No Husband in the Delivery Room, Please!
HAVING a baby was the last thing on my mind. We had courted with my husband for seven months and were to formally introduce each other to our families in January this year. I wasn’t sure whether I was happy or sad when the doctor confirmed that I was pregnant.
It all began with a ‘funny’ feeling of sickness and weakness. I thought it was malaria but the test came out negative. Later, on examination, I was found to have a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) which the doctor indicated is common among pregnant women. He prescribed some treatment but the UTI kept recurring. I later decided to go for a general check-up at a clinic, this time suspecting that it must be typhoid. However, the tests also came out negative. The doctor requested me to go for a scan to find out what was triggering the UTI. The scan revealed that I had an early sac, meaning I was pregnant; I was two weeks pregnant.
After leaving the hospital, I went home and told my husband I had a surprise for him, but that he would have to look for it. It took him around two hours ‘looking’ and finally I decided to break the news to him. He was very happy, which was a pleasant surprise. Initially we were planning to get pregnant this year and getting a baby before the wedding was not our plan.
My husband has been there for me throughout the experience. Sometimes I felt weak and he would rush me to hospital.
The morning sickness and nausea during early pregnancy was really bad. I was working at a hair salon and the chemicals I was using really smelt bad. There were times I would be applying relaxer on a client’s hair only to be overwhelmed by the smell; I would dash into the ladies room to throw up because of the smell. Unfortunately I could not explain to a customer why I preferred a particular chemical over another. It got to a point where I could not handle it anymore so I decided to quit. My employer did not understand why I had to leave my job.
I was not used to staying at home—the three months I had stayed home were unbearable and I had started getting bored.
Later I got a new job at a leading TV station in Kampala. At first I wanted to know if I had to use the same chemicals but I was to do facials only. I didn’t tell them that I was pregnant as I was scared I wouldn’t get the job.
The job was convenient because it was not a full day job and the hours were friendly; from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. so the job was not tiring.
We’re anxious to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl but we won’t do a scan to know the sex. We prefer a surprise. I don’t mind either sex but my husband prefers a girl. I’m praying for a normal delivery.
My birth partner will be my mother—my husband will be with me in the hospital but not in the labour ward. I wouldn’t want him to see the baby coming out!
END: PG8/18