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Symptoms to Look Out For In Your Menstrual Cycle That Could Indicate a Health Issue

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hey ladies, when should you worry about your period? When it comes to the menstrual cycle, every woman has her own experience, and she knows what’s typically ‘normal’ for her. However, when that ‘normal’ begins to change, it’s a good idea for her to see a medic -just in case.

Sometimes it may not be anything to worry about, sometimes it could signal an underlying health issue. In this video, I highlight some of the symptoms that you should look out for, that should prompt you to see a doctor. This is helpful information for you to have with your young daughter or niece as you talk about periods and growing up… or you could even discuss with your friends, colleagues etc.

Watch the video below:

You may also like:

How to Calculate Safe Days to Avoid Pregnancy

Mummy Tales is all about empowering readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

 

Motherhood in Kenya: How I’m Making Childhood Memories for my Kids with Family Movie Nights

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hello moms, how are you making memories for your children? Those moments that are so special and will forever be etched in their memories? For example, it could be something fun that you do on a regular basis, an activity that the kids get so excited about and look forward to; moments that they will always remember and dearly cherish in their hearts as they grow? Have you set any such tradition?

Well, today I feature one such mom –MARY ONGUKO-WANYONYI, who has deliberately set aside Friday night as the time to lay back and watch movies with her family. An IT Specialist, Mary is a wife and mother of three: 10-year-old Serena, 7-year-old Baraka, and 1-year-old Taraji. If you’re looking for ideas about how to make special memories for your children by for example setting up a family tradition in your home, then draw inspiration from Mary’s story below.

Mummy Tales: Hi Mary, when did you start the ‘movie night’ tradition in your home?

Mary: I started it sometime in 2016 just after my husband started working out of town. Because of this, my date nights with him decreased. But then, every challenge comes with an opportunity… right? I had to make good of the extra time, and what better way to spend it than with my children?

About the specific idea of movie nights, weekdays are very rushed in my home and I needed a way to unwind / end the week together with the kids while throwing caution to the wind. That’s how I came up with the idea of doing one late night with the kids. It was also an avenue to ‘pick’ their minds on their views about different aspects of life as we relate to the movie characters / theme.

Mummy Tales: When do you do the movie nights?

Mary: The movie nights are normally done on Friday nights right after dinner (8pm). However, on the Friday evenings that I sometimes find myself engaged, we end up having the movie night on Saturday night.

Mummy Tales: How do you make the movie nights something that the kids (and you) look forward to?

Mary: We begin by setting up the living room by making it have that feeling of warmth, comfort and relaxation. We do this by having throw pillows, warm blankies and shawls at hand. The kids and I also prepare popcorns together (I’m yet to learn how to make flavored popcorns – my daughter’s favorite flavor is caramel). We also have our snacks such as crisps, pizza and ice cream, as mummy gets to sip her glass of wine. We also dim the lights in the living room and have our movie theater right at home in the coziest atmosphere.

Mummy Tales: What types of movies/series do you watch? Who selects?

Mary: We all get to pick the movies. The kids suggest movies that they would like to watch. In most cases, they have heard about these movies from their friends. I also google movies for them and offer them as suggestions. We mostly watch animated comedy movies.

Mummy Tales: What have you seen as the benefits of having movie nights in your home?

We have bonded quite a lot as we get to talk and talk and talk. The kids open up about what happened in school or at home, who did what and who said what. I have found it to be a great way to bond and basically catch up after a long week. It’s also a way to keep my now 10-year-old daughter off her cellphone and the internet 🙂 .

Mummy Tales: Thanks Mary for sharing your story!

So that’s Mary’s story. Do you have the tradition of movie nights in your home? On which days do you do it, and how do you make it fun and exciting?

Personally, my sons and I love watching movies and series (and sometimes documentaries) together on easy Sunday afternoons when we’re on ‘chill mode’. I’m subscribed to Showmax (with whom I’ve partnered in this post), so there’s lots for us to choose from. And just like Mary, I have found it to be a good bonding time for us and even more than that -it’s a great way for making special childhood memories for them.

