I used to judge couples asking for funds - First-time Nigerian mom opens up about her "pregnancy hardship"

A first-time Nigerian mother, Onyedeke Chidinma Favour, has opened up about the unexpected hardships and setbacks she experienced during her pregnancy. 

Chidinma admitted that she used to feel angry whenever she saw couples soliciting funds for hospital bills or baby items.

In her view, couple who failed to make plans for their unborn child for 9 months were simply irresponsible. 

However, her perspective completely changed after she faced her own unexpected setbacks during pregnancy. 

She confessed that her earlier stance on the issue stemmed from ignorance.

Sharing her experience, Chidinma explained that she was a successful professional and wife and her husband was doing well financially. But the moment she got pregnant, everything took a turn for the worse. 

During this period, she fell victim to a scam, lost a lot of money and her job.

To make matters worse, her husband’s employer slashed his salary. 

She said things became so difficult that even feeding became a luxury and she couldn't afford to register for antenatal care until her fifth month of pregnancy. 

"There is something called “Pregnancy hardship or Pregnancy setback”. Before I got pregnant, I used to get angry whenever I see couples asking for funds for hospital bills or to buy baby things,” she wrote.

 

"I kept saying to myself that it is irresponsibility from the couple path to not have made plans for the unborn child for 9 months.

 

"Whatever it is I said then, I said it out of ignorance because now I know better.

 

"Before my husband and I started trying for a child, we started saving money for the kids but midway in the pregnancy, we couldn’t account for what happened to the whole money.

 

"Despite being a successful wife and my husband doing well, the moment I got pregnant, problems that are bigger than us started coming.

 

"I got scammed and lost so much money. I lost my job.

 

"My husband’s salary was reduced by his employer. To feed became harder.

 

"I kept looking at myself and ask “what did I do wrong?”

 

"I started doing research online and realized that other pregnant couples went through the same set back in pregnancy.

 

"I started Antenatal at 5 months because there was no money, my babies clothes arrived few weeks before I delivered.

 

"For the first time, I had to borrow money and it wasn’t even funny.

 

"I saw hell but in everything, I thank God for not allowing us to be put to shame.

 

“From now henceforth, when you see couples soliciting for help for hospital bills or childcare, please don’t see it like they’re lazy or unprepared, these people tried their best but pregnancy comes with so many unforeseen circumstances. Thank you.”