Title: Advice and restrictions during pregnancy.

POPLINE Document Number: 281833

Author(s):

Mira S

Source citation:

In: Her healing heritage: local beliefs and practices concerning the health of women and children: a multi-state study in India, compiled and written by Smita Bajpai, edited by S. Mira. Ahmedabad, India, Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness [CHETNA], 1996 Mar. :[13] p..

Abstract:

What a woman eats and what she does directly affects the well-being of her child-to-be. This idea underlies traditional care during pregnancy. It may be true that in pregnancy a woman has more access to food and other things. But, communities have ways to oversee foetal growth and development. They subject women to restrictions and recommendations regarding diet and activities. Much of the time such advice help to improve the health of the woman, too. But this is not always so, particularly when the health of a woman is already compromised by poverty, over-work and gender-discrimination. When pregnancies are frequent, food too little, and work heavy, women don't get enough time for their health to recoup. Nutritional stress leads to loss of iron, protein and fat stores entailing numerous problems and complications. Not enough food throughout childhood and youth leaves women stunted, putting them at risk of obstructed child-birth. For fear of this, food is further restricted during pregnancy. People hope that a smaller baby will make birth easier, or possible. Food restrictions may not be adequate, however, to slim the foetus enough to drop the risk of obstructed labor. But, they will certainly worsen the nutritional status of die woman. (excerpt)

Keywords:

India
Critique
Pregnant Women
Gender Issues
Poverty
Nutrition
Maternal Health
Sexuality
Program Accessibility
Developing Countries
Asia, Southern
Asia
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Mothers
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Health
Personality
Psychological Factors
Behavior
Program Evaluation
Programs
Organization and Administration