Pregnancy made a drastic change to my diet

Despite a troublesome start, Charity Njiru is glad to have reached the third trimester other second pregnancy feeling strong. She shares her joy with Pregnant.

In the beginning
I started getting morning sickness two months into my pregnancy. It was severe, I could not hold anything down for long before it came out. I could not even take plain water without throwing up. Though this is my second baby, severe morning sickness has been new to me. While expecting Jayda, my firstborn, I managed to eat and any nausea I experienced was minimal. I had to see my gynaecologist for I was weak for lack of eating. He prescribed a tablet that helped reduce the nausea and it has at least enabled me take fluids.

My work…
During my first pregnancy three years ago. I was employed. I would pack the contents of my breakfast and eat later in the day when the risk to throwing up was minimal. With my second pregnancy, it is much easier because I am now self employed and hence have a flexible morning schedule. Initially. I could not leave the house in the morning. When it was easier for me to take fluids, I would drink and get back to bed to give time for the fluid to settle. If I had to go out for business. I would avoid using public transport. I dreaded bumpy rides, and different scents worn by people.
I dared not get sick in the bus. I would also avoid taking anything till I got back to the house. I would meet my clients, do my business and then head back home for lunch and rest.

Poor, turbulent diet
No word would be fit to describe the turbulence in my first trimester of pregnancy. It was simply bad. I always ended up throwing up, and so I disliked food. I stopped enjoying meal times unlike when I was expecting Jayda. For the three months or so. I lived on ice cold milk, a specific brand of plain white bread, sweet potatoes, arrow roots and boiled white rice. I could also eat raw tomatoes, carrots, cabbages, lettuce and oranges. I also had the occasional yearning for kunde. I crave for chilled soda—sprite which is odd because I normally do not take soda. But now, I can even down a litre in one sitting especially at night!

I also crave for chocolate or black forest cake. While expecting Jayda, I craved chilled yoghurt or milk, small bananas, roasted maize, fish, pilau and boiled meat. If I dared eat anything else. I would take it with crossed fingers. Even then. I would make sure I ate it in the house.

I dislike meat and animal products. This has turned me into a vegetarian. I take plant proteins to ensure we have the necessary body building nutrients. I love yellow passion fruit, sweet small bananas, green apples and water melons. Due to my poor diet. I have had to take natural food supplements in close consultation with my gynaecologist. These give me a combination of nutrients that I may be missing out on and also helps reduce nausea. I also take omega3 tablets to help in healthy development of the baby’s brain cells since I cannot take fish.

EDD
I am due on the 14th of June and there is a half possibility I could go for normal delivery though Jayda was delivered via a C-section. The gynaecologist advises that we should wait and see how it turns out. I would love to deliver through normal delivery because if otherwise, then that would be the fourth time I am going through the surgeons knife, having had two previous operations done on my body. I hope for a baby boy, naturally, since my first child is a girl. I have not checked the sex yet. Every sign and complication in my pregnancy now is similar to that of my sister and mother.

I have learnt
Pregnancies are totally different because this experience has proved to be totally different from the past. I have also learnt not to push myself too hard. It is also important to groom the sibling-to-be for the forthcoming baby. Jayda has already bonded with ‘baby* because I communicate with her a lot about him. I let her massage my belly and hug the baby. She tells the baby that she looks forward, to the day the doctor will ‘remove’ him from my stomach, so that they play together. She knows she is number one and will be the teacher to baby two. That way I know that she is comfortable and will not be jealous once the baby is around.

The highlight of my pregnancy
It amazes me that Jayda has developed a connection with the unborn child and frequently talks to him telling him what she is doing.

Worst moments
I hate throwing up. It is so uncomfortable and painful that my throat sometimes has a burning sensation. The lack of appetite, and the dislike for most food, and not being as close to my husband as I was in my first pregnancy also cloud my moments.

END:PG22/20-21