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London (pte022/26.04.2005/11:00) - The majority of mothers say that there is too much pressure to be the perfect parent, according to a new survey. As the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk reports, a poll of 514 mothers, commissioned by contraceptive manufacturers Schering, found that nine in 10 felt under almost constant pressure. They blamed the media, government and even education campaigns by charities for the situation. However, despite the strain, 80 per cent said they were confident about the job they were doing.
More than half of those questioned said they spend more quality time with their children than their own parents did with them. Furthermore, nearly three-quarters said that their children had more varied organised activities and interests, such as sport, music and dance, than they did when they were young. However, the survey did reveal that mothers had concern about contraception. 59 per cent of those who felt their family was complete said that their sex life was affected by concerns about the efficacy of their contraception. However, two-thirds of mothers had not talked to their GPs about contraceptive options in the last 12 months.
According to Annie Evans, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, it is important that women seek advice about contraception. "It worries me that women across the UK are risking their happiness and potentially their health by not sorting out their long-term contraceptive needs once they've decided their family is complete," she said. According to Rosie Dodds, a policy researcher at the National Childbirth Trust, one of the problems is that women are not always given the full range of options. She also agreed that there is too much pressure on the 21st century mother. "There is so much information and pressure through the media and the Internet. We are bombarded with pictures and stories about how celebrities have lost weight after giving birth," she said. "When it comes to giving birth and bringing up children, what mothers often say is that they want access to good quality, balanced advice. Women have to do the detective work themselves and the problem with that is that it creates health inequalities," she added.
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