Sex Education: Don’t get Pregnant or else……
As a young Nigerian girl, that was a constant threat in the back of your mind. It didn’t matter whether or not you were old enough or knew what it took to get pregnant heck, you didn’t even have to know what sex was, you simply knew that getting pregnant was a TABOO.
From the moment you began to see you period; I take that back……from the moment your mates began their monthly cycles, all of you as a group were warned not to get pregnant. In church, school, on the street, in the market, in your Mommys office, at home, everywhere it was a constant warning from everyone; family, relatives, friends and even strangers. In most Nigerian homes there was no talk about the birds and the bees…. ( bees ke?!… what is that?). The only sex talk you were given as a girl was “don’t get pregnant” and as a boy “don’t get any girl pregnant” you were left to sort out the details. For some homes it went as far as don’t talk to the opposite sex, don’t touch, don’t even mention the word boy friend or you will get pregnant and if you get pregnant haaaah!! your life as you knew it was over.
By the time you had crossed puberty successfully and were in university the threat evolved a bit. It became don’t have a boy friend until you graduate ( I guess this meant you could now talk to boys…lol!!) if you must have a boyfriend, do not get pregnant or you will be disowned and forced to drop out of school and your life is over. But then if you somehow, by chance, mistakenly do get pregnant (maybe by accidentally drinking it inside Fanta… heheheh….) don’t commit an abortion or else you will never have kids again and your life is over .Threats, warnings and more threats.
Fast forward to after university you have successfully graduated and not gotten pregnant ( good girl
). You are working and also probably looking to “settle down” ( I don’t like that phrase settle down but it’ll do for now) the threats and warnings evolve even further. It becomes “Don’t get pregnant oh he wont marry you” and no one will marry a single mother and your life is over… or don’t get pregnant it’ll’ ruin the wedding and you won’t look nice, or don’t get pregnant he won’t respect you bla bla bla…. the threats are endless.
Anyways somehow in this carnal world of ours you successfully do your Nigerian parents proud you don’t get pregnant and disgrace the whoooole family before your wedding. You meet a great guy, you have a big Nigerian traditional and white wedding and now all is set. Then they start with a new set of warnings. Don’t wait oh! get pregnant on your wedding night if you can, there is no time oh!!!….. ( in a Nigerian aunts accent)
And so all this time, there is an unspoken assumption that the moment you are ready to get pregnant all you need do is have that one bout of rambunctious sex and BAAMM!!! Baby on board.
LIES……
You get confused… this was supposed to be easy, everybody and their neigbours dog is pregnant….. I mean I was supposed to get pregnant just by thinking about it . What happened? All the warnings and threats become another Santa Claus moment because even with all your intellect and knowledge subconsciously you believed what you were told .i.e that you would get pregnant at the drop of a hat.
For a lot of women the story becomes further complicated . All of sudden you start seeing weird acronyms like PCOS, OOS and hearing words like oestrogen, estrogen, fallopian tubes, cervical mucus, fertility window, two week wait, cervix wall, threatened expulsion, threatened abortion, ovulation days, viable eggs, etc you start hearing about drugs like Clomid and Preseed and all what not… Then to your utmost surprise you find out that the egg only survives for 12 hours in a month and you can only get pregnant about in 4 days within 28-30 days in a month. WHAT!?
But then again everywhere you turn someone is either pregnant or just had a baby. How are they doing it? Something is not adding up… Pregnancy envy sets in you are happy for them but at the same time sad… its confusing, its complicated you cannot explain it, you cannot even explain yourself to yourself… everything is everywhere..
STOP!!!! PRAY, LISTEN and REMEMBER whose child you are and you will find your answers. I found mine in the bible.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
For every woman who has known the journey of trying to conceive, I send baby dust your way ( as some would say) ….. sooner that you think your journey will be a lesson you use to help others. AMEN. 
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Thanks for this Ori. I am actually a case study. I ve been there
You’re welcome dear.
Nice one dear….
Thankyou Onome
Really nice writeup. I can totally relate. I only got to know of PCOS and clomid and a whole lot of other acronyms after I got married. LOL. Baby dust to all that are TTC
Lilly thanks soo much
God’s will must be done in our lives regardless….. I love you deeply
Thankyou my Sunshine
Thanks for the write up may God hear our prayers, we expecting mothers. Amen
Beautiful piece Ori
i jst learned nt to b a judge judy! married no delay blessed with three kids true we all have battles we all are fighting i pray God help us… Amen thank you bar Ori Onum for sharing d link…
Beautifully written Ori! I felt every piece of it. Thanks for sharing.
Nice reading this piece
Knowledge is power, well written 👍🙌
Hmmm, u said it all. For some it is once, for others it is more than once. It will come when least expected. That’s God for u. Hmmm, mummy meet my friend, eeehn, nooooo, its not like that. Its like how? He is just a friend. OK! I font want to have a baby until two years later. Eehn, power in words u say? A lot of environmental effects too. Its all part of growing up in our society. Lady its a beautiful and very educating write up even for grandmas and grandpas u won’t believe it. Like u have said, the Lord makes it beautiful at HIS own time. Kudos to uuuu. I love reading ur write ups.
Nice writeup. I love to read what you write. Gods blessings.
And this is the first time I’m hearing the word Preseed (covers face) I’m still a novice it seems. The story of not getting pregnant is epic, really funny. There are good months and “emotional” months to this waiting to get pregnant journey.
Enjoyed the write up.
Nice read lady Romford,
Word for such anxious times.
Really nice read, Ori. I smiled, I cried and I prayed. So much emotions… Weldone.
I had a nice read… and quite an educative piece… in life there is always a waiting period and after that all there is, is testimony… Stay blessed ma..
I had a nice read… and quite an educative piece… In life there is always a waiting period and after that all there is, is testimonies!!! Stay blessed dear.
Fantastic piece . And I thought I knew all there was to getting pregnant…..this was an eye opener. As you said , I send baby dust your way.. your story is cooking. …can’t wait …
I always enjoy reading your posts. Thanks Ori.
Thanks Flo…I appreciate.
Babe u have said it all in this article…very educative and a must read for everywoman.May God meet us all at the point of our needs.welldone and well said 👍👍👍
Caro Babay/….. Thanks for reading we have to hook up this christmas oh
Lovely. Apt. Brought the thoughts of many to life. Was also surprised when I thankfully found out after marriage that one round begat not a baby lol.
hahaha Ope you’re a case… thanks for reading
Great piece. Thanks for having the courage to write this and encourage others. All that your heart desires will be granted when God says it is time. God bless you!!!
thank you Yetunde I appreciate
awww thankyou soo much… i’m giggling with excitement and yes Gods timing is evrything
Loved this article and I was grinning as I saw PCOS(I’m dealing with this). I’m not married or anything but I understand the struggle of trying to conceive and also thankful that I got to know about my condition way early, I realise not a lot of women are that lucky.
A lot has to go into educating women and men about the trying to conceive stage and I think people have to go easy on themselves. It will all happen at God’s appointed time.
Sending love and light to every family trying to conceive.
Nfirst time commenter…
Gang member, you’re here? Ioool welcome to our blog.