KANPUR: A gynaecology professor at a hospital associated with city's GSVM Medical College proposes to encourage

women to chant

and Muslim women verses from the

Quran

during pregnancy to cut back on stress which often results in caesarean section deliveries. "It reduces stress and helps pregnant women go for normal delivery," says Professor Neena Gupta of the gynaecology department at Upper India Sugar Exchange Maternity Hospital, who hopes to run her experiment in the hospital on those who volunteer to go for 'treatment' along with chanting of verses.

Prof Gupta has prepared a regimen with the help from Gayatri Pariwar of Haridwar and approached National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) seeking to include yoga and meditation in the treatment protocol of pregnant women.

"After seeing positive result on pregnant women coming to the OPD, I am now ready to experiment it in wards where they would be divided into two parts: those who volunteer for treatment along with chanting of verses, yoga and meditation, and the other who would prefer regular treatment," she told TOI on Thursday.

"Initially, we will form groups of 100 pregnant women, who will be asked to recite Gayatri mantra and verses from the 'Quran' and do four effective Yoga 'asanas' namely 'Titli asana' (butterfly pose), 'Ustrasana' (camel pose), 'Parvatasana' (mountain pose) and Savasana (corpse pose). All these postures will add flexibility and strength to the body and also help in improving digestion, releasing stress, strengthening of shoulder and back, besides toning the spinal nerves. The family members of the mom-to-be will also be included in the regimen," she says.

Prof Gupta adds "studies have shown that chanting of 'Gayatri Mantra' and verses from the 'Quran', besides Yoga asanas benefit a mother-to-be".

"We have come across cases wherein women who chanted verses and also practised yoga during pre-natal stage had minimum pain and hassle during delivery. Also, we found that it kept one's mood swings, emotions and physical worries at bay. Other than the mental well-being of the mother-to-be, it also helps them to keep their weight in check and be physically fit," she says.