
This ‘before pregnancy’ precaution has become imperative because not all women are consciously aware of their early pregnancy status. Most women realize they are pregnant when they are almost six to eight weeks into their pregnancy. By the time they contact their doctor, they are about 10-12 weeks gone, and this is a very fragile period in pregnancy because babies form their major organs at this period, of which something may go amiss in the baby’s growth and development before the mum realises it, if a carefree life is exhibited.
Do you know that many women have considered themselves sick simply because they are pregnant ? for goodness sake, pregnancy is a mere condition, not an illness, as such should be taken as an experience. This is why you need both physical and mental preparation to get in shape for pregnancy.
Being in good health before pregnancy can help you deal with the physical and emotional stress of both pregnancy, labour and delivery. Days are over when emphasis was placed on being healthy ‘only’ during pregnancy. A healthy living before conception ensures proper preparation of your body and general life practices for the changes pregnancy and new birth would bring. Remember it is all about a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
You probably need to know that achieving your ideal weight before conception is important as your baby’s health is tied to your body weight when pregnant. Overweight predisposes you to the risk of developing high blood pressure and gestational diabetes as well as high possibility of cesarean delivery. On the other hand, underweight women fear the risk of harder times conceiving, as their babies are usually premature and have lower birth weight.
Therefore, while it is important to take seriously the regular intake of prenatal vitamins, moderate exercise programme before and throughout pregnancy they say, also helps a great deal.
Please take not for granted the recommended doses of prescribed vaccines. Above all, reduce unnecessary stress in your life.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
