Joy Wanjala’s Surprise Bump!

Less than one year after her first born twins, TV Entertainment Presenter Joy Wanjala was back for seconds! This throw-back piece takes us back to those joyful days…

Twins are definitely bundles of Joy when they come along. But like all good things in life, they call for sacrifice. Imagine the emotions Joy Wanjala went through when she learnt that she was expecting another baby, just eight months after the birth of her twins!

I was pregnant again

Joy and Moses were looking forward to the time when they would have peaceful sleep through the night upon the maturity of their twins, Stefan and Dante. But the twins were only eight months old and still suckling when she learned that she was pregnant again.

‘I started feeling nauseated in June last year. When this feeling persisted, I gathered the courage to inform Moses about my status,’ she recalls pensively.

‘I am not surprised that this happened because I was not using any kind of contraceptive. I had planned to go for a permanent contraceptive method once I was through with child birth.’

How her husband received the news

Relating how her husband received the news. Joy says. ‘I cannot really explain his reaction in plain words, but I recall him giving me an expression that read. ‘No…not now! We have not even started enjoying our sleep!”

My husband and I have had a rough time raising our bundles of joy

Since their birth, the twin had been giving their parents sleepless nights. The babies would wake up crying either simultaneously or alternately throughout the night and during the wee hours of the morning. ‘The situation worsened and became even tougher as they grew.’ says Joy

Although she states emphatically that having twins is a wonderful thing, she admits that raising them is strenuous. ‘My husband and I have had a rough time raising our bundles of joy. Although my pregnancy was an easy one—apart from the last stages—this is trivial when compared to what we have gone through raising them.’ she confesses. This, she notes, is complicated even more by the fact that she got pregnant again when the twins were still very young.

This pregnancy was not exactly planned

‘I must say that this pregnancy was not exactly planned. We had planned for another baby this year (2008) and not last year. But if happened when it did and we thank God for it. We had also planned to have only two children—meaning from two pregnancies.’

Joy suspected she was pregnant when she started feeling nauseous. She reveals. ‘When I felt the changes within my body I knew right away that I was pregnant. I decided to wait for the right time to go to a hospital for tests.’

I was not shocked by the news as I had expected it

However, due to considerable pressure from her close acquaintances, she decided to visit a chemist for a test. ‘My mother and friends were pushing me to go and confirm if it was true I was pregnant so soon. When I went to the chemist, they confirmed that I was indeed two months pregnant. I was not shocked by the news as I had expected it.’ she says amidst laughter.

Out of fear that she could be expecting twins once again. Joy went for a scan at four months and was elated to hear she was only carrying one baby. ‘I was very happy! Several people had occasionally alluded to the possibility that I could have conceived another pair of babies.’

Joy’s husband was also overjoyed because, as he put it. handling one baby would be a lot easier.

What would Joy have done if she was told that she was expecting twins?

‘Honestly. I do not know what I would have done, but I know for a fact that I would have been shocked! This would have meant having four kids within a short span and out of only two pregnancies!’

Joy also went for a scan to ascertain her baby’s sex. However, she was not able to establish this at the time. Although she does not really mind about the baby’s sex. Joy wishes for a girl since she already has two boys (the twins). Disclosing her fears once more, she says. ‘I am planning to go back for another scan soon, just to be sure there were no mistakes the first time round.’

Consoling herself, she says. ‘Even though I am going for this scan. I am sure that I am carrying only one baby—this pregnancy is much lighter at this stage compared to the previous one.’

How different the experience is from the first one

Asked how different the experience is from the first one she states emphatically. ‘There is not much difference other than the fact that during my first pregnancy I yearned for certain foods, unlike this one where I do not have any cravings. I think my husband is the luckiest person alive because I have not had any sort of drama with either pregnancy. However. I have started feeling weakly. Despite this. I have been very active. I climb the stairs everyday to keep my self fit.’

So how is Joy managing, handling work, the kids, her pregnancy and other family responsibilities?

At first, it was very tough.’ she says. ‘The kids were difficult to handle. For instance, when I came bock home from hospital, the babies would cry a lot. It was tougher for my husband who was working and did not get enough sleep during the night because he would help me out with them.’

Joy further recalls that initially, neither she nor Moses was aware that it was possible to sleep train babies. This was despite the fact that Joy had come across an article in a magazine advising on how babies can have scheduled sleep.’ However, within no time the babies adopted a sleeping routine in such a way that they would only wake up once at night, which has really helped.’ she adds.

I wanted to be a super mom trying to do everything for our twins

She has a lot of gratitude for her sisters, who have given her constant support by occasionally helping out with house chores and the babies. ‘At least, they preoccupy the babies especially during this time when I am in the last stages of my pregnancy. My mum has also been there for me whenever I need her and when I am feeling depressed. This has made me cope with motherhood and pregnancy easily.’

‘At first.’ Joy muses. ‘I wanted to be a super mom trying to do everything for our twins. But now I take care of them in a different way, so as to be able to take care of myself, my husband and the baby I am expecting.’

Joy has stopped doing her TV shows. ‘This has made work a lot easier for me although I still go out to the field once a week to file stories. Fortunately, I received a lot of assistance from my work mates, to who I owe a lot of gratitude.’ she says.

What has been her worst experience during her current pregnancy?

‘Heartburns! I have been experiencing these a lot: however, I take plenty of milk after which I feel relieved.’

Joy’s previous birth was through a Caesarean Section. What will be her birth preference this time? The doctor told me that my pelvic muscles got stretched during the previous labour and they are therefore not strong enough to withstand normal labour. I feel I might be due earlier than expected. I am 33 weeks now.’ According to the doctor, she says she might give birth at 37 weeks.

Joy is a rhesus negative mum. ‘I was given an Anti D injection when I delivered my twins. I am therefore assured that this baby will be born healthy and fine.’

After the baby is born, she plans to exclusively breastfeed the child for the first year.

Joy is upbeat about the baby she is expecting, though she confesses that many people were surprised to learn that she was pregnant again. ‘People are surprised, but I am grateful to God for blessing me once more.’ she says, adding that ‘I have seen and heard of cases where women cannot get babies, yet they are not barren.’

When she thinks about such situations. Joy feels that she should always be grateful for God’s blessings and love for her.

My Journey’s Best Moments

I just love the kicks in my womb…they are wow!

What’s Bad

Heartburn, heartburn and more heartburn!

Interview done in May 2008

END:PG14/24-27