First-time mum Winnie Bore talks about her due date and pregnancy

It’s 8 August 2006. Today is Winnie Bore’s Expected Due Date (EDD). What is it like? What are her plans?
Today is your expected day of delivery. How are you feeling and are you planning to go to the hospital?

Actually today am feeling very energetic and I don’t know why. I woke up in the morning feeling elated and very energetic. If I go into labour right now, I think I will be able to pull through. Am very nervous and anxious. Am anxious about how it’s going to be. This is my first baby and I am very excited. I can’t wait to hold the baby in my arms.
I am not planning to go to hospital, not just yet. I’ll just wait because I don’t have any problem. I saw my doctor last week on Wednesday and he told me to wait until Monday. If nothing happens by Monday I should go to hospital, he said. He might induce delivery then. He explained to me that I don’t have to wait for the two weeks after my EDD because I have a Rhesus negative factor. During this period there will likely be an exchange of blood between me and the baby.

What is Rhesus negative factor?
My doctor explained what this means and I also did some reading of my own. Rhesus negative, or simply Rh negative, means my blood group is negative. When a woman is Rh negative and conceives a baby with a Rh positive man, there is the potential for the resultant blood of the baby being Rh positive like the father’s and therefore incompatible with the mother’s Rh negative blood. The mother’s system may recognise the baby as a foreign body and produce agents to destroy the ‘enemy,’ in this case the baby.

What have the doctors done to prevent harm to your baby?
I was given an injection called anti-D. This injection prevents the exchange of blood between me and the baby. It also protects my baby from having some blood disorders and in future it will protect me during subsequent births. I will be given a second anti-D injection 72 hours after I deliver.

Did this Rhesus negative factor worry you?

I was not scared because I know of people who have it and they have had normal birth and are fine.

Had you planned for this pregnancy?
No. I had not planned for it. I missed my period for two weeks and by the third week I was curious and bought a pregnancy test kit and tested myself. At first I thought my periods were late because I was travelling. There was a wedding and another function that I wanted to attend, so I had been travelling up and down. Whenever weather patterns change, my menstruation delays.

Are you married?
Yes, but when I got pregnant I was not. I was living alone and moved in with my boyfriend Hillary, in March this year just before our engagement. We had our engagement in April at my home in Baringo in a traditional family ceremony. I have been with my fiancé for the last two years and had hoped to wed this year, but now we have to postpone it until next year when the baby is at least a year old.

How did your family react when they found out you were pregnant?
I did not reveal the news to my family immediately. Getting pregnant is a big deal. I therefore wanted to talk to my mum only after my engagement. That way she would not get so mad at me. I thought I carried a big secret but when I revealed it, my mum simply told me’.. .aah. I knew.’ She had noticed long before and was just waiting for me to tell her: I don’t know how she guessed it! She was nevertheless very happy because I was by then engaged. She has been very supportive.

Have you had any complications?
I have not had any major complications so far. But once I was travelling from my rural home when I noticed some bleeding. My engagement was on Saturday, 15 April, and it was the Easter weekend. We were travelling back to Nairobi and spent the night in Nakuru on Sunday. As we were having breakfast I went to the changing rooms. I noticed some blood and I really panicked. I started experiencing some abdominal pain. I was rushed to a hospital in Nakuru where they admitted me.

When I was admitted the doctor listened to the baby’s heart beat with a fetoscope and then performed an ultrasound scan to ensure the baby was fine. He also wanted to see my cervix and the position of my placenta to see if there was anything wrong. For the first time I saw the baby kicking and heard its heartbeat. I was so excited and relieved that the baby was okay. The doctor assured me that my pains and bleeding was as a result of contractions caused by too much travel without enough rest. I needed to rest, he advised.

I was given an injection, some painkillers and medication to make me relax and rest. I stayed in hospital for two days. After I was discharged I stayed in Nakuru with my sister for a few days. I travelled back to Nairobi and stayed at home for two weeks before resuming work.

How did your husband react to your bleeding?
He was scared. On the night I was admitted he did not sleep. He was on and off the phone throughout the night checking whether I was fine. The next day he was in the hospital at six in the morning. He was relieved when the doctor reassured us that everything was fine.

Do you want a baby boy or a baby girl?
For me a baby is a baby. My husband has been expecting a girl from day one when I told him that I was expecting. He has always wanted a baby girl. During the ultrasound scan the doctor asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby. I said I wanted to know but my husband said he didn’t want to know. So we left it at that.

After some time I went for another ultrasound scan, this time alone. I wanted to find out the sex of the baby and that’s when I found out that it was a baby girl. I have not told my husband yet because I want it to be a pleasant surprise for him when I deliver. I know he really wants a baby girl.

How do you spend a typical day?
At times it is very tiring, as I have deadlines to meet at work. Luckily, everyone at the office is so excited for me. I am the youngest in our office and my colleagues understand when sometimes I have to leave work early. They have supported me so much.

Once back home I have household chores to do. It can make one feel low but I try my level best. My husband Hillary has been there for me. I think he is more excited about the baby than I am, and I have received a lot of love from him.

How have you prepared for the baby?
It has been quite difficult to shop because I want to surprise my husband. I shopped on my own the first time. I bought some nice sweaters for baby girls but I haven’t shown them to him because he will know the sex of the baby. The second time I went shopping with him and we bought unisex clothes, blankets. My bag is ready if anything happens; I will just call home and they will bring it.

Do you have a name for your baby?
I am still confused and I don’t know what to name her. My husband has a list. I asked him to look for names of both boys and girls. We will choose the first name together, he will choose the second name and the last name will be the family name. I am glad I am not carrying twins. When I went for my first antenatal clinic the doctor asked me whether we have ever had twins in our family. I was both surprised and scared beyond words. I responded, ‘Oh my God! Don’t tell me I am carrying twins!’

END: PG 03/44

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