Our VALENTINE baby

It is exhilarating to be a mother because I am not lonely unlike the days when I was pregnant. My hubby would leave for work and I would stay in the house alone from 7am to 10pm. My baby is one month old she will be turning two months on 14th of this month (April) and she is our valentine’s gift. Elsie Odindo is her name, this is a name we had already planned for and therefore we could not change and call her valentine. She is named after my mum who is called Elizabeth so we decided to modify her name to Elsie.

The first time I saw her, it was a surprise to me and I was beside myself with joy. She weighed 3.5kgs and it was a normal delivery, she was not immunized immediately after delivery. l stayed in the hospital for three days; that is from Wednesday to Friday and was asked to take her back the following day for immunization. It was her first immunization BCG and she didn’t cry. Come the second immunization for DPT which was given to her on 29th of March, she cried painfully. After the injection I was asked to give her calpol and then I also rubbed it with cold water the first day and warm water the next day to ease the pain. My husband was helping me do it. When it came to breastfeeding nobody showed me how to do it, I just did it by myself and it worked though the first time it was painful because there was no milk for about three to four days. I was forced to give her ‘formula’ as I wait for the milk to form.

Before I conceived, I was a waitress but I have decided to take care of the baby until she is one year then I can look for another job since I don’t trust anyone with my baby. I want to take care of her myself. My hearts desire is to have three babies I love having a big family though my husband does not agree with me. He thinks two kids are enough.

The labour pains were bad but they don’t discourage me from getting two more kids. The pain was bad but bearable. My pains began at around 5.30 am. I recall that day I escorted my husband up to the door because he was going to work, but I told him, “Isaiah, leo naona leo ni leo”. This is because I had passed my EDD by five days.

I stayed awake until 7 am then went back to sleep. I started feeling pain which I can compare with period cramps, at around 9am. I called my husband and asked him to come home because the pain was increasing. I also managed to call my sister who is more experienced in baby matters because she has two kids and lastly I called my mum. Mum wanted to know if my water has broken. I told her the water had not broken but I was in pain. They all came and I was taken to the hospital.

On arrival the vaginal examinations were carried out and the nurse told me I was in early labour so I was admitted. This was second time such tests were carried out on me. The first time I knew of them was when I was eight months pregnant, I had a vaginal discharge which was diagnosed vaginal candidiasis. I was given some tablets for inserting and candid B cream for applying. It was a painful experience. The labour pain became intense at around 3pm, it was so much that I didn’t want any one to touch me. Rubbing of the back didn’t help me, it seemed to increase the pain. I delivered at 7pm, and the good thing was is that I wasn’t induced. I used to eat well especially fruits. I would ensure the food I eat was a balanced diet. In the early months of my pregnancy I craved for matoke and then the late stages I started craving for Pizza and porridge. I also had serious heart burn.

The pregnancy generally was planned; I wanted a baby so it didn’t come as a shock. I knew I was pregnant when I was 3 months pregnant though I wasn’t sure if really I was pregnant. I went to see a doctor who confirmed it. I wasn’t surprised or shocked. I started pre-natal clinic in the fourth month and I enjoyed every bit of it except that the queues were long but the staff of the hospital were very hospitable people. This pregnancy was safe because I didn’t have morning sickness. I only had nausea. I would like to breastfed her exclusively for one year but I would like to wean her when she turns four months.

When I was taking her for the second immunization DPT the nurse suggested to us about that vaccine. Its one vaccine but with different prices, one at Ksh350, Kshs 2,750 and Kshs 3,000. I was informed the one for 2750 and 3000 are painless but we opted for the one for 350.

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