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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt

Pregnant Ghanaian UK YouTube Star Nicole Thea has Died, Aged 24

Posted on July 13, 2020

The YouTube community is mourning the loss of  popular lifestyle vlogger, dancer and makeup guru Nicole Thea who apparently died during child birth.

The charasmatic sensation was expecting her first child, a baby boy, with her boyfriend Global Boga who is also a dancer and is often featured in her videos.  Although she was just 8 months along, it appeared from reports that she was set to deliver this past Saturday, July 11 but did not survive labor and delivery.

She was 24 years old.

Her family confirmed the heartbreaking news on her Instagram, also revealing that Nicole’s unborn son, who she and Boga had planned to name Reign, had also passed away.

“To all Nicole’s friends and supporters it is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Nicole and her son she and Boga named Reign sadly passed away on Saturday morning,” a statement read on Sunday.

 

Nicole Thea had about 77,000 subscribers on YouTube and another 153,000 on Instagram.

From E!:

The family explained that Nicole had “pre-schedule a few YouTube videos” to upload on her channel before her death, and with Boga’s blessing, he “made the decision to allow them to be aired.”

The most recent video was posted about three hours ago and titled, “GOT IN A BATH FULL OF MILK! *BTS PREGNANCY SHOOT.”

The 14-minute footage shows Nicole excitedly getting ready to do a milk bath, while also showing her followers insight into the process. She also showcased special moments from her maternity photo shoot. continue reading

Editor’s Note: While there has not been any official news about the circumstances of Nicole Thea and her son’s death, this is a great time to bring awareness once again to the fact that Black Women in the US and the UK have disporportionate high levels and rates of Maternal Mortality and more needs to be done to reverse this terrible trend!

When Nicole Thea shared the news of her pregnancy, she relayed that the baby was a “miracle” which perhaps hints to pre-existing condition or challenge that cropped back up. Per the

“We can’t hide this any longer, secrets out.. GOD gave us the biggest blessing yet. I’m finally creating a beautiful little human inside of me,” her Instagram caption read. “Can’t believe this bubba will be half of me and half of the loml. Honestly, @global_boga has been the best support EVER and GOD made no mistakes making him the father.”

She added, “We are already obsessed with you our little miracle baby. Thank you for choosing us to be your parents and best friends.”

Along with the post mortem Baby Milk bath video, her channel also recently featured her and Boga applying a Baby Belly Cast to commemorate the pregnancy:

She shared her entire pregnancy journal with her viewers and also recently posted video after her second trimester about the worst part of her pregnancy at that point:

 

Nicole Thea was often featured dancing with her boyfriend on YouTube Videos. Here is a fave:

RIP Nicole and Baby Reign. 

 

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Epidural 101

Posted on July 12, 2020

Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels

What is an epidural?

An epidural is a procedure that injects a local anaesthetic in to the space around the spinal nerves in your lower back.

This anaesthetic usually blocks the pain from labour contractions and during the birth very effectively. With an epidural you can usually move and can push your baby out when you need to.

An epidural is usually done by an anaesthetist.

The procedure

Before an epidural, you will usually have a drip for fluids put into your arm.

You can sit up and bend forward over a pillow, or lie on your side curled up into a ball. This makes it easier for the needle to be inserted into the right place. You will be asked to stay still.

Your lower back will be washed with cold antiseptic. A small amount of local anaesthetic will be injected into the skin of your lower back. A needle will be inserted between the bones of your spine into the space around your spinal nerves. Your anaesthetist will insert the epidural needle when your contraction stops, so it is important that you tell them when you have a contraction.

A small soft plastic tube will be inserted and the needle will be removed. That tube delivers the anaesthetic that will numb your pain.

It usually takes between 5 and 30 minutes for your pain to be relieved by the epidural.

You usually only have an epidural during the first stage of labour — but it can be given at any stage of labour.

Advantages and disadvantages of an epidural

Epidurals are available at most hospitals but not in birth centres or for home births.

