A Guideline and Diet for Pregnant Women: Review: Exploring the Impact of Dietary Guidelines on Pregnant Women in India

Abstract

Devoid of the context of pregnancies in India, one wonders if the guidelines are a tool to further control women by invoking, through a lens of patriarchy, principles from traditional medical systems. While you are pregnant, it is important to make sure that you first check about anything that you eat or drink with your doctor. It is in this larger context that the ministry’s booklet needs to be viewed. The booklet recommends that pregnant women consume a “sattvic diet” and specifically advises that eggs and meat should be avoided. As per NFHS 4, over a quarter of ever-married women report having faced spousal violence. Studies show that domestic violence often escalates in pregnancy and denial of sexual demands is a well-known trigger for domestic violence.