From top model to family lady

Stella Mwangi, former Miss Kenya runners-up discovered that she was pregnant in April . She decided to abandon her modelling passion and concentrate on her new family. She talks to BabyLove Network.

I started modeling in 2002 when I was still in college. That same year, I was crowned Miss Kenya Polytechnic. After I graduated, I started participating in fashion shows and advertisements, for which I would be paid. In 2006 I was ranked second after the former Miss Kenya. In my teenage, people used to tell me that I had a beautiful body. I however took their compliments lightly. Little did I know that I would one day become the second best in a national beauty contest in Kenya.

I met Eric, my husband at a graduation party in 2005. One of my girlfriends introduced us to each other. After the party, we started dating and going out. Before we knew it, we fell in love and started a serious relationship.

This is my first pregnancy. I found out that I was pregnant in April. Earlier in February, I had started feeling weak and tired. I concluded that something was amiss when I realized that I could not take tea because it tasted awful. When I went to the hospital and got examined, the doctor diagnosed that I was suffering from fatigue. I was put on some appetizers which I consumed for some time, but still there was no improvement.

In April, I took a few days off from work because my husband and I were to travel to Nakuru. During this period I started feeling different; I could not eat well and whenever I drank water I would feel sickly. Some of my family members also commented that I was acting differently. I therefore decided to go back to the hospital where I was seen by a different doctor.

After a urine test, the doctor ruled that there was nothing wrong with me. I was further” asked to go for a thyroid test because the doctor suspected I might have problems with my thyroid glands. Surprisingly, when I went to purchase medicine, the pharmacist asked how I was feeling before enquiring whether I had undergone a pregnancy test. Erick told him that the doctor had already examined me and assured us that everything was okay.

It occurred to me that I could be pregnant when I started getting nauseated in the mornings. I also noticed that I preferred juice to any other drink. Even with the changes I was experiencing, I still doubted the need to do a pregnancy test, given all the examinations the doctors had done. However, after discussing the issue with Erick, we agreed that it was about time. The test turned out positive!

A lot changed in my life. I became more responsible especially with my money. I craved ice cubes so much that I developed a throat problem. When I was six months, I craved pineapples. I also had serious morning sickness which lasted a month. My work entails interacting frequently with guests but I could not do it at that time because whenever I talked to them I would feel nauseated and rush to the toilet to throw up. However, I explained to my supervisor and he transferred me to a different department.

During the first trimester, I could not stand men. Neither Erick nor my brothers were spared; I would treat them all very coldly. Interestingly, the only person I got along with was my dad whom I would call more often to regale with stories of how I was doing. I have since changed and my husband has become my best friend.

I started my antenatal clinic when I was four months into the pregnancy. I wanted the sex of the baby to be a surprise, but my husband insisted on checking and I obliged. I wanted a baby girl though my husband wanted a boy. I went for an ultrasound scan which confirmed that I was expecting a girl. We decided to name her Tess Wangeci.

I gave birth on 4 December through a normal delivery and my best friend, Charleen was my birth partner.

Now that I am a mother and a wife, I don’t intend to go back to modelling. In fact I am hoping to add some weight.

END: PG 11 /22