Baby Triumph's Parents
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After God created man He did two things: 1.Give man a helpmate and 2. Instructed them to “be fruitful & multiply” (Genesis 1:28)God saw that the work He had laid out for man would be achieved through a team effort.
Though women are usually more opened to talk about their experiences in life, the man’s side of the story is just as important. Thus here’s “our” story about the journey that brought our blessing from heaven to us in the form of our amazing daughter.
Her story:
Truth: I was always afraid of being pregnant. The thought of wanting it to happen at the “right time”, the many ways it’d probably not be good for my figure (being a model & former beauty queen), and just how painful it looked to see other women’s stretched abdomens and swollen feet simply made it appear: PAINFUL!
Nevertheless I always wanted the product of pregnancy, I simply wasn’t too keen on enduring almost a year of possible uncontrollable changes to my mind, body and spirit, because it takes every part of you.
Though all women go through this life changing experience in different ways, mine convinced me that God had a purpose for it. Many saw me smiling and pretty much doing all my usual tasks but behind closed doors reality hit.
Firstly the battle of morning sickness was terrible until one morning while I endured an episode the words “hold your head up, things are gonna get better” rang through my soul. From that day, almost 4 months in, things did get better.
I couldn’t drink water without puking so of course I got dehydrated which led to me experiencing IV fluid in my body for the first time.
I said “eww” to foods people tried cooking for me and hated the scents of many things.
With every abdominal pain, toothache, headache, depression (yes I encountered that too) and never knowing what I wanted to eat, I began learning tolerance and trust in God.
All the amazing women around me, from family to doctors didn’t prepare me for this. So here’s a list I’ve decided to share on what you may or may not experience during pregnancy based on my journey & some of the research I constantly had to do. Hopefully it helps you especially if you’re a first time mom.
List:
Take your prenatal, drink water to avoid dehydration and look out for gestational diabetes, which you can also develop. That sugar test isn’t pleasant. Take some Tums at nights to keep all that acidic juices at bay.
Weight gain: Your eyes may deceive you into thinking your clothes still fit till you try them on. Be ready for that reality check! Also your hair may or may not grow and skin discoloration may occur in some areas.
Urinary tract infections, dribbling especially at nights, tightness of abdominals and shortness of breath, dizzy / fainting spells.
Panic while “googling” your symptoms, worrying about your baby being ok. Avoid being too empathetic or listening to the horror stories of other moms including these; they do not have to be part of your story.
Pelvic stretches, round ligaments pains, coupled with kicks in your vagina from the inside from your growing “footballer?”
Heat episodes, decrease in your bowel functions, which can cause difficulty in passing gas, which leads to more pain.
All in all do not be too quick to panic or worry about what you experience just research or ask your doctor. You’ll be surprised to discover it is actually a symptom and could be normal!
Don’t worry there are some benefits to being pregnant:
Benefits: you’ll skip the long lines and get many favors, people will give up their seat for you, offer to help you most of the time. Look forward to and appreciate it all!
His story:
Guys you have to be her best friend, “midwife”, and husband. You have to deal with the mood swings and rejection of your best cooking. Take up the cleaning when she is too weak to get it done.
Get peed on during the intense vomiting since you’ll need to hold her up sometimes while she vomits.
It can be a very lonely walk for a woman to endure hence you need to be there for spiritual and emotional support.
Take time out to go to the doctor’s appointments and bring her lunch and snacks. Offer massages while being flexible with the sex, which should be very often especially closer to the due date. However be patient and understanding if she’s not in the mood.
Take her for walks in the afternoons or mornings and laugh at the people who may be driving by and looking at you strangely. Most of all, be there for your wife and child the best you can because it really takes two to have a child.
Note: The above may not be your experiences but if they are at least you’ll know that they are part of the journey and you won’t freak out like I did.
Be sure to have your doctor, mother, big sisters or anyone you trust who knows about the journey on speed dial to get advice and to keep your anxiety at bay.
Get a pregnancy pillow, schedule those pedicure sessions, keep your camera close to record baby’s peep shows, if you’re like me you’ll want those. Have fun with it, read, sing, talk to your baby. Pray for and with your baby, schedule a unique photo shoot, go for a swim in the pool or sea. Laugh at the embarrassing moments. Moisturize you skin from the day you know that you’re pregnant. Style your hair and take care of yourself because you don’t just want to be pregnant you want to look good doing it too!
Psalms 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward (F) from him.
Tummy painting Done By Selena Luwaisa
Photography By Z W Creative Media
Outfit Design Netisha Alie-Grant
Outfit sewn by Kams Fashion
Hair By De-trendz Beauty Salon
Make up Instructed by DecAyer Beauty
Hair By De-trendz Beauty Salon
Make up Instructed by DecAyer Beauty
Special Thanks to my sis Jackie for being at the shoot!