So moms, if movie time is a favorite in your home and you’re thinking of what to watch next, or if you’re thinking of starting the tradition of movie nights in your home with your lovely family, then I suggest you try out Showmax, which has a great collection of premium movies and series for you and the kids. You just need to pay Sh250 via MPESA and you get to watch Showmax for three good months. To to get Showmax for Sh250, click on this link.

I hope watching movies and series is a family tradition you can develop for your family too, as you create those special childhood memories. Thanks for reading 🙂

You May Also Like to Read:

5 TV Shows you’ll Definitely Enjoy Watching During your Mommy ‘Me-Time’

Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

 

Motherhood in Kenya: “Celebrating my Rainbow Baby’s Third Birthday” –Kendi’s Story

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hello friends, hope you are well. Now, the more women I interact with, the more I discover the untold stories that we carry with us –more so those related our various pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood experiences.

I have particularly become more aware of the hundreds of women who have lost their babies through miscarriages, difficult labor, still births, or within the first few hours, days, weeks or years of birth. Some go through their pain silently, while others choose to share their stories.

See Also: I Lost my Baby at 37 Weeks Pregnant. This is What Happened” –June Muli’s Story

Today, I share the story of one such mom; 24-year-old Kendi Kathurima. In January 2016, Kendi, then 36 weeks pregnant, was admitted at hospital with reduced foetal movement. She was filled with worry –and rightfully so, because just two years before in 2014, she had lost her baby under similar circumstances -results of reduced foetal movement. She remembers:

“As I lay there in my hospital bed, I was overwhelmed with so much fear due to my previous loss. I desperately prayed that God would save my baby this time round. And He indeed answered my prayer for at exactly 4.00pm, I gave birth to my beautiful rainbow baby princess Clare. I could not contain my joy when I heard her give her first yell, and was so grateful as I held her in my arms after all the worry and uncertainty.”

As Kendi celebrates her daughter’s third birthday this January, she also recalls an unfortunate experience she went through after she lost her first baby.

“The day after I returned home without a baby in my arms, my neighbour, who was nursing her three-month old baby told me that I was a bad omen. She warned me against going anywhere near her baby. Her words stung me so bad, I just ran to my room and locked myself in there as I cried.

I asked God why He had let my baby die, and prayed that He would one day turn my tears of pain into tears of joy. And He answered my prayers two years later when he blessed me with baby Clare.

Happy and beautiful mom 🙂 Kendi Kathurima

Clare is a blessing as she completely changed my life from bitterness to love. As I celebrate her third birthday this month, I celebrate it with so much happiness.

As women, I urge us to be more understanding of other people’s circumstances and stop being judgmental. We should lift each other up instead of pulling each other down. Let’s be watchful of what we say because words can hurt so bad.

I would also like to encourage a woman who is feeling down after losing a child by letting her know that she still can become a mom again. I am a living testimony of this, so don’t give up hope,” she concludes.

Thank you Kendi for sharing your story. Do you have an experience you’d like to share with other women and moms? You can write to me at maryanne@mummytales.com

Read Previous Post: 5 TV Shows you’ll Definitely Enjoy Watching During your Mommy ‘Me-Time’

You May Also Like to Read:

“The Stitch in Time that Prevented my Miscarriage” – Selina Ojwang’s Story

“How I Survived Pre-eclampsia” –Helen Njoroge’s Story

 Thanks for stopping by Mummy Tales and I wish you a lovely day.

Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

hand image credit: dreamstime.com

5 TV Shows you’ll Definitely Enjoy Watching During your Mommy ‘Me-Time’

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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5

*Look out for a giveaway at the end of this post*. Hi ladies, how do you relax as a mom? How do you like to enjoy those moments when you’re able to catch a break – away from the demands of daily living? Or perhaps I should be asking – do you ever get any ‘me time’ at any point of the day, week, month or year?

Let me give my experience. When my sons were younger, I hardly ever had any ‘me time’ as such. In fact, there were times I didn’t even know what date or day of the week of the year it was, whether we were in the first half of the year or we had already moved into the second half!

But now that my boys are older (5 and 7 years), I’m glad that I get some regular and well-deserved rest and recuperation moments 🙂 . I usually have my ‘me time’ at the end of the day when the kids are in bed, and on random moments over the weekends and the holidays.