The advantages of an epidural are:

  • it is usually very effective
  • it is generally very safe
  • you can often still move around and push when you need to
  • if you have a long labour, it allows you to sleep and recover your strength
  • if you’re having a caesarean, you can stay awake and your partner can be there

The disadvantages of an epidural are:

  • for medical reasons, not everyone can have an epidural
  • you might need to have fluids given to you through a tube in your arm, and will need to have your blood pressure monitored
  • you might lose feeling in your bladder and need a catheter (tube) in your bladder to help you pass urine
  • you might lose feeling in your legs for a few hours
  • it might slow down the second stage of labour
  • you might not be able to push and need help to give birth
  • your baby will need to be closely monitored during your labour

Whether you have an epidural or not makes no difference to the chance of you having a caesarean section.

Risks and side effects

An epidural is effective and fairly safe. But there are some risks.

Some women feel cold or itchy.

A small number of women get little or no pain relief.

Some women get weakness in the legs; it wears off after a few hours.

There is an increased risk of needing forceps or a vacuum to help with the birth.

Some women develop a bad headache 24 to 48 hours after an epidural.

There is a small chance of developing a skin infection.

Very rarely a few women get permanent nerve damage.

What to discuss with your doctor or midwife

You can check:

  • if you can have an epidural at your chosen hospital or birth centre
  • what their epidural procedures are
  • the type of pain relief that might suit you best

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The 5 Stylish Bags Every Fashionable Mom Has In Her Closet

Posted on July 10, 2020

Bellyitch Rewind

A fashionista is known for her effortless style and impeccable taste.

That applies not only to her choice of clothing but also to her accessories, and nothing makes a statement more than a fabulous bag. Moministas and Preginistas will not let go of their style just because they are moms and moms-to-be.

They just adjust and get a bigger bag!

I searched my partners at Shopstyle and identified what I think are the 5 bag (or types of bags) that every Mominista must own.

Here they are, in no particular order of gawgeousness:

The Everyday Bag

I like this Madewell’s cowhide tote because of its earthy color and the fact that it is also versatile and would complement any outfit. It’s made of pebbled leather. and is spacious inside so it would fit all of your stuff and more!

GET THE BAG

The Weekender

A sports duffle is great to use to throw in any item for a quick weekend getaway or girls night away. I love them beause they are expandable, easy to clean and look gret.

GET THE BAG

The Travel Tote



If you want a durable bag that will stand the test of time and is also an iconic luxury bag, then the Louis Vuitton Monogram Cabas Piano Tote is your bag. It is spacious, and has well stitched straps which can withstand the weight of your mini laptop, changing pad, a few diapers, your wallet and more.

GET THE BAG

The Earth Friendy Bag

Every person, man, woman and chilld, should be thinking about being good earth citizens and doing as little damage to the planet for the next generation of humans. A woman who is concerned for her planet and can should consider having in her closet a bag  that is made of sustainable, ethicially sourced materials and ideally, from labor paid an earnest livable wage. This Second Eco Bag is simple and does the trick.

GET THE BAG

The Glam Bag

When you’re going to a more formal occasion, such as a reception or a fancy event, you want to go more upscale with your tote.

Sometimes a clutch just isn’t large enough so you can get a tote that can also fit on a red carpet.

GET THE BAG

There you have it.  Do you own one or more of these totes? Are you an official mominista?

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Usain Bolt Introduces the World to Newborn Daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt

Posted on July 9, 2020

Congrats to Jamaican Olympic legend Usain Bolt who became a father back in May but recently shared a photo this past Tuesday with the name of his daughter: Olympia Lightning Bolt.

Little Olympia was born to mom Kasi Bennett in May, according to a tweet sent that month by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Baby’s name is an ode to the Olympics which made Bolt famous and also his last name is a natural reason to give her that particular unconventional middle name. Oh the pressure to be fast is on for that little girl! lol

Bolt also used the day to wish his girlfriend a Happy Birthday.

“I want to wish my gf @kasi__b a happy birthday,” he captioned a tweet with professional newborn photos. “I get to spend ur special day with u. I want nothing but happiness for u & will continue to doing my best keeping a smile on ur face. We have started a new chapter together with our daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt”

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13 Free Reources to Beat Summer Brain Drain and Keep Your Child Ahead of the Class

Posted on July 9, 2020

It might be tempting to lie around, post videos to TikTok or watch Netflix all day. Instead high schoolers should use this time to learn a new skill, take an interesting course or prepare for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Here are 13 free resources for high school students to get ahead while school is out.

