Mommy, is it time yet?

HYDERABAD:  A recent was survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on 1200 married full-time working women, with no children and 800 non-working mothers from the urban areas. The survey revealed that 650 of the 1200 women put off plans of having children for career advancement and pursuing higher studies. On the other hand, 10 per cent of the 800 stay-at-home mothers expressed regret at having quit their job, as it became financially tough to raise children on a single income. This marks a change from the recent past with more and more working female adults taking their own sweet pregnant time in making the decision.With the constant rise in the standard of living and hence automatically the cost of living, planning and time management have become an integral part of married couples’ lives in the city due to both partners holding jobs - a fact that affects the process of having children which demands constant care and attention from the mother.  Explained D S Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing the results of the survey, “Ambitious working women in India are not willing to give up their career for the sake of family as they are apprehensive about dealing with stress and emotional distress associated with issues of work/life balance.” Testimony to that, many married-working women in the city voiced similar sentiments with varied reasons for postponing having children. With a worsening economy, it has become imperative to have a multi-income pool to run a family without financial hiccups. Ajuli Dasgupta, a public relations and events consultant says, “In these changing times, it is important for both the partners to be career oriented because we can work more efficiently at this young age and save more money to bring up the children in an environment where I can spend some time with them.” However, it isn’t just the financial logistics of becoming a mother that are inhibiting these women; a loss of social identity also seems to be a factor. Madhuri Bhandari, a real estate agent and a financial adviser bats for women who want to maintain their body. According to her, child bearing is a wonderful experience, but one must not succumb to social pressure to have children. “It is the right of a woman to decide when the time is right. I try to maintain my fitness by doing various exercises and I’m afraid I can’t get back in shape after having a child, ”she voices. On the other hand, there are the those who fear the implications of having a child in their 30s. Aarathi Rao, who has quit her job to take care of her child, exhibits concern for women who do not understand the physical implications of child-bearing at a relatively younger age. “I think women should have their first child before the age of 30. Otherwise, it may become very hard for them to regain the physical health after giving birth,” she expresses. Sneha Vellala, a doctor from the city totally agrees. She also points out various disorders that can occur due to late pregnancies. She points out, “A pregnant woman, after the age of 34, is highly prone to hypertension, which can lead to an abortion or early termination. There is also a high risk of chromosomal disorders occurring, such as Down Syndrome.” While health concerns are genuine, it is up to young women to balance out having children against providing a solid nurturing platform. For now though, it looks like motherhood has taken a backseat and making money been notched up higher on the priority list.