So what do I usually get up to during those moments? I either read a novel or I catch an episode or two of my favorite TV series. Today, I’ll be sharing with you some of the series’ that I’ve enjoyed watching –all of which I’ve watched on Showmax (with whom I’ve partnered in this post). I’m sure they are shows that you’ll love too.

Successful TV news anchor Mary Jane Paul doing what she does best 🙂
  1. Being Mary Jane

In my own admission, I’m yet to find a series that tops this one. I absolutely loved this show and its one that I can watch over and over and over again. It follows the personal and professional life of Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union) who is a successful TV news anchor.

Mary Jane portrays the life experiences that so many women have gone through, are going through, or will at some point go through. It’s a very interesting show about love, family, girlfriends, friendships, trust, betrayals and career pursuits among other.

Being Mary Jane is a show that I highly recommend that you watch during your ‘me time’. You’ll love it! All 4 seasons are available on Showmax here.

Power, wealth, scandals… and the ladies who have to clean up the mess.

2. Devious Maids

Now, now now, this is yet another show that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. It’s about employers, their scandalous lives and secrets they hold –skeletons in the closet that the maids know every single detail about – sometimes even much more than those they work for. They have all the tea about it!

And the good thing is that amidst all the scandals, affairs, dramatic twists, turns and all manner of cover-ups in these homes, the show has plenty of hilarious moments in it. I loved all the episodes in this show, and I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy it too. You can catch Seasons 1 – 4 on Showmax here.

3. Luther

This is a crime drama starring John Luther (played by Idris Elba) who captivates with his excellent delivery on his role as a Detective Chief Inspector. I enjoy the thrill of crime dramas; trying to understand how their criminal minds operate and how they think they are so smart only to get nabbed. I love it when they get nabbed lol, and John Luther is so good at that (and dramatic at it).

I watched Luther just a few weeks ago during the December festive season and I was so enthralled by it (even though I kept wondering why John Luther wore the same clothes all through – which I later on got to understand why he does so). I recommend that you watch it too. You can catch Seasons 1 – 4 on Showmax here.

All I can say is “McDreamy” 🙂

4. Grey’s Anatomy

Whoooaaa, where now do I start with this one? If there’s ever a medical drama that has been well-produced, this is it. Grey’s Anatomy is a show about women’s stories – stories of careers, love, friendships and all the ups and downs that life brings along. Basically our experiences.

Me let me tell you – I have cried with Dr. Meredith Grey, I’ve been happy with her, mad at her, handled difficult situations with her, mourned with her, empathized with her and all other range of emotions. Her and other characters on the show bring out the entire spectrum of sentiments that ever existed in this world. It’s a show that will be every minute worth your while. You can catch Seasons 1 – 13 of Grey’s Anatomy here.

A scene from Game of Thrones

5. Game of Thrones

Ofcourse, I imagine that you’ve heard about Game of Thrones, or #GoT as it’s referred to. Everybody who has watched it has rave reviews about it-  saying that it’s all that and more, and it’s on the basis of that that I’m recommending it. GoT is on my watchlist and I’ll definitely be watching it once I’m done with the current series that I’m watching (Line of Duty -another crime drama/thriller).

By the way I’m the kind of person who cannot start watching a new series until I’ve completed the one I was previously watching. If you’ve watched Game of Thrones, let me know your review of it in the comments section below. In the meantime, you can catch Seasons 1 – 7 of #GoT here.

Giveaway!

I have three Showmax vouchers that I’m giving away to three different readers. With this voucher, you’ll be able to watch plenty of series, movies and documentaries available on Showmax over a period of three months. To enter, comment down below on the series that you’d like to watch among those that I’ve mentioned above, or if you’ve watched any of them, comment on the one you liked most and what you liked about it. Winner will be selected randomly.

Get Showmax Today

For just Sh250 paid via MPESA, you can get a three-month subscription to Showmax and get to enjoy the wide selection of movies and series. To do so, click on this link Showmax.com/mpesa

Thanks for reading!

Motherhood in Kenya: “Parenting Each of My Children Comes with Different Experiences” -Edwinah Orowe

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Edwinah Orowe is a Kenyan mother of three: a daughter aged 9 years, a son aged 3 years, and her lastborn daughter aged two months. In this article, Edwinah shares with us a few insights into her motherhood experiences.

