Bringing forth Prince

Queen needed a playmate!

I longed to nurse and carry a baby…

I needed a prince!

Then one day he announced his arrival!

I felt sick, tired, my entire body shook like an earthquake was within me

I knew it was time for hibernation!

Yes, hibernation!

I was excited even when I foresaw another painful, yet satisfying process

For I had been told by the universe that my next childbirth would be swift

Queen’s nurturing within me had been a very painful process,

The world shut me out

I held onto her

She held onto me and together we made it despite everything!

When I started feeling exactly like I did with Queen,

I concluded this was how my way was crafted

It took 16 weeks like before

This time more severe

Every two days I needed fluid to keep us alive!

The marks I carry to date are like that of a seasoned drug dealer

But this, I carry with pride!

For it breathed life within me

That storm of puking 24 hrs a day

Immense irritation

Looking like a real ghost (if they exist)

Finally passed!

I remember Queen always holding my hands

Giving me all the comfort

Searching deep into my eyes why I was looking this frail and emptying my gut by the minute

All I did was squeeze her hands in reassurance; every time

A few months to see Prince’s face

My body was struck by the “unknown”

Sharp pain rocked through my belly

And one day a step was impossible to make

When I felt pain that first time

I rushed to see doctor!

He told me “Every pregnancy is different…nothing to worry about…”

He didn’t bother to check me out despite my desperation in explaining that this felt strange

Seek a second opinion, I didn’t

When I failed to make a single step without holding my belly from below with two hands

I knew I had to break my routine and seek a second opinion

My kidney was crushing!

Then a tough decision was thrown at my table

“What we have to give you for this condition is NOT safe for the baby!” this sound from the doctor froze me

All went quiet for me…”we either save you or lose you both”. The chances are slim that you both will make it through”

I clenched my fist tighter

Had I not already endured so much for all this to still come to me?

I closed my eyes and asked the doc to commence with treatment

He had done a fairly thorough investigation and sought second opinion

The injections were the “deadly” shots, and later I would be put on orals

After 30 minutes of the first injection

My belly went into a commotion that was visible from outside

I drew a simple analysis

My baby is struggling to survive; Prince is fighting for his life!

Then all went quiet and I wept…, I just drew a the conclusion he was gone

I went to bed that day with a heavy heart knowing that the next day I went to the hospital, they wouldn’t find a heartbeat

Next morning Prince woke me up with our routine morning sweet kicks!

I thought all this was in my head, but yes he was here kicking me

I tenderly rubbed my belly around the navel as has always been with my Kingdom members!

I was soo grateful Prince was here…but the commotion happened until the end of treatment

To this date, I believe the treatment disorganised his peace and made him restless

We beat all odds together and survived that phase

Time flew by,

We were so due-

He made me lame!

I was happy in my lameness

I was bringing forth a Prince!

Nothing else mattered

The day finally arrived

I just knew it!

He whispered to me

Get ready! I will arrive today

My toenails were a little bit grown

Mother trimmed it for me as I couldn’t bend over

I cleaned up Queen myself that day. Made her hair sparkly and ready to receive Prince

No usual signs were happening and yet I knew without doubt that I heard Prince well

He would arrive today

I padded myself just as required

Not a single drop of fluid landed on it

Yet with every second, I felt the closeness of the arrival

Mother noticed too and she asked us to take a walk 1km (500m to and 500m back).

I made it, but returning was one of the most cumbersome tasks I have had to make

She saw it too, I think Prince spoke louder this time and she heard it too

She enquired if I could make it back home alone, and I nodded. We were two! Nothing beats a team, right?

She ran ahead to fix a few things as usually things are put together a few months to popping

I arrived home and things had intensified

Not a drop of fluid from me, yet I could feel Prince’s arrival any minute

Calls had been made for an ambulance from one of the hospitals,

First, the driver wasn’t available

Two, when the driver surfaced, they realised the ambulance had no fuel

Another call had been made to a family friend who was 30km away…

Prince would be here any moment

The calls went to him non-stop

Mom gave me hot, hot water to take, as I don’t take tea

Yes, I told you we would make it back home, nothing beats a team!

As I was sipping the hot water, I could literally see the movement of my belly caused by contractions, it was moving up and down

I requested to sit on a mat as I couldn’t keep on a chair any more

Guess what!

As I lifted myself up, Prince’s head pushed forth

I rid myself of the pant which had a pad as dry as new!

As I settled on the mat and Queen held my right hand tightly and my 9 yr old niece settled above me looking concerned

He popped out

Carrying a load of water on his head!

Mother screamed, "the head is out!"

"Pull him, mother, pull him out!"

"I can’t", she responded. Mother wasn’t built for these things

She will kill the biggest snakes of the land, but she cannot remove a thorn from your feet

She feels the pain more than the bearer…she just cannot

I always tease her on what kind of nurse she would have made

And her response is always simple. God sent a distraction that saw me end up in a teaching college!

Yes, this is my mother. I love every piece of her

Where were we?

Yes! Prince’s head has popped out fully and I needed help getting his entire body out and mother was freaking out

As I was lifting myself to finish delivering Prince

Our back up boy who was prepped to take over the house when we went to the hospital for the delivery arrived and pulled Prince out through mom’s legs who was standing over me

He is Kosila and forever we shall be indebted to him

A brave herdsman (boy) who had delivered cows from the bush on several occasions!

Prince came out quiet!

“Mother, hold him up by the legs and rub his back”, I firmly instructed…yes I had taken a handful of women to deliver and had seen the process when this happens

He chuckled after a few rubs! Thank you! He was placed on my bosom, his body soft and warm, and he smiled! Everything melted from within me!

Yes, we did it, Prince, you are here!!!

At that moment, when Prince was out and we waited for the afterbirth! The car arrived and my friend with both hands held his head in shock. He endlessly apologised, but I reassure him we were fine.

Let’s wait for this afterbirth to drop and we head to the hospital

Prince was being prepped for life on the universe! The cord was coiled around his neck twice!

Thank God he had a long cord, for this would have ended in a terrible pain that I would bear till my time was done!

Many children with cords like this, end up strangled as they come to the world

Our only neighbour had also arrived

The same scream that made Kosila run faster than his legs would carry him brought the neighbour too.
I can’t recall the scream…But I was informed I made only one sound as the head popped out, a scream of urgency, a very loud one that rang through the village

After Prince had been pimped up, settled in to wait for the journey to the hospital and started nursing, the afterbirth came out!

It was hot and I had the opportunity to study it within that short moment, i tried to tear through it and I couldn’t. This sac had housed Prince. It kept him safe within me

To the hospital, we went and got checked and had all the necessary procedures done before we came back home to start a beautiful life with Queen, Prince, and mother!

To me, motherhood is the most beautiful thing in this life! Proudly overseeing this Kingdom!

PC: Queen

From within my depth

AYENYO Joanita