How Zambia Affects Pregnancy

For the most part, pregnancy is the same in America (or anywhere) as it is here in Zambia. I go to a doctor for prenatal care every month, they take ultrasounds every so often, I keep getting bigger, and all the ladies I see at church giggle and wink and are excited to see my expanding belly.

But every once in a while, I am reminded that being pregnant in Zambia is still a little different. At every doctor’s appointment, my doctor asks if I am sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net. And even though I am, and even though our windows are covered with screens, I still am prescribed a malaria-prevention medication to take 2-3 times during my pregnancy.

I almost decided that I wouldn’t bother taking it, because of the unknown risk to the baby. But then I looked down at my mosquito-bitten ankles and decided it might not be such a bad idea.