C-section on V-Day: Couples seek child on day of love

HYDERABAD: Parakunsham Venu Swamy, an astrologer in Hyderabad, has had a rather busy schedule ahead of Valentine’s Day. Apart from the usual wedding-related enquiries, at least 10 married couples have knocked on his door in the past few days to know an auspicious time on Feb 14 for a caesarean section to have a child on a day that represents love.

Many gynaecologists too have had similar requests in recent days, but they have turned back couples when the due date is much later.

“Couples tell me they would like to have a delivery on Valentine’s Day as the child would be a symbol of their love,” says Swamy. “I tell them the good time, but they have to take the final call.” According to him, the auspicious time for a Valentine’s Day delivery this year is between 10.30 am and noon. Before 9 am is also considered a good time.

Gynaecologists have cautioned such couples against delivery before 38 weeks of pregnancy.

“I got three such requests for Valentine’s Day caesarean deliveries this year, but turned them down as these would have been premature. We tell them that it is best to go for a caesarean only when natural delivery is not possible,” says Dr Prabha Agarwal, gynaecologist with a prominent hospital in the city.

Doctors add that it is common among couples to seek January 1 as the date of birth of their child. “Sometimes we consider requests, like a particular day if the delivery is a preplanned caesarean section and the due date is within one week. Valentine’s Day is the new fad,” says Dr Radha, who runs a clinic in Ameerpet. “Interestingly, it was the husbands, rather than the expecting mothers, who have sought a Valentine’s Day child.”

Dr Sandhya of the Telangana Gynaecologists Association confirmed that gynaecologists were getting “crazy requests like these”. “We don’t encourage such decisions. We tell them to follow the natural path,” she says.