My fifth Scrap book- The new me
Tick, tock, tick, tock … The clock ticks away. Everything is normal. Pregnancy is ecstatic. I really want to believe so, but the reality slaps me in the face. True, cheering and encouragement surrounds me but when all is said and done, it’s a count down. And I’m alone in this race.
Don’t books, magazines, live confessions, poems, and even the bible agree that childbirth is NOT easy? Those asked to describe it always go ‘Ma … ma .. .’ – no wonder the name MAMA is understood by the majority-if not all, whatever the language. This is what I’m thinking as I retreat to my bed to rest.
Bonding and catching up
A kick here, a punch there, or maybe a tender swelling of an elbow, a hand, the butt or the head. The next thing you know is your hand gently rubbing against it. Interestingly, the baby responds. You really don’t notice when you start fondling your belly in public. Nothing can ever be more right than the fact that life begins at conception.
My elder sister always asks if am talking to the baby. A friend told me, ‘Say nice and positive things to and about the baby.’ I tried the first few days with a lot of difficultly-you know I am not these yappy people. So it sounded crazy. But the day I watched a movie where a mother was reading a bedtime story very loudly to her unborn baby causing all the soldiers in the house to be irritated, I was amused and actually thought that was the way to go. Now (finishing my second trimester) it has become a habit and baby responds with the more powerful kicks, punches and the others.
T -i-r-e-d
The weighing scales have never read what I now see! Surprisingly, I like it. It assures me both of us are great. Fatigue has becoming part and parcel of me but hey. Don’t say it is because of the weight-for the reason already mentioned.
I used to like to stroll through town after work for some shopping or simply gawk at lovely items. Now, home is the best place to be, whichever time. I work tooth and nail to beat the traffic jam; including reporting to work early so that I can earn minutes to qualify for the much needed earlier exit. The days I’m not working, I rejoice for the two hours in the afternoon I religiously use to snuggle in bed.
Adjustments
Most of my shoes can’t fit anymore, because my feet are now a sight to behold. One foot is more swollen than the other. The doctor says it’s just oedema but a friend has been a wet blanket. She keeps saying my feet are getting worse by the month. I need a break here!
Snoozy-snoozy
Things seem to be getting out of hand. I remember during one of the visits to the doctor in my second trimester, I mentioned the way I was having a problem sleeping. His ‘encouragement’ was that it would get worse, especially in the last month where the enlarging uterus takes up more space, even resulting in pressure against the diaphragm.
The other day I begged for sleeping pills but the doctor knew better than to give me. He advised against sleeping on my back and asked that I sleep on my left as much as possible, propping myself to comfort with soft pillows. This only added a few more ounces of sleep. I am learning to appreciate it though.
Amnesia
Of course you hardly forget your birthday and indeed I did not. My day started early when birthday messages started pouring in as early as 6am. I thought the much awaited wish would soon come and so waited patiently. It did not. My dear hubby had forgotten my birthday! I worked hard not to see the with anger even as it turned out that he had just forgotten. I vowed to give him a taste of his own medicine-something I knew would hopelessly flop. Two weeks down the line, I get a call at around 4pm. Greetings and all then, ‘Sheila do you remember it’s J’s birthday?’ Oh no! That has never happened in my nine years of knowing him! And the day was too old to wish him a happy birthday! But I did so as elaborately as I could. That is, grabbing two gifts from the supermarket, scramming for the house and saying a loud ‘Happy Birthday’. Amnesia can only make things good for both of us! That’s the new us.
END: PG 31 /11