| Have you ever wondered why some older women | | | | maintain optimum health required to adequately |
| conceive and bear children whilst young couples seem | | | | nourish a fertilized egg in cases where conception |
| to reach the end of their ropes in their efforts to | | | | occurred. Where a woman is facing this kind of |
| conceive, especially when their doctors say that | | | | pressure, the appearance of her menstruation each |
| there is no reason they should not get pregnant? | | | | month escalates her level of anxiety which further |
| When a young couple gets married or decides to live | | | | erodes her physical and emotional fitness to conceive. |
| together and raise children, expectations set in | | | | As a person from one such culture where traditional |
| especially from older generation who are anxiously | | | | in-laws expect instant conception before you breathe |
| hoping for a grandchild. In some Indian and some | | | | in from saying "I do", this is a real source of pressure. |
| African cultures, getting pregnant right after wedding | | | | In-laws with a tendency for such great expectations |
| is the norm. Thus people in the new couple's lives | | | | to meet their grandkids are well advised to remain |
| begin to listen for pregnancy signals such as morning | | | | neutral and allow the couple to make their own |
| sickness, nausea and drowsiness. While not all women | | | | decisions when to procreate. Couples also must |
| experience these early pregnancy symptoms, a | | | | determine to not permit such pressures to permeate |
| significant number do once they conceive. | | | | their emotional well-being. I often encourage young |
| A close family friend of mine got married a few | | | | couples to be open to their parents about the fact |
| years back, her mother-in-law, telephoned more | | | | that they want to wait a while before becoming |
| frequently than was normal for her. During each call | | | | pregnant. Relaxing and taking life one day at a time |
| she would ask the young lady three or four times in | | | | could be health-promoting and helpful in preparing the |
| a space of five minutes international conversation: | | | | body to conceive and grow a new life inside the |
| "How are you dear?" (Culturally, this is a polite way | | | | womb. This is where maturity has its advantages as |
| to probe for personal information-in this case probing | | | | older women i.e. women older than 26 years are able |
| whether she was pregnant yet). Even though the | | | | to handle the in-laws and maintain their emotional |
| mother-in-law was inquiring with loving expectation, | | | | calm until their baby time line. |
| she was creating an undue pressure for the newly | | | | Where these measures do not produce the desired |
| coupled. Had she been close, I assume she would | | | | result in the time line established by the couple, visits |
| have asked her point blank "did you have your period | | | | to their family physician and their obstetrician & |
| this month dear"? | | | | Gynaecologist are first starting points - as these |
| In a situation like the above, undue pressure affects | | | | professionals can check vital organs and statistics to |
| the emotional state of the woman and sometimes | | | | determine that all is well or prescribe therapy where |
| creates anxiety in the relationship with her partner. It | | | | necessary. Many women who have had challenges in |
| can also trigger unrest in the woman's thought | | | | conceiving have help with medical practitioners |
| processes and compromises her body's ability to | | | | specializing in this area. |