Our hair is more than just strands; it embodies our identity, culture, and even politics. It tells stories that are deeply intertwined with our sense of self and the perceptions we carry, consciously or not, into the world.
I had thought that becoming pregnant after 35 years old was the main challenge that my partner and I would need to overcome. However, hyperemesis had other plans for us.
Scientifically speaking, I thought I knew just about everything you could know about egg freezing... But as soon as I started the process as a patient, I quickly realised that knowing the scientific facts is very different from the lived experience.
I know that at the juncture of my intersectionality as a black woman, as a dark-skinned black woman, if I don't acknowledge my achievements, it's likely I would be the first to be shut down, misunderstood, silenced and erased from anything I put my hands to.
Dealing with hyperemesis with a toddler is no joke but my husband, siblings and friends have made it easier though they are all burnt out as well.
I decided to start my fertility journey when I was approaching 35. I wasn’t ready to have children, but I also had no idea how fertile I was and had always wondered if I was able to have children or not.
Being pregnant and extremely vulnerable with a history of PPD (Postpartum Depression) as well has made me worry endlessly about how things will pan out this time. I have not been as sick as I was with my first pregnancy - nowhere near as severe as my first.
As a parent, I've dismissed the notion of a perfect work-life balance. Such an ideal, I've come to believe, often proves elusive, potentially yielding frustration. Instead, my philosophy revolves around radical acceptance, deliberate prioritisation, time with loved ones & adept time management.