On Saturday October 30th, reports came out that the world’s seven billionth baby was born in the Phillippines. Chosen by the United Nations to be one of several children around the world to symbolically represent the global population milestone, Danica May Camacho was born a healthy 5.5lb baby, the second child for Camille Dalura and Florante Camacho.
According to the UK’s The Guardian, “the parents and the baby were met by officials from the UN, which named 31 October Seven Billion Day, aiming to draw attention to the challenges of the world’s growing population.”
Although the accuracy of the projection has been questioned, we can make some general comments. As a time when overpopulation has become a burden on the planet, with a a lack of resources to properly care for all of our needs, basic or otherwise, it’s time to take stock of how we can be part of the solution.
It’s an interesting time to note that 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned. We see it in our office every day. At Contraception of course, is a natural option, but for many who criticize those who experience unplanned pregnancies, they don’t realize that contraception can be a real problem.
People don’t realize how limited the options are and how much misinformation circulates regularly about contraception. First the only option for men is condoms. Some men are opposed to them for a variety of reasons, and while they are generally effective, they can break or come off, rendering them useless. Second, birth control pills and other forms of hormonal contraception aren’t options for women whose health conditions prevent their use. They are many misconceptions as well about birth control pills – they cause weight gain, they cause infertility, they change your mood – that make women hesitant to try them. Third, the intrauterine device (IUD) may not be a good choice for a woman who has not yet had children.
And the list goes on and on with less-than-desirable or practical options. What we can say simply, is that contraception is an imperfect science and the only sure way to prevent an unplanned pregnancy is to refrain from sex. That too, is not a desired choice by many, if not most, sexually active people. Our best advice is to be mindful, know what your options are, discuss them with your doctor, and find methods or make choices that work best for you individually. And consider how you can give back to help lessen the burden we put on the planet every day, not just in terms of population density, but also in terms of our every day footprint.
