When Skeem Saam actress Mogau Keebine tied the knot in 2021, she and her husband made a simple promise—to soak in every moment of their newlywed bliss. They wanted to travel, go on spontaneous dates, and fully enjoy their marriage before taking the next big step.

But as time passed, the desire to grow their little family became undeniable. Eventually, the couple decided to stop using contraceptives, consult a gynaecologist, and embrace the exciting journey toward parenthood.

 

“Contrary to what we were told—that it might take a long time to conceive after stopping contraceptives—it actually took us only about three months,” Mogau recalls.

 

She discovered the life-changing news one quiet morning at home while her husband was out for a jog. “I wasn’t feeling great around that time, so I had gotten into the habit of taking a test once a week. That morning, I did it again, not expecting much,” she shares.

 

“Just the week before, I had taken a test, and it was negative. I carried on with life, having fun—only for the next test to come back positive!”

 

The moment was overwhelming in the best way possible. Mogau and her husband had always dreamed of becoming parents, so the news felt like a natural and beautiful next step in their love story.

 

As the excitement settled, reality set in—especially when it came to work. “My biggest worry was my career. I thought I had more time. A major storyline was coming up, and in my mind, the timing couldn’t have been worse—or so I thought.”

 

For the first three months, she kept the pregnancy private before finally breaking the news to the production team. To her relief, they were incredibly supportive and even wrote her pregnancy into the show’s storyline. “That was a huge weight off my shoulders, and I could finally enjoy the experience. It was such a blessing.”

 

Mogau recalls how pregnancy transformed her daily life on set. “The moment you find out, everything just rushes in at once. I had pretty bad morning sickness, and while at work, there was only one thing I could stomach—a tomato, cheese, and tomato sauce sandwich,” she laughs.

 

“The most amazing part was how my baby seemed to know when it was time to focus. On set, I felt completely fine, but the moment they said ‘cut,’ I’d suddenly feel pregnant—nauseous, exhausted, and all the usual symptoms would kick in.”

 

As the months went by and her baby bump grew, production made thoughtful adjustments to support her. “They moved my changing area closer to set so I didn’t have to walk far; I swapped my heels for flats, and everyone was incredibly accommodating,” she says with gratitude.

 

Despite having a smooth pregnancy and working up until her eighth month, the birth itself didn’t go as planned.

 

“I had my heart set on a natural birth at a center, but life had other plans, and we had to go for an emergency C-section,” she shares. “At first, everything seemed fine—the baby was healthy on the first day. But then, we had to be admitted for a week, and that was really scary.”

 

That first week in the hospital tested her strength, but it also deepened her appreciation for everything—the journey, her baby, and the gift of motherhood.

 

After finally being discharged and settling into life as a mom, Mogau had a surprising realization—she actually missed being pregnant!

 

“My pregnancy was so nice that after I gave birth and we overcame that scary week, I missed having my baby inside me,” she admits. “Although, in all honesty, there were moments when I was extremely tired.”

 

She chuckles as she reflects on the tougher parts. “Two things I will not miss are the morning sickness—it’s not just in the morning, by the way, I absolutely hated it!—and the extreme sleepiness. I just did not like that.”

 

Despite the unexpected twists, Mogau’s journey into motherhood has been one of love, resilience, and pure joy. Looking back, she sees it all as part of a beautiful story—one she wouldn’t trade for anything.

 

Raised as the eldest of four, Mogau was brought up by her grandmother, who was very strict. Her mother lived elsewhere and visited on weekends.

 

“I want to be the kind of parent who listens to my child. Growing up, it often felt like, ‘You’re a child, do as you’re told,’ without much explanation. But I want to be the type of mom who offers understanding and helps my child make sense of things, not just follow orders.”

 

Mogau and her husband both have naturally strong-willed personalities, so she fully expects to raise a curious and opinionated child.

The actress shares how people have long assumed she had children before—after all, she played the role of a “deputy mother” to her siblings.

 

But that role is completely different from having her own child, which holds a much deeper and more personal meaning for her.

 

“I don’t want to sound cliché, but unfortunately, all the clichés are true. It’s unconditional love. I finally understand why parents defend their kids even when they’re completely out of line—I get it now.

 

“There is nothing my child could do that would make me stop loving them, and we’ve gone through all the scenarios,” she says, laughing. “The love goes beyond how tired, sick, or annoyed you are. It’s something I’ve never felt before.”

 

She admits she does want more children in the future and shares how her husband immediately stepped into the protector role from the moment they found out she was pregnant.

 

“The best advice I ever got from my mother was to love my child the way I want to, in the way that feels right for me—without external pressures. That advice really stuck with me because we hear so many opinions from everywhere. But that freed me from societal expectations, and I’m raising and loving my baby the way I choose.

 

“Being pregnant is hard; it changes you in so many different ways, and I am constantly relearning this new person. It’s hard emotionally, physically and even financially. So having gone through it has heightened my respect for women and how goldly this entire process is.