Hmmm! She has just returned from a three – month maternity leave – back to the hustle and bustle of the city of excellence. She tells her colleague that the three months were quite an experience. From the look on her face, although she was excited to have gone through the experience-packed months, one thing was clear –no two pregnancies are the same.
Few hours of her settling down after exchanging pleasantries with colleagues, she opens up to a friend besides her saying: “Friend, every woman craves to have a baby but as simple as it may sound, from conception to the arrival of the baby is full of different experiences.”
The friend, who is newly married jokingly responds: “Oh girl, forget that thing, will you not go back to the same old story tomorrow? Please, stop frightening those of us warming up for the action.” Laughter. So what is the experience like?
“After four children, I assumed I was old school in the business of reproduction and since I can still recall the journey so far, from the first pregnancy to the fourth. Beginning from conception, it was a completely different story each time around.
Breasts
The fifth time around, I had so much idea as when it happened but I was expecting an increase in the size of my breasts but it never happened. During my other pregnancies, the increase was the first symptom after the missed monthly perriod. There was no sign to alert me to take a test until I was five months gone.
Nausea
During the first and second pregnancies, I experienced much nausea but there I never threw up even once. It was confusing to my husband and me. We didn’t know what further steps to take. As a precaution, during the subsequent pregnancies, I ate bitter kola and sweets to tackle the nausea.
Heartburn
I had heartburn with my first, second and third pregnancies. It began early on in the first trimester. But this time, it turned out that I never experienced it even for once. Most friends never knew I was pregnant until about five months.
Bodily functions
When it comes to bodily functions, constipation was a huge problem but I never experienced that in my previous pregnancies. This time around, it was the opposite. I also experienced constant stomach aches in the early morning hours. I made endless trips to the ladies than in the previous times. With my first pregnancy, my feet were swollen, but this time, there was no swelling. Although I gained much weight than previously.
Tiredness
All through my previous pregnancies, I never felt tired, but this time around I noticed I was feeling exhausted after work. Most times, I slept off immediately I returned home from work even going without dinner. Although, in the pervious pregnancies I also felt exhausted but this time, the exhaustion went to a whole new level. I was always going about town with a litre pack of Lucozade Boost in my bag.
Belly size
The size of my belly was also significant. It was really big! It also protruded prominently unlike in the previous pregnancies. The belly size was misleading and quite frankly, I was almost scared. The size of the belly was not corresponding with the size of the belly for the due date that I had been given.
Labour
Labour lasted two whole days. It was only during my first pregnancy that I spent such time before delivery. According to the doctor then, it was normal as it was my first child. Other pregnancies lasted less than three hours.
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