Doreen: ‘This will be my last pregnancy’

Doreen and Andrew Bambaiha were among the 49 couples who tied the knot in a mass wedding in Uganda. She talks to Pregnant staff writer Emma Odaba.

My husband Andrew and I had lived together for two years, not forgetting that we were (and still are) born-again Christians while all this was happening. I met Andrew in 2002 and shortly afterwards we started living together—but we were hiding: only our parents knew. We were not the only ones in the boat: many of our friends were also living with their partners before marrying in the church.

Our senior pastor realised that whenever he called for marriage seminars only a few individuals could attend and yet they appeared many in church. He talked to the couples to find out why they were not married in church. The answer he got was the same—funds.

The couples told him, they would love to have a wedding but they did not have the money because weddings were expensive. It is at this point that he thought of coming up with a mass wedding.

He advised us to fill some forms, which we did. We went for counseling, rehearsed for the wedding and finally had a mass wedding with a big reception. That was the first big wedding: and it took place on 16th October 2004.

Soon after the wedding, I got pregnant. I had not gone for a scan yet: and so I did not know I was carrying twins. I was wondering why the pregnancy was so heavy. I then went to see a doctor who sent me for a scan. It was then that I understood why I was growing fast.

When the pregnancy was five months, I had to shift near my work place in Lugazi, 40 kilometres from Kampala. The pregnancy was so heavy that I could not walk comfortably.

I had to be careful and limit my movements. I would travel to Kampala on Friday evenings to be with my husband. The twins, Simon Peter Taremwa and Angel Ruth Takorakubi were born on 4th October 2005 weighing 2.3 kilogrammes and 3.1 kilogrammes respectively.

I am now a mother of five children. We have a daughter who is 15 years old. Gloria Nonsiima and also a nine-year old daughter, Jesca Muhebwa.

After I gave birth to the twins, we decided to wait before getting another child. Taking care of the twins was rather hectic. I spent sleepless nights with them when they were young.

I therefore chose the pill as my method of contraceptive. I used it for a while then I stopped. However. I did not think of using any other method of family planning. Two months down the line, I conceived.

When I found out I was pregnant, I was very happy. I remember when I started feeling uncomfortable, I told my husband that I wanted to go for a pregnancy test. When I broke the news to him, he was so excited!

When I was two-and-a-half-months pregnant, I almost lost the pregnancy. I found myself bleeding heavily. I got worried because I thought I had lost the pregnancy. I went to the hospital immediately, and I was tested for malaria. A scan was also carried out to see whether the cervix was intact. The doctor told me that it was hormonal imbalance. This had also happened when I was carrying the twins.

My doctor explained to me that after conceiving, there is a hormone that is produced to support the baby. In my case it meant that the hormone was not sufficient. I was given a hormonal injection to supplement the natural hormone: and advised to rest for two weeks. After the injection, the problem did not recur.

I do not have any fears at the moment. However, I prefer beginning my antenatal clinics at two months just to avoid any complications that might arise. This will be my last pregnancy: I want to go for tubal ligation after delivery: my husband and I have agreed on this.

Generally, this pregnancy has not been uncomfortable like the previous ones; where I vomited a lot and I felt weak. The twin pregnancy was the worst of all: it was so heavy that at three months I could not bend. Washing and oiling my feet was also very difficult for me.

All my children have been born through Caesarean section. With my first child, the labour was not progressing well, and with the twins it was an elective Caesarean. I am sure even this time I will go through a Caesarean. The doctors will not allow me to have a normal delivery. I will not check the sex of the baby: I leave it all to God: and whichever baby he gives me, I will accept.

The pregnancy has not negatively affected my relationship with either my husband or the children. I know the twins are young but they will cope when the baby comes.

END:PG12/20-21