Ayurveda creates support for the physical, mental/emotional and spiritual bodies of the mother and her baby.
Ayurveda places an enormous emphasis on the importance of caring for the mother before, during, and after pregnancy. Ayurveda prescribes specific nutritional measures for the growth and protection of the woman to keep her vital and pure.
Dinacharya (daily regimen) and Rutucharya (regimen for each season) have been described to keep the Doshas in balance and in tune with the changes in nature. If these are followed chances of vitiation of the Doshas are minimal. Following the regimen conducive to one's constitution, not only keeps the body healthy, it ensures to an extent a trouble free pregnancy and smooth labour. For instance, certain seasons are more troublesome for women during pregnancy than others due to increase in Pitta and Vata Doshas respectively. A woman of Pitta and Vata or both Prakriti needs to be more aware of this. Ayurveda offers many such fascinating and preventive insights for women during pregnancy.
The concept of Agni is very relevant in pregnancy which leads to the formation of a healthy Rasa Dhatu, the first of the seven body tissues, which nourishes the entire body and from which ovum is formed.This Rasa is responsible for the nourishment of the foetus, its tissues, its sense organs as well as its Dosha, Dhatu, Malas. The ovum is a part of a product of Rasa, which consists of pure, clear Rasa Dhatu deposited inside the uterus every month. This process starts immediately after menstruation. The inner wall of the uterus keeps getting lined by the Rasa for a period of about 14 days. If at the end of this period, conception has not taken place, if the fertilised ovum has not embedded itself in this layer of Rasa, it is broken down and is converted to menstrual fluid. This Rasa provides support for the foetus. If it is impure it cannot carry out either function, of supporting the foetus or preparing the ovum. In women impurities of Rasa Dhatu are often the cause of infertility. Conditions like PCOD can be attributed to impurities of Rasa.According to ayurveda, couple are given a pre-conception diet with these respective substances to enhance the qualities of the respective tissues..
Unhealthy Agni leads to formation of Ama(toxines), a heavy, sticky and dense substance which is like a poisonous toxin in capable of sustaining life as well as responsible for abortions due to presence of severe indigestion and Ama. Ama also increases the risk of potentially life threatening embolisms. Thats why i always asked couple for Panchakarma procedure to purify the body before conception & healthy Agni. Holistic care relating to pregnancy becomes essential as soon as the mother and father even decide to embark on the journey of parenthood—before conception even takes place.
In Ayurvedic management of pregnancy each woman is screened for signs of vitiated Vata, and it can be pacified through diet, medicines and cleansing regimens(Panchakarma), vata is pacified well in advance. So preventing vitiation, increase or decrease in Vata is of the utmost importance in the pregnant women. All kinds of problems related to pregnancy come under the purview of Vata Dosha. Women who are given therapies for management of Vata have surprisingly easy pregnancies and deliveries compared to those who did not.
Ayurvedic care for mother and child involves herbs and food for 1 to 9 month of pregnancy & some cleansing therapies. Ayurveda has a well-documented description of caring for pregnant women, called Garbhini Paricharya. In Ayurveda antenatal care is called as Garbhini Paricharya. The regimen prescribes practices for each month and stage of pregnancy. Garbhini Paricharya prescribes ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle) and vichara (thought process) to be followed during pregnancy as these have a direct effect on the mother and unborn baby. Great care is also recommended during the first three months and after the completion of the seventh month of pregnancy.
During the first three months of pregnancy, the foetus is in a formative stage. During this stage, the embryo is nourished directly by upsnehan (percolation). Therefore, more liquid diets are recommended.
Towards the end of the third month, the foetus starts showing distinct development and sensory perceptions. Motor reactions start developing and heartbeat can also be heard. The fourth month sees the formation of dhatus (tissues) in the foetus. In the fifth month, blood and muscles are formed. In the sixth month, fatty tissue is formed. In the seventh month, foetal growth is complete. Foetal organs are well formed and acquire strength by the sixth and seventh months. Skin, hair and nails are also noticed at this stage. The embryo gets its nourishment through the umbilical cord. In the eighth Month Ojas moves back and forth between mother and baby. The mother may experience a wavering feeling of sorrow and joy due to this movement. The unsteadiness of the ojas makes delivery during this month dangerous. Ojas does not remain stable and birth at this time isn’t safe. The essence of all the dhatus is called the ojas. The ojas is responsible for the life to be sustained and is also the source for the internal strength and resistance power. Ojas is initial essence of embryo. Eight month, in the eighth month it would not be out of place to mention the role of vata in the process of delivery and how important it is to maintain it. We see that the regimen and diet prescribed are of the nature of controlling vata especially the apaana Vaayu. The functions of apaana Vaayu are i.e. the expulsion of gas, faeces, urine,shukra (semen), aartava (menstrual discharge) and the delivery of the foetus. Hence to have normal delivery it is very important that we maintain the vata and due to this reason we find that towards the last few months of delivery, all efforts are taken to keep the vata in an unvitiated state. As has been said earlier vata plays an important role in the delivery of the garbha – thus care is taken to maintain it.
