By Rufai Ashiat Gbemisola

It was just 7am on a calm Friday morning at the primary healthcare center where I was volunteering as a student nurse. It was the day for the facility’s antenatal program for pregnant women. I was arranging the patient cards behind the nurses’ desk, while waiting for the nurses who were on night shift to hand over to the nurses on morning shift.

My mind flashed back to a conversation between a colleague of mine in school and I on how easily pregnancy symptoms are mistaken for other conditions, especially in communities where discussions on women’s health is rarely done.

Minutes later, the waiting area started to get filled with pregnant women who came for their antenatal care. It could be told from their faces that they all could not wait to have their babies so their protruding bellies can go back its normal shape.

While the pregnant women kept filing in their tens, a young woman walked in, catching my attention. She looked so tired and sad. In the spirit of empathy and care that defines all nurses, I walked up to her, asking if all is well with her.

“I just lost my pregnancy after a heated argument with my husband. I have been pregnant for about a month and some weeks and I am very sure the stress from the argument which saw me shouting at the top of my voice caused my miscarriage,” she explained to me.

I informed the senior nurses on duty of what the woman said and to be sure, we sent her for a scan. Surprisingly, what the doctors found after the scan result was out was not in any way a pregnancy but fibroid. In fact, she was not pregnant at all.

Her face fell and the sadness on her face took another turn. She had been so sure simply because of the changes in her body that resembled those that come from pregnancy. From the bloating and the various discomfort, she had thought it was a baby, but it was not.

Now, you must be wondering what exactly fibroid is. Right? Search no more, for that is why I am here for you.

Fibroids are lumps that grow in or around the uterus. They are not cancer, but they can cause a lot of discomfort. What makes it dangerous is that some women do not even know they have them, while others experience heavy periods, pain in the lower belly, a feeling of pressure or fullness and a swollen tummy that can look like a baby bump when they have it.

Because of these symptoms, it is understandable if someone thinks they are pregnant when they have fibroid, especially when they have missed a period or feel bloated.

Watching the woman come to terms with the truth was hard. She had been carrying hope of having a child but left with a health condition she was never aware of.

My dear reader, you must have seen how guessing could be costly. If you feel any change in your body, do not guess but rather get checked. Self-diagnosing can lead to unnecessary pain.

It is also important we speak more openly about women’s health and educate each other. There is big need for us to spread the right information only, especially in our various communities where myths thrive.

My name is Rufai Ashiat Gbemisola, a 300 level Nursing student, and this is my nursing journey diary. I am putting this out to share my experience so we can all learn. I believe every woman deserves to know about their reproductive health