A report
says that more than three million babies across the world have been born
through Invitro Fertilisation (IVF). The number of twins being born in our own
country is also growing. I can vouch for
this based on the number of twins born in my immediate
circle of friends and relatives in the
recent past. On closer examination I find that this phenomenon is happening
because of the growing number of couples, who are unable to get children
through the natural process, opting for
Test Tube babies better known as ` In
Vitro Fertilisation `. IVF is the most popular form of artificial
insemination under which more than one fertilized egg is placed in the women`s uterus through the
cervix; very often resulting in the birth of twins.
Many of the
newly married couples do not want any kids for the first two or three years.
Not only do they want to spend time understanding each other but also want to
enjoy life without the restrictions imposed by kids. They call it `planning` their
family. In fact, some of them even go for abortion if the girl conceives by accident. Unfortunately by
the time they are ready to have a baby, it refuses to come. Besides, the stress
and strain of corporate life- where both husband and wife are working with
irregular timings- lead to many physiological problems. The fact is that they
don`t even spend enough quality time with each other.
Then the
circus starts. While the elders in the family are busy offering prayers at
every temple in the country where the presiding deities are supposed to
guarantee a child, they also seek the
advice of astrologers on whose advice they perform various rituals at home and
in temples. The couples in the meanwhile
are busy visiting specialists finally landing at
the doors of the Fertility Clinics. You can see one such clinic in every locality in Chennai. More and more Gynecologists are
opting to specialize in Test Tube babies.
After the successful process in the fertility
Clinic many of the couples are blessed
with twins. If they happen to be a boy and a girl every one is doubly happy.
Because in one go the couple has achieved the ideal family norm of having a boy
& a girl. All is well that ends well,
though the challenge of bringing up twins is a story by itself.
I remember
meeting an old friend some time ago, whose wife was a very well known gynecologist who had a roaring practice until
the nineties. Her reception area would
be always crowded with scores of expectant mothers. At the height of her
practice she used to help deliver about
8 to 10 babies a day.
But today
her reception area is bare. There are only
a couple of prospective mothers waiting to see her. Whereas the Fertility
clinic started by her daughter-in-law next door is teeming with anxious couples.
Even to get an appointment with her daughter-in-law, the patients have to wait
for a couple of weeks.
Times are
indeed changing!
This article appeared in the Adyar Times issue dt. March
13-19, 2016 under my fortnightly column `Rajan`s Random Reflections`