Children are Different

“Motherhood is special in so many ways. I have learned the need to appreciate how different my children are, and to make sense of the different stages of life they are in. They are unique in their own ways and they need me in different ways.

My 3-year-old son for example is very observant and he will say stuff like: Mummy, am I your friend? Mummy, how are you doing?” and other such questions arising from a curious and inquisitive young mind.

My 9-year-old daughter has grown and is all about her, and how mummy can help her with different stuff. She’s intelligent and I admire how she’s growing into a beautiful young lady.

Talking about my youngest daughter, it’s a few minutes after 1am as I type this out, whilst rocking her as she won’t stop crying. I appreciate that that’s the stage I’m at with her right now 🙂

“Raising my three children is an everyday learning experience; teaching me that it’s important to purpose and be more deliberate about how we engage each of our children.” -Edwinah Orowe

Helicopter Mum

I have also learnt to be patient with things and also to be more relaxed… something that I didn’t know how to do before. I have accepted that I can’t be a helicopter mum hovering over the skies of my kids and expecting to see everything they do and guide them in everything. Because some things just will happen and I need to let them happen…

It Gets Easier with Each Child

And then the last realization; which is not really a lesson, but which I nevertheless thought to share is that by the time you are having your third child, you are better prepared to handle the experiences that will come along with that. You can handle situations ten times better maybe because not only have you learnt to relax, but also because you have confidence in the work you have done with the previous two children. Also, it could be because God makes the third child and fourth child, fifth child etc an easier child.”

So those are Edwinah’s lessons learned so far in her motherhood journey. How about you? What important lessons have you learned as a mom that you’d like to share with other moms? You can inbox me or write me at maryanne@mummytales.com

Thanks for reading and I wish you a blessed year ahead!

Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

8 Important Motherhood Lessons I Learned in 2018

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
Isabela Samora with her daughter.

Hello friends, Happy New Year! Hope it’s coming along well for you so far. So on my Twitter and Instagram accounts, I recently asked moms this question:

‘What Important Motherhood Lesson did you Learn in 2018 that you’d like to Share with Other Moms?’

I’ll be sharing the responses I got from a few moms, starting with Isabela Samora who is a mom to a five-year-old daughter and currently pregnant with her second born. Isabela actually shared not just one -but eight important lessons she learned! Have a look at them below:

  1. If you need help, ask for it. Don’t try to be superwoman
    2. If you need space from friends, take it. Don’t be there too long though. Take time out, figure things out and live again
    3. Pray for yourself and your family; have a relationship with God
    4. Don’t force friendships and emotions…
    5. Don’t judge other moms
    6. Don’t stop chasing your dreams because you have kids. The dreams might change, but don’t stop chasing something worthwhile.
    7. Don’t live only for your kids or your husband. Love them, give them undivided attention but also live for yourself as a person.
    8. Love yourself just like you give everything to everyone else, give to yourself.
Isabela Samora.

So those are the lessons that Isabela learned. How about you? What important lessons have you learned as a mom that you’d like to share with other moms? You can write me at maryanne@mummytales.com

Thanks for reading and I wish you a blessed year ahead!

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

Nairobi Snake Park: What to Expect to See When you Visit

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hi guys hope you are keeping well. A few Saturdays ago I attended a storytelling event for kids organized by The Storyteller, whose venue was the Kenya National Museum. Part of the activities included visiting the Nairobi Snake Park.

I was able to capture some of the moments of the day, which I share with you here. It will basically help you to know what to expect to see when you visit the Nairobi Snake Park, and what you can expect to learn about turtles, tortoises, chameleons, crocodiles, lizards, and of course -snakes! See video below. And yes, that’s me with a snake around my neck. Yikes!!!!! 😮

Do you know of any intersting upcoming activity for moms or kids? Let me know via maryanne@mummytales.com

Motherhood in Kenya: I had not Planned on Becoming a Campus Mum! Deborah Nafula’s Story

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hi friends. In the last two posts, Deborah Nafula has been sharing her motherhood journey with us. You can catch up with Part 1 HERE, and Part 2 HERE. Today, having graduated a few years ago, Deborah tells us what she’s up to nowadays. Read on…

“Despite the challenges I faced balancing my studies and motherhood, I successfully completed my degree studies when my daughter was three years old.

