Avoid sex for a healthy baby, Indian women told

Pregnant women in India have been advised to abstain from sex, avoid meat and harbour spiritual thoughts to ensure a healthy baby.

A booklet, compiled by the government-funded Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, said “pregnant women should detach themselves from desire, anger, attachment, hatred and lust”. It also said they should cut tea, coffee, sugar, eggs and fried food from their diets.

But doctors accused Hindu nationalist and religious organisations of promoting unscientific advice.