Digital content creator and actress Mary Wanjiku Ng’endo, popularly known as Shigwan Shiqo, has revealed that she did not realize she was pregnant until she was five months along, describing her experience as a cryptic pregnancy.
Speaking about the unexpected discovery, Shiqo explained that she experienced none of the common pregnancy symptoms, leaving her completely unaware that she was expecting.
“Nilikuwa na kitu inaitwa cryptic pregnancy; nilitoka event ya Safaricom tukaenda base kwangu Good Vibes tukapiga sherehe moja na mabestie zangu and because nilikuwa nameza antibiotics hiyo siku pombe ilikuwa inakata,” she said.
According to the actress, she had been taking antibiotics to treat a yeast infection and noticed that alcohol did not sit well with her during an outing with friends. After finishing her medication, she returned to the hospital for a refill and also sought treatment for persistent back pain.
“Nilikuwa na yeast infection ya tumbo, na nilikuwa nirudi hosy ni top up antibiotics juu zilikuwa zimeisha, so kuenda hospitali nikaambia daktari nimekujia zile antibiotics plus I was feeling something kwa mgongo yangu,” she recalled.
The doctor recommended an ultrasound scan, but instead of finding the cause of her back pain, the sonographer informed her that she was pregnant.
“Daktari akarecommend tufanye scan, nikaenda scan alafu mtu wa scan akaniambia, ‘Madam uko na a very good body, uko na flat tummy na mtoto amegrow vizuri.’ Niliignore, tena akarudi akaniambia the baby is growing well na naona sahii tuko five months,” she said.
Shiqo admitted she initially believed the sonographer was speaking to another patient.
“Nikamuuliza ni mimi ndio unaambia? Akasema yes. Nikamwambia mimi nimekuja uangalie kama niko na growth kwa mgongo. Then akaita daktari, daktari akaniambia, ‘Congratulations, naona we are expecting.'”
She said the news came as a complete surprise because she had not experienced symptoms commonly associated with pregnancy.
“Mimi nilikuwa na mimba for five months, sijui. Sikuwa na nausea, sikuwa na morning sickness, sikuwa na anything mtu wa mimba anaweza experience.”
Shiqo further explained that she never suspected she was pregnant because she was using a family planning method that had already stopped her menstrual periods.
“In terms of periods sikuwa nazo juu ya mambo ya family planning; I did not used to get my periods,” she added.