Ojas is the essence of the body responsible for strength, natural resistance and is considered essential for life - says the Astanga Hridayam, a classic Ayurvedic text. It is said to be present in the heart. Its presence in the fetus and mother produce strength and contentment, and its absence fatigue and anxiety.” Almost every classical Ayurvedic text talks about how ojas moves from the mother to the fetus and from the fetus to the mother in the eighth month. Because of this transfer, it is said that the mother and fetus alternately become happy and energetic when ojas is strong, then fatigued and anxious when ojas is weak. The instability of ojas makes it an unfavorable time to give birth, both for the mother and for the baby’s health.
Every thought, action, and decision a pregnant mother makes is directly correlated to the health, vitality, and essentially, the life potential of unborn baby.
Schedule Your Consultation for Month by Month care of Pregnancy according to Classical Texts of Ayurveda. Promoting the Health of Mother and Baby During Pregnancy Using Ayurveda begins with a month by month description of developments during pregnancy. .
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Role of Diet and Nutrition in Pregnancy – An Ayurvedic Perspective
Month wise dietary regimen as there is a constant development of the embryo there would also be difference in its requirements of food and nutrition. Thus the requirements of the mother also change. Having understood this change in requirements, Ayurveda gives detail the month wise dietetic regimen. By following these dietetic regimens prescribed, the pregnant woman, having normal development of foetus, remains healthy and delivers a child possessing good health, energy, strength, complexion and voice. The child would also be sturdy. They are recommended for the pregnant woman right from the first month upto the ninth month of pregnancy.
Ayurvedic text states that, “If a pot filled with oil right up to the brim is to be carried without spilling even a single drop, every step has to be taken with care”,
The food is consumed by the pregnant woman, the same become congenial to the foetus, thus diet should be taken considering place of living, time or season and digestive capacity.
Milk and ghee stand out as the most common in the pregnant diet that Ayurveda advises. The idea of this is to provide optimum amount of protein and fat to the body. In addition, it provides right amount of calcium and vitamins for the pregnant mother helping in sustaining a comfortable lactation. Of these, wholesome diet is given great importance as it aids foetal growth and maternal health.
Garbhini Paricharya prescribes ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle) and vichara (thought process) to be followed during pregnancy as these have a direct effect on the mother and the child.
During the first three months of pregnancy, the foetus is in a formative stage. During this stage, the embryo is nourished directly by upsnehan (percolation). Therefore, more liquid diets and a light diet is recommended during the first month; in the second and third months, milk medicated with life-building herbs are prescribed along with honey and ghee. Herbs helps in calming the nerves and is also a good prajasthapan (sustainer of pregnancy). Ayurveda is particular that pregnant women should not get constipation. While mild laxatives and enema is recommended if there is a tendency to constipation, it is found that usually, milk alone is sufficient to cope with the constipation. Towards the end of the third month, the foetus starts showing distinct development and sensory perceptions. Motor reactions start developing and heartbeat can also be heard. The fourth month sees the formation of dhatus (tissues) in the foetus. In the fifth month, blood and muscles are formed. In the sixth month, fatty tissue is formed. In the seventh month, foetal growth is complete. Foetal organs are well formed and acquire strength by the sixth and seventh months. Skin, hair and nails are also noticed at this stage. Medicated ghee is recommended as a nutritional supplement to the diet. The embryo gets its nourishment through the umbilical cord. Rice, milk, butter and ghee along with fruits and leafy vegetables are recommended. This is useful for foetal growth, for maternal health and for further lactation.
As per Ayurveda, pregnancy is the time to consume nutritional food substances. From the fourth to the seventh month, ayurvedic medicinal supplements required along with herbs which given to strengthen the uterine muscles and also to nourish the embryo. These also help in the prevention of intrauterine growth retardation. Fat, salt and water should be reduced in the diet from the seventh month onwards. Rice with ghee is a recommended diet. Small amounts of basil can be taken as antispasmodic. Few Herbs which are mild diuretics and urinary antiseptics, can also be taken. Ayurveda advises certain decoctions during pregnancy, for the growth of the foetus and for the health of the mother. Ghrita preparations (medicated ghee) can be taken from the first month of pregnancy which improves the growth of the foetus & improves mental growth as well helps in easy delivery of the baby.. These decotions can be taken from the seventh month of pregnancy. These Ghrita preparations can be included as an integral part of the diet, during pregnancy. Ayurvedic diet correlates to modern nutrition recommended for pregnant women such as high protein, vitamins and minerals.
The proper Garbhini paricharya would result in the proper development of the foetus, its delivery, the health of the mother and thus her ability to withstand the strain of labour and have an eventless post-partal phase. The care of the pregnant woman reflects on the quality and health of the offspring. For these reasons our Ayurveda texts have given a detailed and systematic and month wise regimen plus a list of do’s and dont’s to be followed in the antenatal phase.
Ayurveda gives detail the month wise dietetic regimen. By following these dietetic regimens prescribed, the pregnant woman, having normal development of foetus, remains healthy and delivers a child possessing good health, energy, strength, complexion and voice. They are recommended for the pregnant woman right from the first month upto the ninth month of pregnancy.
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