I am more sentimental

Peninah Kariuki and her husband had tried to get a baby for five months to no avail. They hang away their expectation boots, to ward off the pressure which threatened to take a toll on their happiness. Then she realised her period had not delayed for five weeks in a row, which prompted her to do a pregnancy test She tells Pregnant more.

The positive result was a pleasant I surprise. It only caused joy, joy and some more joy—until I started having a lot of salivation especially in the mornings: and morning sickness almost immediately after that. I could only make do with fruits and vegetable salads, which made my weight diffuse into the thin air, leaving me with little energy to move about the remaining body mass.

Come the second trimester, my body realigned itself. I felt lighter and happier. I resumed to my duties with gusto and went back to being my hubby’s ‘dearest’ (which should tell you a lot).

Kick-works
At week 20, my bump started showing and the baby began the kick-works. There is something about those kicks: when they happen, the corners of your mouth give way—at the fact that there is really a human being in you! It does not matter how foul your mood was: you smile.

Lessons
I remember the way I used to pity expectant women. They looked heavy laden and sick. The last place I dreamt of being was in their shoes. Now I know better; I have learnt my lessons. It is a blessing to be expectant. Nothing near a disease—even with morning-sickness. So I certainly don’t need pity.

I appreciate mothers a lot more knowing that anyone who has been through pregnancy is definitely strong: therefore calling for my honour.

I have learnt that a child is one of the blessings of marriage, and not a right. Happiness comes from within you—not from pregnancy. And that God allows you to get pregnant at the best time. So it is not necessarily about your planning.

Care and advice
Friends and family make my pregnancy a lovely experience. They care enough to advice. For instance.

I bought a white towel with a lovely design which I thought would flatter my angel after bath. My friend, however, advised that it was not the appropriate size. I had to return it in exchange for a bigger one: with the same design.

More sentimental
Physically, I have become bigger all over. I truly love it. I have also become more sentimental and can cry at the whiff of any sadness. I make a point of acquiring emotional stability by talking it out with those who have ‘teen there’. The reassuring bit is that this is just a season. I will soon be back to my usual self.
I have a broader mindset and I am certainly more responsible since the day I was told. ‘You are pregnant.’ The interesting thing is that it comes so naturally.

The D-day
I have asked my husband to be my birth partner. He is still hesitant, but I have no other option at the moment. I think that leaves him with me on the 13-day.

Low-lying placenta
I have always wished for a normal delivery. However, in my fifth month of pregnancy, the doctor informed me that I had a low-lying placenta, leaving Cs delivery as the only option. Well, this was not good news, but I took it in stride. More consultations indicated that it was possible for the placenta to relocate to the right position. And I decided to run with that.

Sure enough when I went in for another scan in my eighth month, the doctor said the placenta was at an ideal position. So as I get drenched in the queen’s treatment from my husband, family and gynae. I look forward to puuuush. I am also doing my final shopping-blue items!

END:PG29/22-23