My Kitchen Had A Weird Smell

Esther, who is expecting her first baby, complained to her husband that a strange smell in her kitchen made her puke every time she was preparing a meal. This repeated habit continued for almost two months without her suspecting that she could be pregnant. Her husband inevitably bore the brunt and would do the cooking and cleaning. She talks to Emma Odaba about the weird feeling that confused both her and her husband.

There was a day I was expecting women from my chama (merry-go round) at my home. I wondered how I would prepare the meals since my kitchen had become a no-go zone.

I called my elder sister to came assist me with the cooking.” I explained to her how it had become difficult to use my kitchen as I would end throwing up. I further told her that Ben, my husband, had been doing the cooking and washing the dishes. Ben had been so supportive that I did not know what l would have done without him. It Is after narrating my whole story to her that she hinted that I might be pregnant.

Pregnancy did not cross my mind because I was using safe days for sexual Intimacy. I am a staunch catholic and so I cannot use the artificial methods of family planning. We had been married for barely a year and having a baby had still not crossed our minds.

With the visitors around I tried as much as I could not to show them that I was not comfortable in my own kitchen. I would go pick some dishes from there and then rush into my washroom to throw up. Though the guests were entertained by the end of the day I had vomited three times.

After the visitors had left, I passed by a nearby chemist and bought a pregnancy kit just to confirm my sister’s suspicions. I must admit that even though I am married the thought of being pregnant worried me a lot. I was upgrading my career and felt unprepared for a baby.

Once back home, I got reluctant to do the test. After much encouragement from my sister and husband I gained the courage to do It. It turned positive; I could not help crying!

After a while, however, I felt I was being selfish. I accepted the pregnancy. My husband an the other hand was extremely happy that he would be a father and my sister waif elated about being an auntie.

I am now six months pregnant and can confidently cook and eat from my own kitchen I cannot exactly tell where the weird smell disappeared. To be honest, my husband often stresses that there was never a weird smell – it was the early signs of pregnancy that were affecting me!’

END:PG12/27