Irene Nabusoba
6 August 2007
Kampala — IT is now confirmed. Dorcus Inzikuru, is pregnant. The steeplechase gold medalist, popularly known as the 'Arua gazelle' will give birth to her first baby in a matter of months. However, as she eagerly awaits the arrival of her baby, her fans are worried that she may not continue with her career.
Well, sports doctors have so far allayed these fears, arguing that women can get a baby and still get back to the track and even perform superbly. Amidst all these concerns, the question is: Should women halt childbirth in pursuit of career? What is the right age to give birth anyway?
Dr Olive Ssentumbwe, a specialist in family planning and population at the World Heath Organisation, says the best time for a woman to give birth is between 20-35 years.
"Beyond this, we consider it a risk pregnancy," Ssentumbwe says. "This is the time when conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity usually set in. They wear out the body and if you add pregnancy, complications are very likely to occur. Such women (above 35 years) should especially be under skilled personnel."
Ssentumbwe says that women should learn to balance career and childbirth if they are to enjoy a healthy reproductive life. "Life is a balance. Produce while you work. Having a child does not mean you will not run again. You can give birth and pursue your career thereafter," she says, expressing disgust at the on-going debate on whether Inzikuru was right or not to become pregnant.
Not a new trend
Female actresses, musicians, models, beauty queens and sports women have often caused a stir with their reproductive developments.
Fans are often quick to criticise the timing of these people's pregnancies, prophesying the end of their careers because of the additional family demands.
The same thing has also taken a toll on today's career women, with many opting to go back to school to qualify to go up the ladders rather than get tied down with the demands that come along with child-bearing.
Consequently, many women have postponed marriage and childbearing, only to spend all they have struggled to earn on fertility treatments when they later decide to have children.
Ever wondered why the demand for fertility services like Intro Vitro Fertilization is on the rise?
Well, scientific research suggests that a woman's quality of eggs declines with age.
Dr Patel Prakash, a fertility expert who runs an Endoscopy Clinic on Kisozi Complex in Kampala, says fertility declines especially from age 35 and above.
"When women delay to have babies, their chances of getting pregnant decreases. Their need for fertility treatment increases because their eggs are not good. This has been worsened by cases of early menopause," Prakash says.
He says menopause ideally sets in at 43 to 45 years, but some women even start menopause as early as 25 years.
"Besides, these 'elderly mothers' may be anaemic because this is the age when requirements for iron and haemoglobin increase. Pregnancy means more demand," he adds.
Prakash also notes that such mothers are more prone to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications because their bones are no longer flexible.
"If she is a first-time mother, it is even more risky. That is why the need for assisted birth such as caesarean is high with such women," he says.
Could these be the reasons international players like Lyndsay Davenport (tennis), marathon runner Paula Radcliffe and 100m queen Marion Jones chose to have some 'fertility evidence' before getting back to the track?
I'll be back in full force - Inzzi
"In my culture, when an active athlete does not give birth by age 30, it is feared she may never have a baby. I'm now 26 years. I'm getting old. In fact my parents are very happy," she says.
She says she will not be able to compete in the forthcoming World Championships and next year's World Cross- country championships in Edinburgh.
"But I will be back for Olympics. I'm well, only that I feel bad (nausea) when I go to a fueling station. But I still jog in the morning. I go to functions that promote sports. I can't go into hiding. You cannot promote sports like that. People should not worry. I will come back with full force, God-willing," Inzzi says flashing her trademark smile.
Ugandan runners such as Ruth Kyalisima, Mary Awora and now prisons runner Irene Chemusto, a mother of seven, and Grace Birungi have continued running after childbirth.
Dr Gaston Byamugisha, a marriage therapist and lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Kyambogo University, says there are three models for career progress for women.
"Depending on the type of family you want, you can choose to go to school or pursue your career to the top then settle and give birth; go to school, settle for childbirth then pursue career or balance both," Byamugisha says.
"It depends on the value that particular individuals place on career compared to the family. Typical Ugandan ladies will sacrifice career, but as society changes, more women postpone child-bearing for career though these are still few," he adds, noting that the most preferred model is balancing both aspects - education/career vis-a-vis family/child-bearing.
Byamugisha says in the African tradition, working was secondary for women. "Pressure is still on the family. Women simply work to supplement family income. If you look around, many of our career women, musicians, sports stars, actresses and even models, have one or two children before the epitome of their success. But the current generation is changing," he says.
True. Today, it is common to hear an employer branding a female employee 'unserious' because she took time off to give birth, 'while her counterparts climb the career ladder.'
It is no wonder that female activists have often pressed policy-makers to ensure that workplaces are accommodative for career mothers. They argue that there should be friendly policies that can enable mothers who take time off to give birth to be on the same competitive edge. Employers should particularly respect the labour law pertaining to maternity leave.
Educationists have at least come on board, enabling young mothers and those career women that broke off to undertake 'this noble reproductive role' to go back to school.
What of our own Inzzi?
"It is very discouraging for people to negatively discuss that girl's pregnancy in the media. It is her reproductive right. Men should learn from this, so should employers. When a woman breaks off to give birth, she needs our full support to recompose herself," Ssentumbwe says.
For now, the best we can do is start wrapping our gifts for mom and daughter.
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