The initial joys of knowing ‘I am pregnant’ may not always last for many. The onset of pregnancy blues, vomiting, mood swings and bouts of depression are likely to dampen the unbound bliss prompting many mom-to-be’s to think ‘never again’. And for working women, the woes are manifold. Stepping out obviously means missing out on all the pampering at home to suddenly being faced with a skeptical ‘you-are-sick-and-hence-incapable’ look on your boss’s face.Quite obviously, most working women are bombarded with advices on ‘what to do’ and ‘what not to’ at the workplace and home, landing them in throes of confusion. To finally have some peace, most of them quit their jobs and sit at home to take care of the unborn. What many tend to overlook is that several women love their jobs, and don’t necessarily relish the idea of twiddling their thumbs at home.To pep them up, City Express ventures to bust three new-gen myths about the ‘dangers of working’ force-fed into their minds.Myth 1: Pregnant women need rest and hence should not be working Fact: Young women who enjoy their time at office and a lucrative pay packet could suddenly find themselves taking a longish break and then eventually giving it up after pregnancy. Is this really required? “Not unless she has some serious health concerns like bleeding”, says Dr Rajakumari Unnithan, gynaecologist at Sunrise Hospital, Kochi. According to her, pregnancy only brings about a physiological change and shouldn’t be treated as a disease. “We advise women not to travel in autorickshaws and scooters during the first trimester and that is it. As long as the person is healthy, there is no reason why she shouldn’t work”, says Dr Rajakumari. In fact, there are women who work till the last 2-3 days before their delivery.And getting engaged in something relieves the anxiety about your baby. Doesn’t it? Myth 2: Expecting moms are supposed to eat, eat and eat and going to work doesn’t amply help that cause. So, stay at home and concentrate on food so that uncles, aunts and even your baby nephew can force you to gorge on food for a ‘healthy baby’. Fact: Eating sensibly is the mantra. According to Dr Rajakumari, there is simply no use in filling your stomach for the sake of it. “This might in fact cause some pregnant women to develop aversion to food. They get over it after a few months. So, attention relatives: No force feeding. There is absolutely no need to change one’s’ eating habits, though we tell them to have more milk and fruits,” the doctor says.Myth 3: Commuting is a major problem. Sitting at home would save all the jerks and bumps of Kochi’s potholed roads. Fact: Mere shakes, bumps and jerks won’t hurt the baby in anyway. Dr Rajakumari, who is working on her fourth book on obstetrics and gynaecology, feels that all the hullabaloo regarding pregnancy and childbirth is mostly because today’s nuclear families have just one or two kids. Hence, all the over-attention and fuss.However, Priyanka Idicula, the director of Birth Village and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, says the stress-level at work place does affect the baby. “As long as the mother can balance her work and personal life, there is no harm in being employed,” says Priyanka.[email protected]
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