No doubt, a child is a beautiful gift and a meaningful addition to one’s family. It brings immense joy, a deep sense of purpose and a promise for the future. However, a child also comes with responsibilities and added pressures. Ask any parent, they’ll tell you it isn’t a bed of roses!
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, nearly 50 per cent of children in India are born to women in the 15-24 age range. Childbirth is more difficult and dangerous for women younger than 20, since they do not have a fully developed pelvis. Children are also at risk of premature birth, low birth weight and health problems.
When planning a child, it is important to note that a couple may not be financially, physically or emotionally ready. In such cases, it is better to wait. Instead of giving in to societal pressure, each family needs to do what is right for them.
‘First, it is important to understand if your partner is the right father for your child. Remember, this is a decision that cannot be undone,’ says psychologist and marriage counsellor Harini Kameswaran, who is an independent practitioner. ‘Even if you decide to part ways after a few years, it won’t change the fact that he is your child’s father. So, spend time trying to understand one another before you take the plunge. Secondly, family planning shouldn’t be the domain of women alone. If you’re trying to do all the groundwork, initiation and implementation, this is a major red flag. Men have to be jointly responsible for family planning, and supportive of their wives’ needs. When you visit a hospital for counselling, doctors will assess your health and situation, and recommend a family planning measure that is ideal for you.’
The most popular use of short-term contraception is the barrier method, and the use of condoms is perhaps the most common among these. They also prevent STDs. You can also use a diaphragm or cervical cap, which are cups made of silicone, inserted to cover your cervix.
Dr Selvi Rajam Ganesan, an obstetrician and fertility expert says, ‘The use of an IUD or Intrauterine Device is popular with women as it is medium-term, but reversible and quite effective. You can remove it easily, and get pregnant within a few months of removal. This procedure requires proper medical or paramedical intervention. A small T-shaped piece is inserted into your uterus. In a copper IUD, the copper wire is wrapped around the frame, also called Copper T. There are also progesterone-carrying IUDs that release hormones every day, which form a thick plug of mucus. However, those with pelvic inflammation disease, fibroids, anaemia, diabetes, and scarred uterus should ideally avoid it. Opt for this only if your gynaecologist greenlights it.’
Oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, are affordable, safe and effective, if taken in the doses prescribed by your medical practitioner. Dr Selvi says, ‘The hormones in the pill affect ovulation and also thicken the cervical mucus. Tablets should be taken starting from the first day of the menstrual cycle for 21 days. A new course should be started after a seven-day gap. During the first cycle, an additional birth control method is recommended. Headaches, migraines, depression, irritability, weight gain, lethargy and mood swings are side-effects, so take it only in the recommended doses by your doctor. The good news is that 99 percent of women will have normal menstrual cycles within six months of stopping oral contraceptives.’
If you’ve already had one or two children and want to consider family planning as a long-term practice, you can consider permanent contraceptive methods to prevent additional pregnancies. These include female sterilisation or tubectomy in women, which involves permanently closing or cutting your fallopian tubes. This is permanent – so get sterilised only if you’re sure there’s no going back. However, it won’t protect you from STDs. Male sterilisation or vasectomy is another permanent way to control family size.
When opting for any of these contraceptives, always visit a trained medical practitioner for advice and do not begin any course of treatment until they have considered your individual parameters and situation. In case of procedures where medical intervention is required, do not go to spaces with untrained staff or unhygienic facilities. This can cause serious health issues.
Family planning can be rewarding if you take the right advice and consider all your options, before picking what’s right for you. It can help make your parenting journey that much more enriching and beautiful.