Even though my family was always was supportive, I was still fully responsible for my child at the end of the day. Meanwhile, my relationship with her father was on and off. Whenever we had disagreements, he would go silent to the extent of not responding to matters concerning our child. Sometimes he would send money, other times he would not. His support towards us was very inconsistent and I couldn’t count on him to come through for us at any time. Eventually, I decided to call off the relationship and only dealt with him as the father to my daughter.

Thankfully, my daughter’s grandpa and uncles were always there for her and played a major role in her life. They played crazy games, took her out for walks and repaired her broken toys.

Starting my Own Company 

Through my savings, I was able to provide for my daughter’s needs. As my baby grew bigger, so did her needs and at some point it became so overwhelming. I tried applying for jobs but nothing ever seemed to materialize. I remember going through very low moments; thinking of how I would sustain my daughter and I.

Thankfully my sister Miriam was always there for me and helped out. But I still had to get something of my own and one day, with my passion for tourism and environment, I decided to set up an organization called Amigos Tourism Network, which brands counties as tourism destinations. I spent sleepless nights doing research and setting up the organization. My daughter was the main push factor.

Deborah, who works with adolescent girls and young moms.

The business though didn’t have much money and many times I was in a fix. Whenever I would get money, I didn’t know what to do –whether to invest the money in the company for the basic running costs, whether to use the money to provide for my daughter, or whether to take care of my other personal needs. Making a decision at such times, especially when I was cash-strapped was really tough.

Getting to Work with Young Girls

Around this time, I secured a contract with an NGO working on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health education (ASRH) programmes. The work revolved around mentoring and educating young boys and girls in and out of school -which I found to be amazing. We discussed different topics and issues affecting adolescents. We got to a point where they could open up and share personal issues.

I was particularly very concerned by the plight of teen moms. These young girls were going through very stressful and depressing situations, mostly rejection from their families and the fathers of their children. It was a bleak future for the young girl and the baby.

We counselled the girls and gave them hope. I was so concerned about it because I went through the situation and knew exactly what they were going through. These young girls had made choices and had been left to face the consequences of their actions alone. The men involved walk away free and do not care about the baby or the mother’s welfare. It became a deep concern for me; I chose to work on a solution to this problem.

Currently the ASRH mentorship program is running in schools. We hold sessions with students discussing the various issue affecting adolescents. We can see the impact of this program in schools. We are networking with other organizations that focus on teens and young mothers.

Involving Boys and Men Too

As we are empowering these young mothers, I felt that it was very important to involve the young fathers too. So we create awareness and educate them on the value of taking up their responsibilities as fathers no matter the situation. We tell them that the main focus should be on the child. Our society needs to raise responsible fathers who will raise strong families that will build our community.

I have started a new initiative called ‘My child; My Duty’ which is a campaign will mainly focus on young fathers involvement in raising up their children. Young fathers taking up their responsibilities, creating awareness and educating their peers. This will provide a support system to the young mothers who will be empowered to face and overcome challenges. We are focusing on providing a safe environment for children born with young parents, growing up in a secure environment with their needs met to a bright future.” –END–

Yeah, so that’s Deborah’s story. If you’d like to get in touch directly with her, you can reach her on deborahnafula0@gmail.com. I hope you’ve been inspired by Deborah’s story and if you have, it will probably inspire you friend too, so share this link with them. If you are a young mom who’d like to share your story, you can email me on maryanne@mummytales.com

Also Read: Why Ivanna Waweru is Empowering Fellow Young Moms and How She’s Doing it

Also See: 5 Kenyan Women Champions of Menstrual Health

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

Deborah Nafula’s Story: “I Thought I Would Receive More Support from my Child’s Father”

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

This is Part Two of Deborah Nafula’s story. In Part One, Deborah, a mother of a beautiful girl aged 7 years talked about how she unexpectedly found herself pregnant in her first year of campus, and the moment she had to break the news to her parents -who had raised her in a comfortable Christian home. Catch up with Part One of Deborah’s story here.

