Women
Benefits Of Prenatal Exercise
Prenatal exercise refers to conscious physical and mental activity carried out by pregnant women. It is done with an intention to remain healthy or stronger.
Like every normal human being, exercises in pregnancy do not only benefit the minds and bodies of the expectant mothers, they also benefit the unborn babies.
Mothers who understand this reality, take exercise during pregnancy as a serious business. It must not be as vigorous as possible, but such as the system can accommodate will keep the mum and baby fit and ensure better development for both.
According to Carmen Moyer, Olga Roldan and Linda May in their work; “The influence of prenatal exercise on offspring health”, a sedentary lifestyle, which is characterized by physical inactivity leads to increased prevalence of obesity which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, although diet lacking fruits and vegetables are also contributory factors.
They maintained that exercise during pregnancy is beneficial for fetal health and well-being, extending into childhood. Benefits for offspring are observably related to body weight and composition, cardiovascular health, and nervous system development. Exercise during pregnancy may elicit a prenatal programming effect, creating a healthy environment in utero during a critical time of organ development.
Physical activity may act as a nonpharmaceutical therapy for obesity and overweight, thus delaying or preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes. Numerous physical activity interventions are being done to treat and prevent these conditions in children; however, the earliest intervention to treat these conditions is during pregnancy.
Pregnant women ought to participate in physical activity during pregnancy. This is because Women who exercise throughout gestation show significantly decreased risk of preeclampsia, hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), weight gain, rate of spontaneous abortion, congenital abnormalities, and incidence of preterm labor. Their offspring have normal growth and development.
According to the developmental origins hypothesis, the utero environment influences fetal organ development, which has implications for the infants after birth into adulthood. This means that women who exercise may be more likely to deliver closer to the estimated due date. Although there are many studies that have compared gestational age between groups of women who exercise or not during pregnancy. The current guidelines of many nations suggest that pregnant women participate in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.
Out of ignorance, many think that exercises in pregnancy will not only weary the body of the mother, but would also constitute stress to the unborn. The truth is that exercise helps you reduce the risk of backache, constipation, bloating and swelling. It may also improve your ability to cop with labour.
Typically, if you were physically active before you became pregnant, it is likely safe to remain active during pregnancy. According to studies, whether acute or chronic, exercise in pregnancy is not harmful to the fetus and may benefit development in utero and after birth.
Physical activity during pregnancy, however, decreases the risk and incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), in part by decreasing excessive gestational weight gain and stimulating a better control of glucose metabolism. This phenomenon is also true for high-risk groups such as women who are overweight or obese prior to pregnancy, especially those who are inactive. Physical activity starting at the beginning of pregnancy can be used as an early therapy to prevent excessive weight gain and GDM. Women who develop GDM during pregnancy can utilise physical activity as an adjunctive therapy and are able to decrease their insulin therapy and thus have better metabolic control compared to sedentary pregnant women.
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.
