Rajasthan woman, 22, pregnant with sixth child for another son; doctor raises alarm
The video was shared by Dr Pragya Tomar, a gynaecologist at Spandan Hospital in Baraut, who questioned the toll that repeated pregnancies can take on a woman's health when driven by a preference for male children.
A gynaecologist in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district has raised alarm after sharing a video from her clinic in which a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Rajasthan revealed that she is expecting her sixth child after having five children, as her family continued to seek another son.
The video was shared by Dr Pragya Tomar, a gynaecologist at Spandan Hospital in Baraut, who questioned the toll that repeated pregnancies can take on a woman's health when driven by a preference for male children.
In the video, Dr Tomar asked the woman about her age and learnt that she is 22 and five months pregnant with her sixth child. The woman said she already has five children and is expecting another baby.
When asked about her marriage, the couple said they are from Rajasthan and that it was a child marriage. The woman then told the doctor that she was around 15 or 16 when she got married. She later revealed that her eldest child is eight – she has four daughters and one son.
Surprised by the number of pregnancies at such a young age, Dr Tomar asked whether they use any contraceptive methods and why they continued to have children.
The woman responded that she continuously delivered daughters. When the doctor asked whether the repeated pregnancies were linked to the desire for a son, she agreed.
However, even after having a son, the family continued to plan for more children. When Dr Tomar asked why another son is needed, the husband replied that one son is not enough and that they want at least two. He also suggested that having more children would mean more earning hands in the future.
During the consultation, the doctor pointed out that the woman had complained of health issues, including dizziness and breathlessness. She told the couple that there should have been a gap between pregnancies and warned against putting the woman's health at risk.
Dr Tomar also questioned the pressure often placed on women in the name of carrying forward a family lineage. Addressing the woman, she said she should not compromise her health because of expectations surrounding childbirth and urged the couple to consider whether they can adequately provide for a large family.
"Is it right to endanger someone's life in the desire for a son,” Dr Tomar said in the caption of her post.
Watch the video here:
The clip drew reactions from social media users, many of whom criticised the husband's remarks and expressed concern for the woman's wellbeing.
"Why continue a lineage when you are unable to provide food, shelter and clothing for your family?" one user commented while another added: "That man doesn't have an ounce of respect or love for her.”
One of the comments read, "She's only 22 with five children already. Instead of caring about her health and wellbeing, they still want more children just for a boy. It's sad to see this mindset still exists.”
The video has garnered close to 40 million views so far.
A gynaecologist in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district has raised alarm after sharing a video from her clinic in which a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Rajasthan revealed that she is expecting her sixth child after having five children, as her family continued to seek another son.
The video was shared by Dr Pragya Tomar, a gynaecologist at Spandan Hospital in Baraut, who questioned the toll that repeated pregnancies can take on a woman's health when driven by a preference for male children.
In the video, Dr Tomar asked the woman about her age and learnt that she is 22 and five months pregnant with her sixth child. The woman said she already has five children and is expecting another baby.
When asked about her marriage, the couple said they are from Rajasthan and that it was a child marriage. The woman then told the doctor that she was around 15 or 16 when she got married. She later revealed that her eldest child is eight – she has four daughters and one son.
Surprised by the number of pregnancies at such a young age, Dr Tomar asked whether they use any contraceptive methods and why they continued to have children.
The woman responded that she continuously delivered daughters. When the doctor asked whether the repeated pregnancies were linked to the desire for a son, she agreed.
However, even after having a son, the family continued to plan for more children. When Dr Tomar asked why another son is needed, the husband replied that one son is not enough and that they want at least two. He also suggested that having more children would mean more earning hands in the future.
During the consultation, the doctor pointed out that the woman had complained of health issues, including dizziness and breathlessness. She told the couple that there should have been a gap between pregnancies and warned against putting the woman's health at risk.
Dr Tomar also questioned the pressure often placed on women in the name of carrying forward a family lineage. Addressing the woman, she said she should not compromise her health because of expectations surrounding childbirth and urged the couple to consider whether they can adequately provide for a large family.
"Is it right to endanger someone's life in the desire for a son,” Dr Tomar said in the caption of her post.
Watch the video here:
The clip drew reactions from social media users, many of whom criticised the husband's remarks and expressed concern for the woman's wellbeing.
"Why continue a lineage when you are unable to provide food, shelter and clothing for your family?" one user commented while another added: "That man doesn't have an ounce of respect or love for her.”
One of the comments read, "She's only 22 with five children already. Instead of caring about her health and wellbeing, they still want more children just for a boy. It's sad to see this mindset still exists.”
The video has garnered close to 40 million views so far.