Today, she talks about taking a break from campus to care for her daughter, her disappointment with her daughter’s father, and how, after resuming her studies, she had to make the decision on whether to leave her daughter back at home, or go with her to campus. This is Deborah’s story.

“My daughter was born bouncing and healthy. I named her ‘Alice’ after my mum. My mum is a perfect role model on motherhood. As I held my daughter for the first time in my arms, I felt overwhelmed by the pure joy I felt. At the same time, I was acutely aware of the huge task that awaited me as a mother.

Taking a Break from Campus

When my daughter was two weeks old, I went to school to fill in my deferment forms for an entire academic year. I had made the decision to suspend my studies for a year so that I could take care of her.

Motherhood does not come with a manual, and I’m grateful for my mum who guided me through new motherhood. Thankfully, my family members were just as supportive. I remember the amazing bath times with grandma, her laying on grandpa’s chest as he did his study, happy times with uncles and aunties who would babysit her, as well as days out with excited nephews and nieces.

I did my best to do right by my daughter. There are moments when the going was tough, but I had to be strong. As I took care of Alice, her father would check in at times but not as I expected he would. I found that I always had to call him, plan for him to meet and bond with his daughter.

To Leave my Daughter Behind, or to Take her With Me?

I decided to resume my studies at the university when my daughter was eight months old. I was joining a new class with new faces in 2nd year. I had not made arrangements for my accommodation, yet the new semester had already started. This forced me to make several trips from home to campus to fill out the forms that would enable me resume classes.

However, this two-hour commute from home to school and vice versa was not easy. Thankfully, Pauline a close friend from the previous class accepted to accommodate me to give me time to settle in. That first night away from my baby was one of my longest nights; I could neither sleep nor call home with the fear of hearing her cry.

Leaving my daughter was the toughest part for me. I chose not to take her with me to campus because I was so scared of getting a baby sitter to care for her while I was in class. I knew that leaving her at home with my family was the safest place for my baby, and that’s what I did.

Weekend Travels

My first week in class was full of stress. It was written all over me. The days were so long, but I would be comforted in the evening when my mom would call to let me know how my baby was doing. My sister Miriam would also check on me all day long with phone calls. A new-found classmate called Rakesh also made sure I got acquainted with the class schedule.

When the weekend arrived, I would board the first vehicle home. I was so anxious to see my daughter; to hold her and kiss her. She was so excited to see me; I remember her being clingy to me all day. This became my routine for the next three years as I undertook my studies at the university. I would leave home for campus very early on Monday morning.

Whenever I received a call from home informing me that my daughter was unwell, I would ask for permission from my lecturers to go home and take her to hospital, or stay with her until she felt better.

Talking with my family on phone were the best times: I was updated on every detail: the first word she said, first time to talk, play moments, falls and injuries. I was always checking on the doctor to confirm on appointments so that I wouldn’t miss any of them.

My daughter automatically became part of my budget. I would buy diapers, dresses, toys, baby bath stuff… all from my pocket money. I literally took care of her while at school.

At school, I remained focused on my studies; attending lectures, participating in group work and undertaking my assignments while ensuring I met all deadlines.

But my journey was not with its share of disappointments.

Then there were moments I had so much to balance that I felt my head would burst. I didn’t even have time for myself as I was constantly juggling between school, travels and taking care of my daughter. I felt as though I had so much on my plate. Many times I would find myself crying out of frustration.

It didn’t help much that Alice’s father wasn’t fully supportive. He came whenever he wished; he could even miss to be there for us when she was sick. There were moments I felt my head bursting I didn’t even have time for myself. It was really tough for me with all that on my plate. I used to cry most times, get angry and furious, but I always got back on my feet and kept on strong for my baby.

I forever remain grateful for my supportive family. I was young, but motherhood made me grow up and mature. I was going to be the best mother to my daughter.”

Read Part Three of Deborah’s Story HERE.

Also Read: Pregnant and in a Strict Christian University: Amanda Marie’s Story

See Also: Oops! How I Became a Teen Mom -Again!

