By Kavitha Emmanuel | Director, WOW
I was in my
7th month of pregnancy when I went for one of my ultra-sound scans.
I had by then started to feel the distinct movements of my baby. I was getting
used to the kicks, the turns and twirls inside. But now, for the first time I
could clearly see my baby’s tiny arms, feet and curled up little body all
cuddled comfortably inside. The feeling – indescribable!
Pink or Blue?
The doctor
examined me and told me that all was well with the baby. What a relief! Soon
after that she turned towards me and handed me a form that I had to sign and
she said: “I am not going to tell you what the sex of the baby is. So don’t even
try asking me”. To be frank, I was offended by that statement. How dare she
talk to me like that? Did I look like the kind that would abort my child if it
were a girl? I was so upset …all I could say to her as I signed that form was,
“No, thank you. I don’t want to know the sex of my baby. I am happy to know
that my baby is well’.
As I walked
out of there I noticed a signboard that was outside her door which read: ’Finding
the sex of the child is a crime punishable by law.’ I walked away with mixed
feelings – upset that someone even had to tell ME that sex determination was
against the law and sad because there is the need for such a law. I was however
happy that I had found a safe place to have my baby, where the doctors abide by
the law against sex determination.
Girls are a blessing too!
It was not
just this incident that is stuck in my mind. I remember people finding it weird
when I told them that I wanted a girl. Well meaning friends wished that it was
a boy. To some I defiantly said: “I know it’s a girl!” “Oh no, don’t wish for a
girl…God will bless you with a boy” they said. And yes, God did bless me…with a
beautiful and healthy girl baby! How can anyone dare to undermine the
preciousness of little girls?! Let’s make this world a place where girls are
loved and cherished as much as boys!
