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Moaning in labour facilitates delivery-Health Expert
Labour pains are very unbearable for many women and so they impulsively and uncontrollably resort to screaming as a response to the extreme pain that is associated with contractions during labour.
But does a woman in labour know that if she wants to make some noise during labour to help her feel better, she can moan instead? When she moans instead of screams, she directs the pressure she is exerting downward (to the diaphragm) and helps the labour process to continue.
In an interview with Dr. Dixie Constantini a Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist of the Women’s Health Obstetrics and Gynaecology, she said “it is important to save as much energy as possible for the type of noise that will help with labour progression”.
She explained that screaming during labour usually made a woman tired even before she got to the point where she had to push and some education which was usually given at Pregnancy Schools should be taken seriously or one could also learn it online if that was preferable.
She said when a woman screamed especially when she was supposed to push, almost all the energy she needed for pushing rather came out as noise “and if you are not left with enough energy to push your baby out it delays the delivery process and you will not be able to push.”
Dr. Constatini said when a woman in labour was screaming it also made it difficult for her to concentrate on the labour process and listen to the instructions of the Midwife helping her.
She was emphatic that, screaming did not make the labour process faster and that labour could sometimes be very long.
Dr. Constantini said there had been instances where some women thought that they would have short labour because of screaming but that was not true.
She said with every added child, labour was usually shorter. “So a first time mother usually has longer period of labour than a fourth time mother.”
The Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist further explained that even though it was usually the case, the cervix was a very special part of the womb which did what it liked to do.
“It sometimes dilates very quickly when it likes or stays closed when it doesn’t want to dilate. Thus you might find some first time mothers having very short labour and others not.
We cannot control the process of dilation sometimes. Other times we are unable to tell if someone will be able to dilate fully or not. The cervix can be very tricky. “she said.
She advised that “if you are in extreme pain and epidural anaesthesia isn’t available, you can ask for pain meds that can be injected into your butt or thigh muscle to help with the pain, that’s if those are available as well”.
“We know it is extremely difficult for most people not to scream, everyone feels pain differently and we do understand this but it is also important to listen to your Midwife or Obgyn” she said.
From Dzifa Tetteh, Kpone
News
Ghana achieves 98% participation in Eurobond debt restructuring
The Ministry of Finance has announced the successful completion of its Eurobond debt exchange and consent solicitation process.
The initiative, which aims to restructure Ghana’s Eurobond debt, has received overwhelming support from bondholders, marking a significant milestone in the country’s economic recovery efforts.
Launched on September 5, 2024, the offer invited eligible holders of Ghana’s Eurobonds to exchange their existing bonds for new ones under two menu options—Par and Disco.
As of the final expiration deadline on September 30, 2024, 98.6% of bondholders, representing the recognized principal amount of the existing bonds, participated in the offer.
During the bondholder meetings on Thursday, October 3, holders of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 WB-Guaranteed Notes passed extraordinary resolutions with over 90% representation, enabling the restructuring process to proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, for Aggregated CAC Notes, consents exceeded 98.7%, meeting the required thresholds for the exchange.
A majority of bondholders (91% of the principal amount) opted for the Disco menu of new notes, while 7.6% chose the Par menu, which remained under its cap of U.S. $1.6 billion, leaving a balance of U.S. $605 million available for future allocation.
Subject to the terms of the exchange, a total of U.S. $126 million in consent fees will be distributed to eligible bondholders who submitted their instructions by the early consent deadline.
The new bonds are expected to be issued on or around October 9, 2024, with full settlement to follow shortly thereafter.
The successful completion of this exchange is a critical step in Ghana’s broader debt restructuring efforts under its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, further strengthening the country’s path towards debt sustainability and normalizing relations with international capital markets.
The Government of Ghana expressed gratitude to bondholders for their participation and support, emphasizing that this successful outcome reflects a shared commitment to restoring the country’s economic stability.
In preparation for the issue date, all existing Eurobonds, including those for which no consent or exchange instructions were given, will be blocked from trading to ensure a smooth final settlement.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Update on Nana Asante Bediatuo’s health
The Office of the President has responded to news making rounds regarding the health of Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo.
According to the office in a statement, they wish to inform the public about the health status of Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President.
They revealed that following the conclusion of the meeting of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, in the United States of America, where he served as a key member of President Akufo-Addo’s delegation.
The statement added that Nana Bediatuo Asante stayed behind to conduct further government business.
They added that he then began to feel unwell, and was subsequently admitted to hospital.
According to the statement, he is currently in stable condition and responding well to treatment. The medical team added that, Nana Bediatuo Asante’s recovery is on track, and we remain hopeful for his swift return to full strength.
“We ask for continued prayers and support for him and his family during this difficult period. Further updates will be provided when necessary,” he concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