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

Deborah Nafula’s Story: “Pregnant in my First Year of Campus: How my Parents Handled the News”

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hello friends. So today, I share the story of Deborah Nafula, who is mom to a 7-year-old beautiful daughter. Deborah, from Bungoma county, talks about being raised in a Christian home with supportive parents, falling unexpectedly pregnant while in her first year of campus, the difficult moments when her parents got to learn about her pregnancy, and how her journey as a single young mom has been. This is Part One of Deborah’s story.

“I’m the last-born child in a family of seven children. I love spending time with my mum and during our bonding time together, she often shares her experiences as a mom. She talks of the happy moments she had holding us in her arms, as well as the difficult times she went through raising us. I always enjoy listening to my mum’s stories.

Deborah Nafula, an inspiring young mom.

We are blessed to have dad who has always also been of great support and played his role in our lives. He is a religious leader and together with my mum, they raised us well, teaching us the word of God and life skills. They helped us understand that the power of making choices lies in our hands.

As a young girl, I always dreamt of raising a beautiful family. Being the last born, I was a little bit spoiled and was showered with all the best things I wanted.

Finding out I was Pregnant

I joined university and while there, I got into a relationship with a great guy whom I had dated for almost two years. Towards the end of the second semester of the first year, I started feeling changes in my body: the symptoms resembled those of a pregnancy, but I was too scared to think about it.

After a week full of worries, I decided to see a doctor. As I sat there waiting for results, I remember them calling out several names until I was the only one at the waiting bay. I could feel the weight of what was coming ahead.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine” are the words I remember the doctor saying to me.

At that moment, my mind went blank, as I felt the whole world come crushing down on me. It was one of my lowest points.

 

Meanwhile, my parents would often call me –as they regularly did, reminding me of how much they loved me and couldn’t wait to see me when I came home for the holidays. What they didn’t know is that deep down I was hurting as I felt I had let them down.

Breaking the News to my Parents 

In the two weeks before closing day, I struggled with thoughts about what I would do. Thankfully, my best friend Barbara was by my side, encouraging me to be strong about my decision to go home and face my parents.

When I arrived home, my mum immediately noticed the changes in me; both the physical and the new quiet and reserved me. Finally, we had to talk; she only wanted my confirmation about what she was already suspecting. When I did, I saw how disappointed she was…

Of course, she shared her feelings and counseled me. She also took it upon herself to break the news to my dad. It broke his heart. Our talk was similar to that I’d had with my mum. He appreciated my bold step of accepting my responsibility and willingness to get through it. I’m grateful that my entire family was ready to help me get through it.

Dad Speaks about my Pregnancy at the Pulpit

One Sunday morning, my parents requested me to accompany them to church. I wasn’t very sure about it as I still wished to have some more time. But I went and when we got there, my heart was so heavy. I held on through the service until the time when my dad stepped onto the pulpit and called out for me. I stood beside him as he gave a speech that was my turning point and new hope.

I will quote some lines from his speech:

“This is my daughter, of whom we are all aware of her situation. Yes, she is a preacher’s child now facing a challenge. What we forget is that this preacher is a parent like any other who is raising children going through challenges like any other children in the world. Every parent in this planet wants the best for their children, and these children sometimes make wrong choices. But as parents, when our children make a mistake, let us help them get back up on their feet and correct these mistakes. We rebuke the mistake and guide them to step up no matter who you are or what you do. Our daughter has accepted her responsibility and as her parents we will offer her our full support.”

After my dad spoke, I felt so relieved! At that moment, my heart opened up and I was ready to start my journey with confidence.

Family Support

My family was very supportive, especially my mum and my inseparable sister. Even though she was away at the university, she always checked on me and encouraged me each day, assuring me of her support.

My mum would ensure I ate well throughout my pregnancy, went for my antenatal clinics and gave me counseling.

My boyfriend would check on me at times when he had time. I still went through tough moments where I cried and felt overwhelmed because I couldn’t tell what was waiting for me ahead. But I was always comforted by the most beautiful sound I ever heard – my child’s heartbeat in my womb. It would give me total peace.

Read Part Two of Deborah’s story HERE.

You may also Like to Read:

How to Calculate Safe Days to Avoid Pregnancy 

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

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