An unbelievable kind of Love

‘Pregnancy’s is very interesting. The changes make me wonder whether I am still the same person that I have been all along.’  Evelyn Karanja recounts her experiences  through every stage of pregnancy. She spoke to Rebecca Njoki.                                                                                                                     

The first three months
The morning sickness, moodiness, fatigue, nausea and unpleasantness towards my partner are just some of the changes that I had to contend with as I adjusted to my condition. I work as a news anchor with a local television station. Just before reading the 4pm news, I would disappear from the office for a few minutes’ nap. I always felt an overwhelming urge to sleep at 3pm prompt.

The second trimester
This was the stage of happiness. Morning sickness and overpowering sleepiness had disappeared. My body and mind had recognized the fact that I was going to be a parent. Being 33, life has all been about me, but now that is soon going to change as I start catering for the unborn baby. From now on, everything I do will have a direct impact on my young one. The realization is both scary and exciting.
I recently started going for yoga, swimming and walking as part of the exercise regime to keep fit and healthy while expectant.

The last lap
I am so big that activity I earlier executed with so much ease is a problem. I walk around with a feeling of extreme heaviness. I have severe water retention, hence my feet swell a lot; I have had to get shoes a size bigger than my normal one. My hands swell too, so I cannot hold things for a long time since they go numb. It does not matter whether it is cold or hot, I still swell.

The good thing about being pregnant is that one’s body temperature is high.
I do not need warm clothing. I do not know the sex of my baby and so I am buying neutral colours.

Foster parent
I always knew I wanted kids since I have been a volunteer and a foster parent at a children’s home for the last 13 years. I would take babies between one to three months old for holidays such as Easter, Christmas and any other time I was on holiday then return them after a while. Taking them back is always difficult since a motherly bond forms. It is nice to be finally expecting one of my own, one that I will not have to part with.

The changes are unbelievable!
My weight gain is astonishing; having added 14kg I feel so heavy. One of the most uncomfortable adjustments is giving up my most favourite sleeping position—sleeping on my stomach. I miss that so much. Luckily, I have not spotted the dreaded stretch marks on my body yet, probably due to my daily devotion to using massaging lotion. I have turned a little darker in complexion, but other than that I have been spared the attack of acne. My diet has also changed. Before, I did not like liver. Presently, however, I am eating it and loving it. I crave boiled eggs, yoghurt and flavoured milk. I try to limit my intake of boiled eggs though.

At times it is so hard to sleep due to discomfort; my body constantly going numb. When this happens I wake up and watch a movie or read a book. To reduce the probability of waking up at night, I avoid taking naps during the day. These processes and changes I am going through give me an unbelievable kind of love.

END: PG24/16-17