Journalism of Courage
Despite the hype surrounding the dates 1-11-11 and 11-11-11,when it comes to important decisions such as marriage and children,Puneites would rather trust the stars for a shubh mahurat than fancy dates.There is no rush at birth centres or marriage halls in the city on these dates
Parents-to-be prefer padwa over numbers
Says Dr Sanjay Gupte,former president,Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society of India,There was simply no respite from deliveries on the day of Padwa (second day after Lakshmi Puja during Diwali). There were as many as five requests for an elective surgery on that day and in addition to that five other women went into labour and delivered babies, says Gupte.
At Ruby Hall Clinic,Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar,chief of IVF and gynaecologist,has to daily refuse two-three requests of postponing caesarean section deliveries to the dates planned by the couple. They often give us dates and even the time when the baby should be born based on advice by their astrologers, says Tandulwadkar. If it is medically alright and safe to do so,we agree. Otherwise if they couples demand that the surgery should be postponed by more than a week or so we simply cannot comply. Citing the case of a pregnant women with twins who has completed 36 weeks and can be delivered soon,Tandulwadkar refused to give in to their demand of postponing the surgery for another week as it can lead to complications.
Gynaecologists such as Dr Amita Phadnis and Dr R Balkrishna admit that they do get requests from couples planning a C-section according to mahurat dates suggested by the astrologer. Phadnis however points out that once the patient understands the risks attached to delaying the operation the couples co-operate with the doctors. Dr S Khurd said,If the day and time suggested is relatively close to what the astrologer has suggested then we do entertain these requests,but not if it is going to be problematic for the mother and child,says Khurd.
Following Aishwarya
The figure 11-11-11 may not be magical for many but 25-year-old Nitya Rawat is keen on delivering her firstborn on that date. Gynaecologist Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar from Ruby Hall Clinic has given her a date for the C-section on 9-11-11 but Nitya is keen on 11-11-11 as she has read that actor Aishwarya Rai wants to deliver on that date.