1. Khan Academy

Khan Academy offers daily schedules for students ages 4-18. The free website also has courses in math, physics, U.S. history, grammar, economics and biology. High school sophomores and juniors can also find free SAT practice questions and tests. Even though the upcoming SAT administrations have been canceled or postponed, students still might want to prepare for this important exam.

2. edX

Even though your classes and extracurricular activities have been canceled, it doesn’t mean you should stop learning. EdX is an online platform that offers more than 2,500 courses online for free. Taking an online course is a great way to boost your resume and prove to colleges you can handle challenging material. Take this time to learn a new skill or explore a possible major from institutions like MIT, Harvard, University of California-Berkeley and more.

3. Coursera

Coursera is another e-learning platform that allows you to be taught by professors from Ivy League schools and other elite schools like the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford and Duke. All the courses are available for free, and topics available include C++, marketing, engineering and psychology. By taking these advanced courses, you can explore a possible major choice when you go to college.

4. Quill

Quill is offering its services for free to anyone affected by school closures. The interactive writing site is perfect for anyone who wants to brush up on their craft before writing their college admissions essays. On Quill, you can gain editing skills by proofreading passages, practicing grammar skills through short activities and advancing your writing.

5. Duolingo

The cognitive benefits of learning another language are undeniable. Studies have shown that being bilingual can benefit memory, problem-solving abilities and even intelligence. Duolingo is a free app that high school students should take advantage of now. Some schools offer limited foreign language options, but through Duolingo, students can learn Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi, Russian and many more. If you want, you can even learn fictional languages like Klingon and High Valyrian.

6. Codecademy

While you might not be thinking about the job market just yet, coding is one of the most valuable skills that you can pick up. Codecademy is offering Pro scholarships to students affected by school closures. On the free site, you can choose what to learn, including building websites to analyze data. You’ll learn by doing and can start writing code within a few minutes of joining the site.

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6 Ways to Stay Healthy During Summer Travel In the COVID Era

Posted on July 8, 2020

By Durisan

Summer is here, which normally means it’s time to take a vacation! In the age of the Coronavirus Pandemic, many plans are being changed or curtailed. No matter where you’re going, if you’re not prepared, a potentially amazing holiday can turn out to be the worst.

Here are our summer health tips to make sure everything goes smoothly and as safely as possible.

1 Wash your hands regularly

It might seem obvious, but this is your best and easiest way to stay healthy while you’re traveling. Regular handwashing can help prevent COVID-19 transmission as well as more routine illnesses like diarrhea and respiratory infections. Washing up can also help you avoid bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, which can cause major gastrointestinal issues (or even something worse). You’ll also remove germs left from a sneeze or other factors that can cause colds and other illnesses that can ruin your trip.

And consider the health and habits of the people around you. Take antibacterial wipes to deal with germy surfaces, such as a gas pump, door handles, or hotel room surfaces.

2 Eat and drink in moderation

There’s no shame in indulging when you’re on vacation, but try to keep a balance between occasional splurges and nutritious food. For example, if you’re planning a big dinner, try eating light vegetables during the day.

Also, try to eat vegetables at least once daily while traveling. Dark, leafy greens are especially a good choice: They can improve your mood and energy.

To further protect your health, try to eat outdoors whenever possible and avoid smaller, older restaurants. Getting to-go orders is a smart alternative as well and provide the opportunity for a fun family picnic.

3 Stay hydrated

It can be challenging to drink enough water when you’re busy enjoying the summer and sightseeing. However, dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue and even serious health problems.

Here are some useful tips:

  • Bring an empty bottle to the airport and fill it at the terminal.
  • Keep a bottle of water with you everywhere you go — and make sure you bring extra water for any children traveling with you.
  • Download an app to track your water intake and get notifications.

4 Get enough sleep

Vacation is a time for both play and rest. If you get less than six hours of sleep per night, even for just a week, you’re more likely to get a common cold than people who sleep more. If your body is thrown off from jet-lag, try taking a melatonin pill on the first night or two in your new environment. This will prepare your body to relax at your new bedtime.

