A family in Kayole estate is filled with joy after their friend bore three children at once after 15 years of struggling with infertility. Lydia Wanjiku Maina, a woman who lost her marriage for not being able to bear children. Lydia Wanjiku Maina shared her poignant journey, recounting how her infertility led to the dissolution of her marriage and strained familial relationships. Why was Lydia Wanjiku desperate for children? In her narrative on Ramogi TV, she described the relentless pressure, disdain, and mistreatment she endured in her home due to her inability to bear children, as children are often seen as the backbone of a family. “I was married but our relationship ended because I couldn’t conceive. At home, I was burdened with excessive work due to not having children. While others with kids were excused from work, I was constantly reminded of my childlessness as a reason to keep me working.,” she said. Desperate to realize her dream of motherhood, Lydia underwent a costly medical procedure, (In vitro fertilisation) depleting her savings and assets with each attempt. What is in vitro fertilisation? According to the Mayo Clinic, in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF, is an intricate series of procedures that can result in a pregnancy. It is an infertility treatment, a condition in which pregnancy cannot be achieved after at least a year of trying. During the process, mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized by spermatozoa in a laboratory. Subsequently, a procedure is performed to transfer one or more of the fertilized eggs, known as embryos, into the uterus, where fetal development occurs. How much did Lydia Wanjiku spend? Her first endeavour, costing KSh 800,000, yielded no success. Undeterred, she pursued a second attempt, investing KSh 650,000, only to face disappointment once more. Despite the setbacks, Lydia remained resilient, embarking on a third and final attempt, relieved to find the cost reduced to KSh 600,000. Fortunately, her perseverance paid off, and she was blessed with triplets. “The process was costly and there were several challenges. My first attempt was in 2018 where I used KSh 800,000 but was unsuccessful. The second time in 2019, also failed despite spending another KSh 650,000. But I was desperate for a child and so I embraced another attempt which cost KSh 600,000 and fortunately resulted in three children at once,” she recalled. Lydia expressed profound gratitude for her long-awaited blessing, emphasising the profound importance of children in one’s life. To her, even the prospect of having just one child was a cherished prayer answered, recognising that parenthood imbues life with purpose and meaning beyond material possessions. “You can have everything in this world but without a child you are incomplete, They are the backbone of a family. Saa hii nimebadilishiwa jina. I would ask the government to help those women suffering from infertility issues,” she requested.
by Nancy Odindo