MALAYSIAN-born surgeon, Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri yesterday shared the good news with her social media followers when she announced that she is now pregnant with her first child.
The Kota Baru, Kelantan, native who is currently working in the UK said that although she was excited to announce the good news, she took some time to do so because she was worried that it would receive less than positive reactions from some quarters.
“I am very excited to share this wonderful news with you—I am pregnant! It took me a while to share this with you all—while social media is a great platform to share educational posts and positive experiences, it can also be a toxic and judgmental place,” she said to her approximately 814,000 followers on Instagram.
Dr Nur Amalina, 35, said she went through a 'difficult period' and fatigue during the early stages of her pregnancy because her daily schedule was full of work demands and at the same time, she had to complete academic assignments to get her PhD.
“I went through a difficult first trimester up to an early second trimester (mainly with morning sickness and vomiting) up to the point that I lost weight. Tiredness also plays a factor.
“When you wear multiple hats and juggle multiple tasks, sometimes it can be a real challenge. Things that I used to be able to do have suddenly become such a difficult task,” she added.
The doctor, who married Briton Alexander Charles in April last year, said that a study published in the journal JAMA Surgery showed that surgeons are likely to face double difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to the journal, many doctors and surgeons tend to postpone their pregnancies, hoping to wait for the right time because of career challenges.
She hopes to share her pregnancy experience through writing one day.
“My decision to have children now is what works for ME, and it’s important that we don’t compare ourselves to others.
“I’m very lucky to have a very supportive husband to go through this journey together with me (Yes, he’s so excited! He would read all the recommended baby books! He probably knows more about pregnancy than I do now!”
Dr Nur Amalina said it was also special when her mother, Sabariah Hassan, who was very concerned about her condition, made sure she ate enough so she stocked the freezer with Malaysian food before returning home.
“Alhamdulillah, things are getting a lot better now and I am very much enjoying this journey while our baby is kicking away in my uterus.
“I am excited to share my experience, particularly the realities and challenges of the entire process, as well as educational posts about pregnancy based on evidence-based medicine. I'd like to learn from you as well!
“It’s amazing how this little one can bring so much joy in your life, and I look forward to this exciting new journey as a mother!” she added.
Dr Nur Amalina first received attention when she recorded an excellent result of 17A1 while sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in 2004.
Her ingenuity qualified her to receive a Kijang Emas scholarship from Bank Negara, which covered his studies in medicine in the UK, and she started her career as a medical officer upon graduation from the University of Edinburgh in 2013. – The Vibes, June 5, 2022
* This article originally appeared in our Malay-language sister portal Getaran