5 Get some exercise

Even if you need a relaxing vacation where rest is the only thing you’ve planned, try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Exercising on vacation can help you recover from any stiffness from sleeping in a new bed, and it improves your overall energy level. Consider exercising outdoors and avoiding enclosed gyms and studios. 

6 Use your sunscreen

Days spent at the pool or the beach mean more exposure to the sun’s harmful rays. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and apply it every couple of hours or when you’re sweaty and/or wet. This will reduce your risk for skin cancer. Hats are great extra protection for you and your kids.

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Get Your Child To Cooperate with These Tips

Posted on July 7, 2020

By Marcia Hall

From your toddler touching everything in sight to your teenager ignoring everything you tell her, children who don’t cooperate can be frustrating. Here are a few simple rules to follow to increase the amount of cooperation you get from your child.

Help map out the day as best you can for your child. Often, parents have an idea of what the day will be like, but fail to communicate those plans to their child. When possible, help her envision your day by communicating it with her either that morning or the night before. Younger children will need this to be repeated, so it can help to recap it a few times. It is true that plans might change, but changes will be easier if she knew what the plan was in the first place.

Give warnings when time is coming close for transitions to take place. Children tend to live entirely in the present, so they are usually completely engrossed in the activity they are involved in at any given moment. This is obvious for younger children, but is also true of older children. By giving your child warnings when you need to leave in 10 minutes, your child can begin to finish with what she has started. Timers can be a big help for these warnings for both you and your child. A timer can not only keep you on track to follow through with the time you allotted, but will also give your child an auditory clue to listen for.

Provide your child with choices so that she feels in control of the situation to some degree. It is very difficult for your child to be at the mercy of the adults in her life. Often times, the errands or activities she is being forced to participate in are not activities she would choose to do. You can ease this frustration by making small parts of the day her choice. Small children do well with two or three choices. “Do you want to wear the blue boots, the red shoes or the purple clogs?” Older children can help you decide where you will go first or what music you will listen to along the way. Simple choices can make the difference between a cranky child who drags her feet and a cooperative child who does what is asked of her. Giving teens the choice can relieve some of the pressure too. “The garbage needs to go out before 6AM tomorrow. Do you want to do it before you go to bed or early in the morning” You may know the most common sense option is to do it now and get it over with. But giving your child the option can ease the tension often felt by parents and teens.

Create excitement for the thing you are trying to get your child to cooperate in doing. You might be so caught up in completing your to-do list that you forget to enjoy the process. You are motivated to get the tasks complete because you can see the outcome. Your child could not care less about that outcome, she just wants to have fun. So if you want her to cooperate with you, you will need to bring a little fun to the to-do list. If you are running errands, build a little fun break into every other stop. If you are in the car for a long time, find some games to play, such as I-Spy or 20 questions. Help keep her mind going and you will find she is much more compliant.

Make sure all her physical needs are met before asking her to do something you know she will be resistant about. Is your child hungry, thirsty, tired, overstimulated, cold/hot or sick? It is hard for adults to operate when they have these needs. Your child will be understandably cranky when she needs food or has simply had too much. Take a break and don’t expect your child to do too much.

Make sure your child has enough time for play in her day. Parents today have a tendency to overschedule their children, filling their time with sports, art and other activities. The thought is that an active mind is a healthy mind. To a degree, this is true. However, if the mind of a child is not given the opportunity to think creatively and freely, it will begin to shut down. This is when children become easily agitated, inflexible and unsatisfied. To ensure that you have a more cooperative and helpful child, make sure that your child is given enough time for free play both with you and by herself.

Parents dream of a child who gets her shoes on the first time they ask or takes the garbage out when it needs to go out.

Though it may not be possible for your child to do this with 100% accuracy, it is possible to improve her cooperation level.

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Texas Mom of Triplets Tested Positive for COVID, Recovered, Then Had Another Emergency

Posted on July 6, 2020

A Houston, Texas mom pregnant with triplets went into her 28 week check up to discover that she had contracted COVID-19 and two weeks later that one of her three babies had his umbilical cord tied around his neck.

By the day of that discovery about the cord last week, mom had gotten two back-to-back negative COVID test results, clearing the way for an emergency C-section at Women’s Hospital of Texas .

