Pregnancy Diary
JEHAN MOHAMMED-SAMSODIEN, MOM TO 7 MONTH OLD SALMA WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT BABY NUMBER TWO WAS ALREADY ON THE WAY WHEN SALMA WAS 4 MONTHS OLD THIS IS HER DIARY
On my 29th birthday I got a huge “surprise” present in the form of a positive pregnancy test. The only reason I took the pregnancy test was to eliminate pregnancy as a reason for missing my period and to prove my husband and Mom wrong.
WEEK 3-4
I thought they were crazy to think that I was pregnant. Especially since I’d just even birth to my precious baby girl, Salma, four months earlier. Trying to fall pregnant the first time was a nightmare. We were plagued with negative pregnancy tests, lots of tears, monthly doctor’s appointments, different other tests and a laparoscopy. So, imagine my shock when I found out that I was pregnant the second time around with no fuss or intention. Since my womanly intuition failed me, finding out that I was pregnant put me into denial mode. I went for a blood test later in the day to confirm pregnancy and again to my surprise I heard that I was between three and four weeks pregnant! Like the saying goes, “be careful what you wish for”. I’ve always wanted more than one child and close in age. My husband, Yaseen, and I discussed trying for another baby when Salma turns one and I was looking forward to it because I’m enjoying motherhood. This “wonder” just proves that nothing is in our hands and that a Higher Power knows what’s best for us. However, knowing this didn’t help reality sink in. Telling my parents that I was pregnant again seemed like I was talking about someone else.
We are in the process of moving and I need to be on top form but I am so exhausted. I feel as if I’ve had no sleep for weeks and putting one foot in front of the other is a major effort. Luckily Mom is around so she’s taking the “heat” off me. She’s looking after Salma and giving me time to relax. I’ve had thrush for about two weeks now and thrush is one of the early signs of pregnancy due to hormone changes but drinking water helps. I’ve also had lots of stomach cramps on the left and right side of my lower abdomen and a bit of lower back pain. I don’t remember having this much cramps with Salma this early in the “game” but every pregnancy is different. This time around I am a bit worried about the possibility of a miscarriage due to having back to back pregnancies but I’m praying that everything will be fine.
Week 5
So, it hasn’t quite sunk in that we’re having another baby yet but I’m not freaking out anymore. This weekend we moved into our new home so we have more space for the children. Yaseen has three other children and they are really enjoying having a bigger garden. We are also much closer to family and soon my mother-in-law will be moving into another house on the property so things seem to be falling into place. I’ve told Yaseen’s sisters and sisters-in-laws about the new baby and they were all ecstatic. I was a bit worried what they would think but I was just being silly. On Sunday night my stomach was aching on the left side and by Monday morning I was really worried. I made an emergency appointment with my gynaecologist, Dr Magan. Dr assured me that there was nothing to worry about as it’s just my uterus stretching and it will be painful for a few weeks. When he did the ultrasound we saw the sack and dr was happy with what he saw and that the fetus was correctly “placed” in the uterus. To be honest I was so preoccupied during the scan because I kept on looking at Salma to see if she was OK and paid no real attention to the scan and seeing our new baby. After the scan I felt so overwhelmed and the little bit that I did see of the scan was so surreal and as if I was looking at someone else’s baby and not mine. I haven’t had morning sickness yet so I’m hoping it’s a sign that I won’t have any. At this stage of my pregnancy with Salma my head was down the toilet more times than I care to remember. I do, however, feel a bit light headed when I stand too long and I feel really exhausted but otherwise I’m doing well. I actually don’t feel pregnant and have to remind myself to take it easy.
Week 6 – 7
It’s now been a few weeks since I found out baby number two is on his or her way and the reality of being pregnant still hasn’t sunk in yet. Even looking at the picture of the scan doesn’t register that it’s my baby. These past two weeks have been hectically busy with lots of family functions and trying to get the house sorted so it’s easy to forget that I’m pregnant. The only daily reminder of my pregnancy is my bloated tummy. It’s definitely not a preggy belly just a “gas belly”. It doesn’t sound very flattering but my stomach feels like I’ve drank litres of coke. I’m extremely conscious of my bloated tummy because I don’t want strangers to think that I still have a pregnancy belly from my previous pregnancy or if they figure out that I’m pregnant they’ll judge me. I’ve never been conscious of what others think of me but now I am a bit worried about receiving negative reactions. The cramps have subsided but on the odd occasion I get terrible sharp pains in my lower abdomen. I also feel very uncomfortable by my rib area and the top of my stomach. With my first pregnancy it took months for me to feel this way and it was only because of my huge belly. Everyone says that no two pregnancies are the same and yes, I guess that’s true but it’s similar enough to know when not to worry. During my first pregnancy I freaked out with every cramp, and I was painfully scared I’d have a miscarriage. Although reality hasn’t sunk in I’m more relaxed about pain but I know better than to overdo it just because I feel fine.
Written by: Guest Blogger
Date posted: November 2, 2011
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