Truly thankful

At first, Mary found it a bit strange that she craved sweet potatoes and pumpkins. She found herself adding pepper and more pepper to her food, which was strange. Mary Ngare reveals more to Pregnant.

Come September last year, I did not see ‘what I always see every month’. I did the test that’s usually done when that happens and sure enough … I was pregnant,’ she goes on.

Changes
At nine months, she says, ‘I can’t get enough Coke or water with ice-cubes. If I have a visitor and with only one litre of Coke in the house, I have to send for another one because the one litre would not be enough for both of us!’ she says laughing.

Mary has the obvious weight gain going for her. She is quick to say that it is nothing to worry about as it is what is expected, medically. Her second trimester saw her skin darken. Now she says the skin around her tummy feels stretched- thanks to the ever-growing baby. Mary tells that the pregnancy has not inconvenienced her much considering she is always out and about and can still do all her chores.

Living on the fourth floor, she has been amazed by her ever-helpful neighbours. ‘People I barely know offer to assist me carry my luggage all the way to my house, including those who don’t stay that far up,’ articulates an amused Mary. And for some reason, she says she doesn’t seem to be able to stand persistent callers.

Tough-tough
In her fourth month, Mary’s job had pressure she could not keep up with causing her to bow out. What followed were financial difficulties. She is however thankful to her family and friends who have stood by her all the way.

‘In my second trimester, I stopped feeling the baby’s movements and there was pain in the middle of my tummy. I was so worried I went for a scan, but everything turned out okay,’ she sighs. The doctor explained that the pain in her belly was due to the expansion of the muscles to make room for the growing baby. She has had no more pains so far and it is her prayer that she does not miscarry.

Lesson
‘Don’t take everything you hear as fact,’ advises an enlightened Mary and adds that every mum-to-be has a different experience. Contrary to what she had been told, she got no morning sickness. The much-talked- about ‘mood swings’ did not come knocking on her door. ‘It is only in my first trimester that I had mild headaches. My experience has been great!’ She says enthusiastically.

Favourite times
She loves feeling her baby’s kicks and shopping for her unborn child. ‘I have shopped quite a lot. I want nothing but the best for my baby,’ she beams.

Names 
Mary absolutely wants her baby’s gender to be a surprise. In the meantime, she has gone ahead and picked out the South African name, Tendai, which means ‘Thankful to God.’ ‘My child and I have a lot to be thankful to God for,’ she concludes.

END: PG 33 /22