Work impeded my conception

‘I resigned from work and two months later I conceived.’

Ann Ngunjiri wished to fall pregnant so much that she resigned from her job to make it happen. She spoke to our staff writer about her pregnancy.

I really wanted to be pregnant. But six months of trying with no success made my husband and I conclude that probably stress at work was interfering with my ability to conceive. So I resigned and two months later I conceived. Though we were both happy to be expecting, I wanted to see a bump so that I could believe that I really was pregnant. Now the bump is showing and I love it.

How it has been
My main craving is ice-cream and potato fries though I have reduced my intake of the latter since it is not of great benefit for my baby. But I still take ice cream sometimes in the wee hours of the morning. I have added almost 20kgs, and I am only seven months pregnant. For me that is an enormous weight gain.

The first time I heard my baby kick me, I could not keep the excitement to myself and I had to call my husband from work and inform him of the development. It was exciting.

I am always exhausted and the massive appetite I had earlier on in pregnancy seems to have disappeared. Nothing else has changed. I have no mood swings or strong dislikes towards food, and I am still close to my husband and friends.

After the baby comes, I will get into self employment. I would want to look after the baby within a flexible schedule. I also value having quality time to allow bonding with the baby.

Preparation for the forthcoming little one
I have done the necessary groundwork and have already made the required payments in advance. We have also shopped for baby wear but we have not yet established the gender of the baby. Being our first child though, we do not care much for whichever gender and we are grateful to the Almighty for a chance to be parents.

Scary moment
I had attended a wedding on my sixth month, when my friend and I were attacked by thugs. Our valuables were all taken. One of the men bit my hand so hard that I had to get a tetanus injection. It was so painful and it momentarily shook me. I cried all the way to the hospital. Luckily, my baby was not harmed as I surrendered my belongings before they could get violent.

I mostly love…
The bonding times with my husband when he touches my belly. The massage my husband lovingly and dutifully does every evening soothes and relaxes, pushing away any tension I have accumulated in the day.

I miss…
Sleeping on my stomach. That was my favourite position, but now it is obviously impossible to do so. I am confined to sleeping on my side and this is quite uncomfortable. Sometimes I find myself up at night. I also miss swimming— which I have put on hold because of the cold weather.

‘I wanted to see a bump so that I could believe that I really was pregnant. Now the bump is showing and I love it.’

END: PG24/18-19