Doctor's Column-Will alcohol affect my breast milk?

Dear doctor, I am breastfeeding a one month old baby. These days I am more stressed than when I was pregnant. I like Nile special, which is now my saviour. Is there a better treatment for stress?
Drucilla

Dear Drucilla, Alcohol in any form can pass through the breast milk and cause damage to the immature organs of the baby, or make the baby drunk. Apart from risking mental problems including retardation in future, the baby may risk injuries from the drunken mother.

Even if a mother has to drink moderately to avoid the said problems, it is not known how much is moderate for a given baby and with stress, the amount drunk is likely to keep going up increasing the said risks. Please, visit your post natal clinic for counselling because drowning yourself in alcohol may cause more problems than it can solve.

Dear doctor, These days, my husband of 20 years wears strong perfumes, which irritate me. What do you think is the problem?
Jennifer
Dear Jennifer, It is possible that you are developing unexpected reactions to his perfumes. Perfumes are made up of many different volatile chemicals. It is possible that his new perfumes have different chemicals you react to or you may have merely developed the reactions with time.

Also, it is possible that you may be pregnant and you are not aware. Because pregnancy in a bid to protect the unborn child from dangerous substances, may make you get irritated in order to avoid them. Please discuss with the problem with your partner so that he either stops using the perfumes or takes you for pregnancy tests.

Dear doctor, I am a Munyoro by tribe. When I wake up in the morning, I have bihonzi or obujonjo in my eyes not to say ebigonero. Why is it that others do not have such?
Mwesigye Batanuka

Dear Mwesigye: Bihonzi is that discharge from the eyes we find around the eyes when we wake up and have to wash it off. The discharge, much as you hate it, seals the eyes off so that sweat and oil do not enter our eyes unaware in slumber.Too much of this discharge, however, may result from eye allergies or infections that may require the attention of a medic, preferably an eye specialist.

Ebigonero are snail-like tracks around the lips on waking and are usually due to sleeping with an open mouth as happens in people with congested noses. This can also happen in people who produce lots of saliva like tobacco smokers or those with decayed teeth, or those with throat swellings and cannot swallow saliva well except when they are awake. When one has inflamed or big tonsils, he may have this problem. Please have your nose, throat or teeth checked out. If found normal, it could be that it is your normal style to sleep with your mouth open!

Dear doctor, I am a female tailor and I have been in this business for 25 years. What bothers me is my right leg, which has become bigger than the left leg. It does not hurt, but I think other people notice it. That is why I still wear trousers at 45 years! Could this spell cancer?
Angella Amoit

Dear Angella, The legs are made up of bones and other tissues, but the main bulk is muscle. Muscle becomes more prominent with use. With a sewing machine, if you are right handed, the right leg may become more prominent as it is used more. It is unlikely that you have cancer or other life-threatening conditions like calf blood clots. However, you need to be checked out for varicose veins. Because of your profession which necessitates that your knees are most always bent, this may easily strike and cause the unilateral swelling.

Dear doctor, whenever I am pregnant, I get flue and feel sleepy all the time. What else can i take because I am tired of predinsone.
Esther Rwakimari

Dear Esther, It is common to have a running or stuffy nose during pregnancy even when this is not associated with allergies or a common cold. This is called Rhinitis of pregnancy and it may start early in pregnancy, go on its own in a few months or last until delivery or after. Higher amounts of pregnancy hormones as well as increased amounts of blood in the body during pregnancy are said to lead to this.

It is dangerous to take drugs that are not prescribed (including prednisone) during pregnancy and especially during the first three months because this can lead to birth defects in the forming baby.

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