Expert Shares Why Becoming A Mom Should Be A Woman's Choice

Motherhood is beautiful. However, not every woman wants to take that route in life. While some women dream of being a mother, raise kids, others just don't wish to. However, for the latter, it is still not the easiest choice to make. Often, women choose to become a mother due to societal pressures. However, that shouldn't be the case.

Becoming a mother is not just about taking up a new role. Pregnancy, postpartum completely transforms a woman mentally and physically. If their body isn’t ready to accept these changes, the decision can backfire and deteriorate their health in the long run.

Why Pregnancy Should Be A Woman’s Choice?

We spoke to Dr Pooja C Thukral, Consultant - Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Faridabad and asked her to share her take on pregnancy being a woman’s choice. She said, “The decision of when to plan a pregnancy after marriage is a personal one and can vary based on various factors such as the couple's age, health, financial stability and personal goals. It is recommended that a woman waits at least 18 to 24 months after giving birth to have another pregnancy to allow her body to recover fully. However, if the couple is planning their first pregnancy, they can start trying whenever they feel emotionally and financially ready.”

She added, “It is also important to consult with a healthcare provider before planning a pregnancy to ensure that the woman is in good health and to address any potential health concerns or risk factors. Overall, the decision of when to plan a pregnancy should be made by the couple after careful consideration of their personal circumstances and after consulting with a healthcare provider.”

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Women Should Consider These 5 Changes Before Planning Conception

Dr Thukral added that a woman undergoes many changes when she plans to conceive. These changes vary from woman to woman. However, some of them are common and women planning to conceive should keep them in mind.

• Some women experience changes in their appetite and energy levels when planning for conception.
• Breast tenderness or soreness during ovulation or early pregnancy is quite common.
• Some women who are planning to conceive might experience an increased basal body temperature. This also indicates the most fertile days of the month.
• The cervix produces mucus that changes in texture and consistency throughout the menstrual cycle. When a woman is fertile, the mucus becomes more abundant and has a stretchy, egg-white consistency.

• When a woman plans for pregnancy, she may start tracking her menstrual cycle to determine the most fertile days of the month. She might notice that the menstrual cycle has turned regular, and there might also be a change in the duration of the menstrual cycle.

Conception is just the beginning of changes a woman experiences in her body. With the women undergoing the three trimesters and finally the delivery, there is more to come. Thus, it is crucial that it is the woman making the choice.