Fortunately, all three babies were born happy and healthy, and the mother, who is only identified as “Maggie” eventually beat COVID-19.

An Instagram post from the hospital shared some details including the fact that the husband wasn’t allowed to be with his wife in the delivery room because he had also previously tested positive for the virus, and while cleared in one follow-up test, he “hadn’t received his second negative test,” so her mother was her “one support person during labor,” the hospital said.

“At 4:51 p.m., “Baby A,” Isabella, was born at 3.11 lbs. At 4:53 p.m., “Baby B,” Nathaniel, was born at 3.7 lbs. Finally, at 4:55 p.m., “Baby C,” Adriel, was born at 2.1 lbs. ” the hospital said.

“The doctors and nurses were amazed by how well Maggie did. She and her babies, who arrived in perfect ABC order, were healthy, safe and undeniably resilient.”

Maggie told other mothers on the hospital’s Facebook page, “You have to let other people help you and remember you aren’t alone. Look forward to each day and celebrate every small victory.”

All this happened the same week Texas was experiencing an unprecedented spike in coronavirus-related hospitalizations.

On June 9, Texas recorded its highest number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations since May 5, and the state has been locked in a battle since against soaring related figures.

A related crisis with triplets appened back in April in Mexico, but there, even though the parents tested positive, the mom’s triplets all tested positive for COVID at birth but each recovered and are healthy as well.

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Track Star Caster Semanya Confirms Wife’s Pregnancy, Baby’s Birth and 1st Birthday

Posted on July 6, 2020

After dropping hints for weeks, it appeared that South African track and field star Caster Semenya and her wife had just announced they were expecting a baby with a maternity photo shoot.

Violet Raseboya took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a photo of her growing baby bump.

However, earlier today, Semanya posted a photo of a baby in tiny Nikes with the caption #1 which leaves one to believe they had this baby last year and are celebrating his or her birthday today or the baby in the photo is representative of that being the first child. Who knows.

Perhaps to celebrate the pregnancy last year, Raseboya posted a stunning black and white photo of herself glowing in a sheer blouse revealing her growing belly and captioning the post made last Wednesday,  “unconditional love” with a pregnant woman emoji. The same day, Semanya posted a photo of the two of their bottom halves holding a pair of baby tennis shoes.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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A post shared by Caster Semenya (@castersemenya800m) on

It was the latest in a series that also included another photo from that announcement shoot with the shoes on the floor that posted a pregnancy announcement on June 3rd.

View this post on Instagram

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A post shared by Ledile Violet (@ledile_violet_s) on

Semanya posted a couple of pregancy announcements in June

View this post on Instagram

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A post shared by Caster Semenya (@castersemenya800m) on

View this post on Instagram

⭐?⭐ ? @koketsomogapilj

A post shared by Caster Semenya (@castersemenya800m) on

View this post on Instagram

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A post shared by Caster Semenya (@castersemenya800m) on

The couple have been married since 2015.

Semenya was assigned the female gender at birth and was raised as a girl and identifies as a woman, though she has XY chromosones and exceptionally high levels of testosterone which made her her subject of numerous testing and challenges to her wins after she won the 2009 World champtionships.

She withdrew from professional compeitiotn altogether until 2010 when the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) welcomed her back eventually instituted new rules in 2019 that prevent women such as Semenya from participating in 400m, 800m, and 1500m events unless they take medication to lower their testosterone levels.

Despite the challenges, it looks like she and her wife have been ignoring the naysayers and living their best lives!

View this post on Instagram

Cheers to life ladies ?

A post shared by Ledile Violet (@ledile_violet_s) on

 

hat tip

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7 Playlists for Your 4th of July CookOut

Posted on July 4, 2020

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

A lot of folks are staying home or close to home today because of the COVID restrictions. If you’re one of said families and you are looking for music or playlists to jam to while you enjoy a backyard, frontyard, driveway or balcolny cookout, here is a compilation of various music by genre:

Dance

Oldies 80s, 90s and 2000s

Trap

Mine is a mix of Soca, Reggaeton, Popmusic and rap

Country

Pop Rock



Modern R&B, Hip Hop

My personal faves that make me think of America:

 

 

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