ONDO OAP FOLAJOGUN AKINLAMI SPEAKS ON HER PREGNANCY JOURNEY AS SHE CELEBRATES HER 3 MONTHS OLD DAUGHTER

Folajogun Akinlami is one of the celebrities On Air Personalities (OAP) in Ondo state. She is the CEO of Differently Abled Foundation and the brain behind Beyond Challenges, a popular TV program where people living with disabilities share their experiences. An Advocate for people living with disabilities.

Early this year, the 37-year-old celebrity got pregnant with her first child. And many wondered how she was able to carry the pregnant due to her disability challenge.

3 months after baby Renia arrived, Folajogun shared her inspirational story. She tagged it, " Joys of Motherhood" the meaning behind the saying.

Enjoy.

" JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD" THE MEANING BEHIND THE SAYING

I remember the first boyfriend I had, I was in part two at OAU then and every time I walked by his friends, they would giggle and act funny.

 One day I asked him, Why are your friends always acting funny? His answer just damn right almost stopped my breath. " it's cos of your leg, the way you walk. They asked how would you look on your wedding day. How would you look during pregnancy? 

Well, of course, it didn't work out because even when I asked him "What do you think, turns out he wondered too". These are questions I hadn't even thought of myself but down the line, I realized it was only the first time I would come across such myopia in life. 

I have fought my way through stigmatization, held my head high and even spoken for the downtrodden. I seek to inspire women living with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest irrespective of what society throws at them.

So when I chose to walk the path to motherhood alone, I chose with both eyes open. I made a conscious decision to be happy and wait for no one while at it. Who said it was going to be easy?

I had options of adoption, surrogacy, IVF, IUI etc...

I saw obvious fear on the doctors' faces each time I went to the clinic 

They gave me 5 reasons why being pregnant and the actual birth process scared me

* I am an elderly Gavida ( hahaha 37 and yet to give birth )

* I am plus size ( and hawt too dahhhhh)

* I had fibroids removed less than a year ago (Oct 2020)

* I had preclemcia ( Pregnancy Induced hypertension)

*  I am a Polio case with Scoliosis ( Back anatomy not straight enough to give the best anaesthesia)

I remember the look on Dr. Dazuza's face as I burst into laughter after her analysis and sincere opinion.  She joined in the laughter and the next thing I asked was " So ma when is the surgery? 

She said, " I just love you, you have the right attitude for life and I am impressed". I told my mum on the way home that these 5 reasons why the doctors are scared are the same reasons God would prove himself great.

On Friday the 3rd of September, lying down on that operation table ( The spinal worked despite the polio case Scoliosis by the way). The matron said, "See your baby". I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Ever since I met her, my beautiful bouncing baby girl. I haven't been able to stop looking at her. I stay up all night just to watch her sleep. I catch myself crying and muttering "Thank You Jesus".

Everyone has been calling me "Fola" "Iya baby" and even those who rejected, stigmatized and hurt me have found the courage to type 

" Congratulations; God is with you"

My heart is filled with gratitude to the God who is still in the business of confounding the wise with the foolish things of this world. People have rushed inboxes to ask if I gave birth. 

To them, I have said "Yes and Yes". 

My scars still prove the point, sore all over and still healing but it is worth it.

Yeah, my wound even got infected and I took several trips to heaven and back during the extremely painful process. What about the endless sleepless nights? I was told they call it "Joys of Motherhood ". It's been three months of pure bliss, it has been three months of God's mercies, and it's been three months of rumour-mongering. Three months of learning and relearning everything I know. And three months of knowing the meaning of the word "patience ".

I celebrate you today daughter, may your reign be long baby Reina.

N.B

To those who wondered how I would look while pregnant... We shot it down!!! Killed and rocked a preggy look. Gbam!