The Risks of Being a Single Mother

Modern society has become a lot more accepting of less-than-conventional livelihoods. Many people didn't bat an eye when a close friend or acquaintance grew up in single-parent households.

When it comes to celebrity single moms, people like Sandra Bullock, Kate Winslet, and Michelle Williams often come to mind. However, there are some risks to being a single mother. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. It may affect your health later in life.

According to an article in Medical News Today, single motherhood can increase the risk of multiple health problems. These include poor mental health, cardiovascular issues, and increased mortality. Single mothers are also more likely to suffer from fatigue because of the multiple duties of being the provider and caretaker.

2. Children may have limited resources.

Living in a single-mother household can be a risk for children because they have limited social, emotional, and financial resources. When a parent is busy working, children may need to fend for themselves or rely on other family members for emotional support. Additionally, a household that relies on only one income can compromise basic needs, which can be problematic.

3. Social stigma.

Aside from financial strain and health risks, single mothers still risk being judged by society. While single motherhood is common, most communities still consider single moms "inadequate" because they think they are exposing their children to more risks.

4. Your children may resent you.

Children unhappy in single-parent households may resent their parent for several reasons. Lack of time together, inability to provide for their needs and feelings of abandonment can lead to resentment, affecting your relationship with your child. Also, single mothers who often bring in boyfriends may make the child have an unhealthy view of relationships.

It's not a sin to be a single mother. However, some risks can affect your child's quality of life. Nevertheless, just because the chances are great does not mean your child will resent you or become antisocial. If you need help or support, consider joining a therapy group or visiting a counselor to check your emotional health.

by Barry Verkauf

Factors to Consider Before Getting Pregnant

With so many available choices, women can easily delay their time to conceive. In the past, women got pregnant as early as their late teens and early 20s. Nowadays, marrying in your late 20s and conceiving sometime after that age is perfectly acceptable.

Nevertheless, no matter how old you are and if you are considering having a child. Here are some factors to consider first before getting pregnant:

1. Check if your health is in order. It's essential to see if your body is physically capable of undergoing the stages of pregnancy. One way to ensure your physical health is to schedule a preconception appointment. During this appointment, your doctor will review your health history, evaluate potential risks, and advise you on how to have a healthy pregnancy.

2. Get your finances in order. Learning to budget for a baby is a lifelong commitment. So, before you start a family, here are some things to consider:

- Look for insurance companies that offer prenatal coverage;

- Research the costs of prenatal services in your area;

- Check if your workplace provides family medical leaves;

- The price of childcare services

3. Gain healthy habits. Right now, is the best time to quit if you have vices like smoking and drinking. As you may know, smoking and drinking during pregnancy can lead to many congenital disabilities that could potentially harm your baby. Additionally, consider taking vitamins like Folic Acid, which encourages healthy fetal development. You can also start exercising regularly to keep your body in tip-top shape.

4. Research on family health history. You and your family's health history record any health conditions that you, your partner, and close family members have had. Learning about your shared family health history enables you to prepare for your child's potential health risks.

5. Learn what kind of parent you want to be. Parenting is a lifelong commitment that requires discipline and patience. Before you consider conceiving a child, it helps to understand what parenting style you'd wish to practice to rear your child. During this step, it also helps to involve your partner in the decision so you two can work cohesively as a unit.

Choosing to conceive is a life-changing decision that requires careful planning. Once you do decide to get pregnant, remember to have at least a plan on how you would like to raise your child later in life. If you and your partner are ready to handle the responsibilities, then get ready to embrace the journey of parenthood.

by Barry Verkauf

Why Infertility Stings?

Throughout history, many societies and communities held infertility the inability to conceive or bear a child, as a badge of shame. In medical jargon, the World Health Organization defines it as a disease concentrated in the male and female reproductive system characterized by the failure to achieve pregnancy over a year or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention views infertility as a common problem of 1 out of 5 American women. Worldwide, it affects an estimated 186 million individuals.

With the fairly high number of individuals struggling with infertility, one would think that there is widespread acceptance and understanding. It is difficult to believe that the opposite is true. Because of cultural sensitivities, people are less accepting of sufferers of infertility in some societies. Fertility is associated with life and its continuation. Infertility does otherwise. It stops the proliferation of life in its tracks and the preservation of the family line. Dynasties have ended because of the failure of kings to sire a progeny. 

The inability to become pregnant is even harder on women. Although there are cases of women making a choice not to become pregnant, pregnancy is still at the top of the list of the majority of women. Having a child is the realization of the dream of a complete family for a woman. Infertility breaks a woman’s heart and sometimes her family through an easily-obtainable divorce. Stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem are some of the negative things that women go through after an infertility diagnosis.   

Fortunately, all is not lost. Advances in medical science have grown by leaps and bounds through the years. Medical procedures aimed to address infertility such as assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are now more precise and reliable. Although these are not within easy reach of the general population because of their high cost, they give hope to the millions who suffer from infertility.

by Barry Verkauf