‘Everything about my pregnancy has been big’

My last scan reveled the most content-looking baby ever

Big and getting BIGGER! That in a nutshell, defines my second pregnancy. When I asked my husband to point out something unique about this pregnancy he said; ‘Bigger!’

One of the BIG challenges is Sasha my first born son, who is two-and-a-half-years old. He has always been daddy’s boy, but now stands guard next to mummy probably sensing someone else is taking his territory.

The second and most obvious BIG development was my suddenly extra large, narrow and extremely determined stomach, which wasn’t an issue until I began to notice people looking alarmed when I walked into a room…

The third BIG one was the range of comments I would get such as…‘You’ve changed!’ or ‘You’ve become so dark!’ or my all-time favourite…‘Maybe you are expecting twins!’ — this despite my scan having revealed one baby.

The fourth BIG impact was my need to be patient. Being self-employed. I have learned that there are two kinds of clients — those who are understanding of the miracle of life and the changes that pregnancy brings, and those who say pregnancy is a condition not a disease and therefore help me keep up my pace throughout the pregnancy by; dragging me out of bed at six in the morning for consultation and not giving me much time to choose between the items in my shrinking wardrobe. There are also those who allow for one to gently take the new slower pace into stride, and continue to work with a smile.

My husband says he has also seen remarkable patience in the doctor, who in his words ‘has to contend with all those pregnant women who read tonnes of books and then bombard him with millions of questions, about suspected conditions they think they have.’ I think it is important for a pregnant woman to have a tolerant doctor who understands the fact that each pregnancy is a new experience, very much like the different characters displayed by children in one family.

My last scan revealed the most content-looking baby ever, just short of smiling in his sleep. I’m holding on to that image and praying that my peaceful, sleeping precious one will be exactly the same when he eventually arrives.

END: PG 3/46-47