Many seek expert opinion before starting a family

Thane: Several married couples who want to have a baby are consulting counselors and psychiatrists before conceiving.

They want to be prepared about handling the child and securing the baby’s future, say experts.

“We get many partners who are scared that they would be unable to give time and values to their children due to their busy schedule. Also many of these couples are from the working class and stay in nuclear families, as a result they know that if they have a child they would not have anyone to look after the kid and get worried whether the child would get sufficient emotional support,” said Madhavi Kulkarni, counselor at Institute for Psychological Health.

The experts state that though the couples are financially stable they doubt whether they can be good parents and want to learn how to nurture their children. Many of such queries and solved as they are given parenting counseling and opt for workshops for the same.

“Many feel parenting is an art and it comes naturally but now-a-days many are ready to learn. They attend workshops or seek expert help. The couples are taught as to what and how they can teach their kids. They are told how they can give the child more time and build a strong bonding,” said Dr Aditi Acharya, psychiatrist and marriage counselor.

They are also told how to ensure the child does not fall into bad company and that they need to keep a tab on their friends.

“Many busy parents usually reward their children with gadgets but this is wrong,” added Dr. Acharya. Experts say this is a healthy trend as couples become more responsible.