Thrice a mother, different rules always
Motherhood to Coren Giesen is not a new experience as she has had two other children: Cortez Tower, four and Bradley Okuiri, two. She told Pregnant how it is in the house with the arrival of her latest bundle of joy.
Flash Back
My two sons were born and nursed in the US. They would be born and after a few months, we would be back in the country. This time round, my husband and I agreed that we would have our last child in Kenya. I was hesitant, for I wanted to be handled by the doctors who had my birth history records. Having a bicornuate uterus (a partial or complete vertical division of the uterus) and one kidney is considered delicate. What really scared me is that during the ante-natal visits, my doctor seemed always preoccupied when I explained my health conditions to him. I contemplated writing a note about my conditions and pasting the note on my tummy just before being wheeled in the theatre. And I wanted the surgeons to note that I was to be given a vertical C-section because I have a bicornuate uterus. Luckily, the doctor reassured me all was well and even wrote all I had been telling him on my hospital admission card. That is when I relaxed.
A baby girl
On 13 July this year, three weeks before my EDD, I checked into hospital to deliver my child through an elective C-section. I had not checked the sex of the baby but I longed for a baby girl, naturally, since I am already a mother of two boys. And indeed I bore a girl the following day.
Lindsey Giesen, weighing 3.3kgs. I was excited because we had decided that this was the last baby we are going to have.
A good house-help
So far, being at home with Lindsey has been uneventful. I have an excellent house-help who is older than I am, and who is a mother too. She discourages me from house chores, saying I am likely to tire having had a caesarean delivery. While I do not feel sickly or weak, I do not mind sitting back to relax since she handles housework with ease. My sister also assists with looking after my two boys who are very playful. The house-help also enlightens me on how I should take care of my body despite knowing that I have been there two other times. I take all this with grace because I know she is doing it good-naturedly. My husband is also very supportive. He does not mind waking up with me to change the baby’s diaper or just rock her to sleep at night. I feel pampered.
Regaining my shape
I have not increased in body size and so I have not had to shop for a new wardrobe. Right after delivery fellow nursing mothers would ask me whether I had come to visit someone because there was no indication that I had just delivered.
How the other two children are coping with the new addition
Cortez is very protective of his small sister and one can already see that he loves her. While I was in hospital, he informed his teachers that his mother had gone to get a baby sister for him and his brother. When I came home I was greeted by teachers who had come to congratulate me. I felt so proud of him. However, Bradley is still very demanding and needs a bit more time to adjust. For instance, the first day I came from the hospital, Bradley pulled the baby away from my hands because he wanted to be held! I had to give my sister the new baby while I held him. When nursing the baby, he perches himself on my laps and imitates the baby’s suckling with the free breast. Due to this, I try as much as possible to bond with Bradley when Lindsey is asleep, and when Cortez is in school. I do not want any of my boys to feel left out or to view their sister as a competitor for the attention they received from us parents beforehand.
How is motherhood now with the newborn?
Lindsey is growing very fast! Nothing much has changed-the difference is I am now going to raise a girl. I hope she achieves everything she ever hopes for. However, I had not bought any girlish clothes so I have had to do shopping now while she is here.
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