Trudging on inspite of morning sickness

For Linnet Ojiambo, 25, getting a job as a revenue officer was one of the greatest things that had happened in her life. However, exactly one year after acquiring her job, she learnt that she was pregnant. She had initially planned to bear her children within wedlock and at least after working for several years. She narrates her story to writer Rebecca Njoki.

I was very excited when I got a job last year. I had great plans: I wanted to work for some time and plan my finances and life, before eventually settling down into marriage.

I had promised myself that I would get married at 28 and children would come thereafter. This was not to be, however as I soon discovered that I was pregnant. Sometime in December last year. I started feeling sick.

My stomach felt itchy and I wanted to start taking de-worming tablets, believing that I was infected with worms —but something stopped me. After some time, I began suspecting I was pregnant and decided to go to a chemist for a pregnancy test.

I was confused and had mixed feelings as soon as I received the results, which confirmed that I was pregnant. However, because I had expected it when I was going to the chemist, I had prepared myself for the results.

My best friend was the first person I informed about my situation, before I went home and told my sisters who in turn told our parents.

My pregnancy journey has presented me with a totally new experience. It has been a bit hard on me because of the morning sickness that I suffer every morning; sometimes it is severe—I normally wake up in the morning feeling tired and weak, and wish that I could stay in bed all day long. However, I know I cannot do this because of duty calls.

The situation seemed to worsen as the months went by,  because during the first three months, I was okay apart from the nauseous feeling I would get daily. I was however prescribed drugs which made me feel better.

In January, I decided to stop taking the drugs knowing that it is not good to be too reliant on drugs, which I also believed would affect my baby negatively. This happened when, one morning, I vomited and felt relieved the entire day. I decided there is no need for drugs. Then I knew that this would be my ‘medicine*. I developed the habit of vomiting whenever I brushed my teeth—then I would feel totally comforted.

I have managed to survive the days, which seem endless, by taking a heavy breakfast every morning before going to work. I usually eat again as soon as I get to work because I was told it is not good to have an empty stomach as it makes me feel nauseous. Whenever I start feeling nauseous. I get dizzy, shake a lot and feel faint.

During the initial months, I would eat a lot of chilly foods because they would take away the nauseous feeling—sugar was not good at all as it would make me nauseated. I really used to love and would eat a lot of chilly crisps, and put plenty of chilli in my food.

My biggest regret ever since I got pregnant is the fact that it came at the wrong time, when I had just gotten a job—it really disoriented me and almost destroyed my plans. However, I came to accept it and am now taking every development in my stride. I am lucky to be one person who has a very positive attitude in life; I never let anything put me down.

Despite my efforts to work hard and not let this pregnancy deter me, it sometimes becomes hard because of the sickly and weary feelings I experience regularly. I am not in my usual element. Although I intend to put in a lot of work and effort because this is my first year at work, morning sickness puts me down especially during the morning hours, before eleven. By noon I am fine and work easily for the rest of the day.

My journey’s best moments
My best moments are when my baby starts kicking and playing; whenever I am feeling tired and sick, I feel relieved knowing there is a life growing inside me. It makes me feel nice. I am also delighted whenever I go to the clinic and listen to my baby’s heartbeat.

What’s bad
I hate the morning sickness because it makes me feel tired.

END:PG15/30-31