International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Women in India who are expecting a baby have been told they need to stay physically active.

According to Dr Ritambhra Bhalla, a gynaecology specialist in Chandigarh, many females in the area are not engaging in any form of physical activity, the Times of India reports.

This, he stated, could make complications more likely to arise when the time comes for them to give birth.

"The more one exercises, there are chances of normal delivery," he observed.

"Also patients do not want to undergo labour pain."

Dr Bhalla was speaking after statistics showed the number of pregnant women undergoing caesarean sections in Chandigarh has gone up in the last year.

The Government Multi-specialty Hospital has witnessed a 100 per cent increase since 2011, as has the Government Medical College and Hospital.

This could be partly down to the weight women are carrying, as well as their desire to avoid labour pains.

Posted by Martine Ward