210 chapter 10: Pregnancy
Naomy’s story: How I became a mother
When I was young and my women friends
used to talk about having babies, they all
used to tell me that because of my disability,
I would not be able to get pregnant. And if
by some miracle I did conceive, they said the
baby would have to be delivered by caesarian
operation and would probably be disabled in
one way or another.
I really did not understand what my
friends meant, because I knew I was a
woman, just like them. But because I walked
differently from them, I believed what they
said. Also, I had not been examined by any
doctors to confirm this. I used to feel very
sad, because I loved little children. Every
time any of my friends had a baby, I wished
it was mine.
In 1987, I started feeling strongly that I needed to try and see if I
could have a baby, despite the possible problems. I had a boyfriend
and one day I just thought, well, why not? And it happened. On 27
December, 1987, I became pregnant.
When I realized I was pregnant, I was delighted, but at the same
time I worried. Because I am a polio survivor, I went to see a doctor, a
gynecologist, to prove I was pregnant and to find out if it was true there
would be complications during my pregnancy and delivery.
The doctor was shocked to hear I was pregnant. Before he even examined
me, he told me that because of the way I walked, I was not going to be able to
carry the pregnancy to full term. He said I would lose it within the first
3 months. He advised me not to wait for the 3 months, but to have an abortion
right away. I agreed and made an appointment for 27 February, 1988. It was
very expensive, but I somehow managed to raise the money.
I had not yet told anyone I was pregnant or about how worried and
afraid I was. Abortion is illegal in Kenya, so I did not want anybody to
know I was planning to have one. I also did not know how my friends
would react. Would they laugh at me or be disappointed with me?
I therefore kept the whole thing a secret.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007