A recent poll suggested that 40 percent of Shanghai's married women are putting off having children due to low incomes and housing struggles.

Yet all of the 24 women interviewed by China Daily on Wednesday said scrapping the idea of children for financial reasons was unrealistic.

The Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission did not reveal how many married women it surveyed or what percentage said they do not want children. It only stated that more than a third cited economic concerns for not wanting to expand their family, while the second and third most common reasons were the need to balance work and study and the pursuit of personal pleasure.

The women who talked to China Daily, however, were skeptical. Most said they understood the decision to postpone having a baby owing to financial difficulties.

Jiang Ningyan and her husband make about 20,000 yuan ($3,254) a month, but said they still have a hard time saving money after paying living expenses.

"We have to consider having a baby later, but a baby is always welcome," said Jiang, 29, who has been married for three years.

- Zhou Wenting

(China Daily 05/16/2013 page4)