A viral video showed a doctor questioning a 22-year-old woman reportedly pregnant with her sixth child.
The consultation sparked discussions around son preference, birth spacing, and maternal health risks in India.
Reports stated the woman already had five children and was five months pregnant during the consultation.
WHO guidance recommends waiting at least 24 months between pregnancies to reduce health risks.
The video also triggered conversations about child marriage, reproductive pressure, and access to contraception.
A viral video showing a doctor questioning a 22-year-old woman reportedly pregnant with her sixth child has sparked discussions around son preference, maternal health, and reproductive pressure in India.
The clip, widely shared on social media, showed the doctor expressing concern over the physical strain of multiple closely spaced pregnancies at such a young age after the family allegedly said they were still trying for another male child.
“Ek aur beta chahiye?” the doctor asked in the viral clip, referencing the family’s reported desire for another son, while expressing concern over the impact multiple pregnancies could have on the woman’s health.
The video triggered widespread reactions online, with many users criticizing the pressure some women face to continue childbearing until a son is born.
In the woman told the doctor she already had five children and was five months pregnant with her sixth child at the age of 22. During the consultation, the woman and her husband reportedly said she had been married as a teenager and had her first child at a very young age.
In the viral clip, the doctor, identified in media reports as Dr. Pragya Tomar, questioned the family about repeated pregnancies and short birth spacing. The consultation also drew attention online after the family discussed wanting another male child despite already having one son.
The conversation further sparked debate around early marriage, reproductive autonomy, access to contraception, and the social pressure some women face regarding family size and gender expectations.
When pregnancies happen one after another with little gap, a woman’s body often does not get enough time to recover fully, something that can be even harder in the early twenties.
Each pregnancy puts the body through major physical changes. When recovery time is short, women can slowly become weak, with a higher chance of anemia, constant fatigue, high blood pressure, and complications during pregnancy or delivery.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also noted that closely spaced pregnancies are linked with higher risks such as premature birth, low birth weight, and complications for both mother and baby. Health experts add that younger women may struggle more if nutrition is poor or postnatal care is limited after each childbirth.
Researchers note that the strain is not only physical but may also increase cumulatively over multiple pregnancies, especially in settings where healthcare access remains limited.
When pregnancies happen repeatedly in a short span, especially where access to regular check-ups and counselling is limited, recovery becomes harder with each cycle.
Pregnancies spaced too closely together may not allow the body enough time to recover nutritionally or physically between deliveries. The World Health Organization recommends adequate spacing between pregnancies to reduce risks for both mothers and infants.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), waiting at least 24 months after a live birth before attempting the next pregnancy can help reduce maternal, newborn, and infant health risks.
Doctors also note that frequent pregnancies beginning in adolescence or late teenage years can increase the risk of maternal anemia, nutritional depletion, complications during childbirth, and poor neonatal outcomes, particularly when healthcare access and postnatal recovery support are limited.
Public health experts also warn about maternal depletion, a condition where closely spaced pregnancies without sufficient recovery time may gradually weaken nutritional reserves and overall maternal health.
NFHS-5 data showed that anemia remains a major public health concern in India, with more than half of women aged 15 to 49 found to be anemic nationwide. Public health experts say frequent pregnancies with limited recovery time may further worsen nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable women.
Public health researchers say adolescent marriage and early childbirth remain linked to interrupted education, reduced financial independence, and lower decision-making power for women regarding contraception and reproductive choices.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India’s total fertility rate has fallen to 2.0 children per woman, reflecting a steady shift toward smaller families across the country. Even so, doctors and public health researchers say the pressure to have a son still influences pregnancy decisions in some households.
In some families, women may continue having children because of expectations around having a male child. Researchers say these attitudes are often tied to family lineage, inheritance practices, and the belief that sons will support parents later in life.
Doctors say repeated pregnancies without enough recovery time can affect both the mother and baby, especially when women do not receive proper nutrition, rest, or regular medical care. Health experts also note that some women may have limited control over decisions related to contraception and pregnancy spacing within the household.
Doctors say access to family planning services, maternal healthcare, and reproductive counselling can help women recover properly between pregnancies and lower complications linked to repeated childbirths.
The viral interaction also reignited conversations around son preference in parts of India. Researchers have long noted that some families continue childbearing until the desired number of sons is achieved, even when doing so places physical and financial strain on women and households.
According to NFHS-5 data, while India’s fertility rate has declined overall, gender preference and unequal reproductive decision-making still influence family planning choices in certain communities.
NFHS-5 data also showed that despite declining rates nationally, child marriage remains a concern in parts of India, with many women aged 20 to 24 reporting they were married before the legal age of 18.
In India, the legal age of marriage for women is 18 years.
Public health researchers note that unequal decision-making within households can sometimes limit women’s ability to access contraception or choose pregnancy spacing independently.
Some social media users also questioned the circumstances described in the video, including references to possible child marriage, while others discussed the emotional and economic burden associated with repeated pregnancies at a young age.
The video prompted strong reactions on social media, with many users expressing concern about the woman’s health and questioning the pressure linked to having a male child.
Several users said the clip reflected a wider issue that still affects some women in India, where expectations around having sons can continue to influence reproductive decisions and maternal health.
Public health experts say conversations around maternal healthcare often focus on childbirth complications, while the social pressure behind repeated pregnancies receives far less attention. Doctors say improving access to reproductive counselling and family planning services remains important for protecting women’s long-term health.
The video additionally triggered discussions about informed consent and patient privacy after some users questioned whether permission had been obtained before filming and sharing the consultation online. In response to one comment on social media, Dr. Pragya Tomar stated that consent had been taken from the family before the video was shared.
International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India, 2019–21. Mumbai: IIPS, 2021. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR375/FR375.pdf.
International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), India, 2019–21: State Fact Sheets Compendium. Mumbai: IIPS, 2021. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR375/FR375.pdf.
World Health Organization. “Adolescent Pregnancy.” World Health Organization. April 10, 2024. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy.
World Health Organization. “Family Planning and Birth Spacing.” World Health Organization. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/family-planning-contraception.
World Health Organization. Report of a WHO Technical Consultation on Birth Spacing. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2005. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/69855.
Government of India. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Accessed May 26, 2026. https://wcd.nic.in/act/prohibition-child-marriage-act-2006.
(Rh/TP/MSM)