My second miracle

Every pregnant woman’s desire is to have a healthy and beautiful baby—one with all the normal human features, including ten toes and fingers. But what happens when the unexpected happens, when things go wrong? When the baby you get is not what you had hoped for?

First child
When Ann Ngugi. a news anchor, got her first baby five years ago, she initially felt disappointed. Her baby had hydrocephalus*.
As a well known television personality whose life is like an open book, people were bound to learn about this sooner or later, to ask questions. Her baby’s condition did elicit different reactions from different quarters. *lt is a chapter in my life that will not leave my memory soon,* says Ann. ’When you are a public figure, people tend to think of you as a somewhat higher being. They presume that there are things you will not encounter. It was a difficult time for me. It took me quite sometime to come to terms with it.’
But that was then. Years down the line Ann decided to take the plunge again. This, she admits, was not the easiest journey to take considering what she had been through with her first pregnancy. It required a lot of courage. But the urge to be a mother again was just too great. Ann succumbed to it.
‘The decision to have a second baby did not arise as a result of my first baby having the condition that she has. My husband and I were prepared and wanted another child. It had been four years. I knew it would not be an easy pregnancy. I told my husband the same.

The experience
The second pregnancy was different. I was not strict with my diet like I had been the first time I fell pregnant. I only added 6kgs the entire period. But I was in for a big surprise because after delivery, my weight shot up by 11 kgs. Fluids are what characterized my meals. I also had the strange craving for food with chilli or pepper.
I was a bundle of nerves, emotionally imbalanced. If I was happy. I was extremely so. and if something angered me. I remained annoyed the whole day. And at the end of the day I would let it out on my husband. It was hard, straining. In the beginning we did not cope well because of the strain but I thank God it did not affect the relationship. I did not want a baby with problems; I had shared my concerns with my gynaecologist—that I wanted a healthy baby. I went down on my knees every day and night, praying for the best.
I have never been as confused as I was at the time I was having my second child. I went through a C-section and was put on sedatives. It took almost six hours before I could set eyes on my baby, as it was a while before I gained consciousness. When I finally came to, the first thing I asked my husband was. ‘How is my baby?’ He smiled.
The confident smile reassured me. And when I held our baby in my arms. I knew he was the miracle I had been asking God for. John Mark, is the most handsome baby. He was very light complexioned at birth. When our eyes met, he gave me a smile any mother would wish for.

How is Angel coping?
My daughter is having the time of her life. She loves her brother. I can tell by the way she always wants to be around him. The age difference between them is not so big and I am sure as they grow older they will guide each other. She received her last treatment for hydrocephalus when she was a year old and now she is doing well. Apart from her abnormally big head, Angel is a normal kid, doing all things that girls her age do. She is attending kindergarten presently.

And the father?
I sometimes think he loves our son, John Mark more than I do. He is a sensitive man and a great father. He is not my girl’s biological father but we have blended well as a family. Family life is indeed a blessing.

Juggling work and family
Motherhood presents itself as a challenge to the working woman. It has not been different for me. having in mind that my journalism profession requires a has-to-be present approach. It needs a lot of sacrifice. There are always numerous deadlines to beat—and I am one who wants to give nothing but the best.
My colleagues at work discovered my pregnancy at almost the eighth month, probably because of my big built, but this was in order; I did not want attention. I worked till the last day. I also ensured that any free time I had was spent with my family. This I still do to date. My family is precious to me.

How was the post delivery period?
I resumed work after four months and since then I have been going to the gym. I want to shed the extra 11 kgs I added after delivery. A woman needs to look beautiful, you know. There have been those embarrassing moments like when milk needs to be expressed. Then I have to go to the bathroom to express it so it does not wet my blouse. But when I remember my bundle of joy back at home then any inconvenience ceases to matter.

Last word
Have your babies when still young! At an older age one tends to incline towards their career and when the desire for a baby sets in. you may find that it is too late. At a young age. the body’s systems are alert, making it the best time to have and raise a baby.
‘The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words ‘hydro’ meaning water and ‘cephalus‘ meaning head. As the name implies, it if a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid In the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as ‘water on the brain.’ the ‘water’ is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-a clear putrid then surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain.

For more information on this condition read Pregnant magazine Issue 1 page 59.

END: PG18/26-27