One more surprise

‘I pick my children up from school; they freshen up, and proceed to do their homework. After dinner, it’s bonding time: my girls play with my belly and talk to the baby. That’s a sneak preview of my pregnancy,’ Mumbi Lukhwili unveils more to Pregnant.

Another baby
My husband and I have been blessed with three girls but we decided to add another member to our family. After a few months, familiar nausea engulfed my body, which prompted me to take the most likely test so, in October, I discovered I was pregnant.

Likes and dislikes
I dislike boiled eggs and I’m revolted by some smells that hardly bothered her before. You cannot, therefore, catch me dead near a dump site. I also cannot stand the hair drier anymore so braids and weaves are my latest remedy.

Challenges 
I am no longer as active as I used to be. I am a Sunday school teacher and I love kids but I am constantly reminded of her status by endless fatigue. This has caused me to suspend my classes temporarily to attend to the little one growing inside me.

I am also trying hard to remain level-headed but I get ticked off by small issues. My seniors at work have however been very considerate and organized for a transfer to more convenient departments, unlike my previous meet-the-people workload which held huge responsibility.

Worst moments
For the most part, my pregnancy has been okay, except earlier on, when I caught the bad flu. Having to brave the illness without medicine, since I could not take any antibiotics caused my appetite to go down the drain. It was a long, dark tunnel for me and I had to make do with a healthy diet and lots of water.

Precious moments
I love my antenatal visits! Particularly the scans that show my baby’s heartbeat and the progressive growth. It is also very special when my husband talks to our unborn baby. I have also learned that kids are a gift from God. We should take care of them right from the womb by eating right, resting, and being stress-free. My baby kicks more when I am resting or happy.

Advice
I advise other mums-to-be to enjoy a healthy pregnancy by eating well. This includes taking lots of vegetables and fruits. ‘Don’t be lazy, as excess weight can make natural childbirth difficult,’ she cautions. ‘Involve your other children in your activities so they don’t feel left out,’ she advises.

Baby name
I want the name of the baby to be one more surprise for everyone.

END: PG 34 /23