Janet Kanini Ikua – The ‘news’ of my baby

Her photogenic face and her ‘light-the-room smile’ on TV are what make her a household name. If you have been keen, you may have noticed something more about the usually happy NTV news anchor, former ‘Out & About’ travel guide hostess and long time lover of performing arts. Janet Kanini-lkua tells Linda Karimi more about her current status.

In one serene neighbourhood in a Nairobi suburb sits the home of Janet. As I knock on the door, the eyes of a curious, happy dog stare at me. He lets out a bark, announcing my presence and Janet opens the door with the familiar smile. It is a happy greeting and soon after, my journey of discovering the miracle she is about to bring forth as an addition to the Ikuas, begins.

Your guess is right. Now two years married, Janet is eight months pregnant. She got the ecstatic news in July 2009. Her late period prompted her to take a pregnancy test and true to her suspicions, it read that she was going to have a baby ‘My hubby and I had planned to get pregnant but we just didn’t think it would happen that soon!’ She chuckles as though still surprised.

Changes

Her social life has been re-organised for now. She still enjoys going out, but the bump calls her to catch up with some sleep before she dares do so. Otherwise she’d be thinking about her bed more than enjoying the night….

Janet says she has worn I5kgs. ‘Which is expected according to my doctor,’ she says thankfully. Her pregnancy has been quite straightforward; no morning sickness and surprise surprise—she has been feeling energetic. It’s only recently that her feet, arms and legs have puffed up and her energy levels taken a nose dive.

She confesses that she has been a victim of interesting mood swings. ‘Just thinking about whether I was ready to take care of my delicate little creature who’s totally dependent on me, was enough to make me feel down,’ she says thoughtfully. And soon after, questions would criss-cross her mind. That wasn’t made easier by the responses she got when she sought opinion. They all seemed to conflict with what she got from books and internet. Fortunately, her down-times never went longer than 24 hours.

Her expectancy has made her more dependent on her hubby (George Ikua). And it has been quite surprising— sometimes ruffling up some conflict within since she has been one independent woman.

Still passionate and active in the tourism expeditions thus running a business in the same, the nature lover is using whatever ounce of energy is available to make sure her business is being steered in a safe direction—to where it can take care of whatever emergencies. That is where learning how to rest (highly recommended) became an issue. As mentioned though, her third trimester seems to have come in handy by taking over her will power. As the case is with going out, she can only get about after a good rest.

Cravings

‘Initially I craved chocolate covered doughnuts, but then all that suddenly changed in my sixth month and I couldn’t stand them any more. I then developed a liking for fruits especially when chilled—particularly pineapples and bananas. Recently I ordered a wedding cake, so I would say that I am on the cake phase right now,’ she says, evidently pleased with her experience.

NTV

Janet had a number of her viewers surprised. You mean a newscaster can get pregnant? Her adoring fans have this notion that a job in the media is too glamorous for pregnancy. What she had to battle with is the stereotype that pregnant women are lazy and unproductive. She has proved otherwise with the energy and enthusiasm she has maintained even as she ran her full time business alongside.

Lessons

She now understands her mother— and generally what parents go through. Janet appreciates the three times her mother has been pregnant.

Her relationship with God has definitely improved and the great support and rich fellowship with church friends is humbling, she says, ‘I have learnt that the best support system is not people or money. It boils down plain to God.’

Baby name

Janet lost her dad two weeks after her wedding, on 21 March 2008 which was Good Friday, and it also happens that her EDD is this Good Friday, April 2nd. The boy they are expecting (great news!) will see them continue his lineage the African way. His first name will be Peter—Janet’s dad’s first name. The second name will come from her hubby’s side.

Best moments

‘Feeling the baby moving, watching him sticking his elbow and knee out, turning and somersaulting.

Knowing that he is there and the report that he is healthy,’ she says with obvious contentment. Mr. Ikua’s excitement and anticipation is something else that makes her world go round.

Worst Moments

‘I am perpetually hot,’ she says frantically. These days, everywhere seems to be a little too hot for her, which puts her sweat glands almost on overdrive, she says.

To ease the swelling of her feet, she was advised to prop a cushion in between her legs, and to reduce the amount of weight felt on one hip, she was told to put another cushion beneath her hip when sleeping. However, due to the constant heat, these are not practical solutions for her—even the cushions get hot!

Then there is all that talk about labour being an out-of-this-world experience and the anxiety of whether she is carrying the baby as she should.

Plans

The Ikuas are already thinking about education for their baby. The couple enjoyed extra-curricular activities in their school days, so a school that will allow the boy to discover his talents from a young age, is what they plan for him.

Mum-to-mum

‘You will be confused!’ she says laughing heartily, referring to her experience with the mass of conflicting opinions. She goes on to reassure that as Lamaze lessons say it, ‘The mother has instincts. Her body talks to her and the baby talks to her body. So always listen to your body and enjoy the pregnancy.’

In more light of her blessing, Janet is downright excited at the prospect of being a mum. ‘If anything, I want four kids. I want to do the full family thing and do it properly, ’adds an optimistic NTV news anchor and MD of Exotic Expeditions Limited.

END:PG30/24-27