Thousands of years ago in the cradle of civilization, long before gynecology was even a medical practice, Ayurveda all natural holistic treatment methods prevailed as the safest and most trusted of medicinal practices, especially in the approach to Ayurveda pregnancy care to nurture and sustain both parents and babies through the marvelous journey of natural birth.
Today, with the accumulated Vedic wisdom of ancient India, modern obstetrics can offer tips for a healthy pregnancy, smooth delivery, and a truly blissful bundle of joy to come.
In Ayurveda pregnancy care, parenthood is seen as a momentous and enriching rite of passage, a milestone presenting an opportunity for our further growth, as our children are seen as precious gifts from the ancient gods, who come to foster our more latent of virtues and teach us of the deeper meaning in our relationships.
Ayurveda pregnancy care practices are aimed at a safe delivery, with the assurance of health for both mother and child in keen view. With well defined procedures and all herbal medications for gynecology and obstetrics, the various childbearing practices Ayurveda pregnancy care covers include treatments for infertility, pre-delivery care, natural delivery procedures as well as post-pregnancy care.
Vedic medicine and treatments are not limited to pregnancy treatments alone, but also, gynecology is one of the more researched branches in Ayurvedic thought. Well seasoned Ayurvedic physicians and specialists can effectively suggest the correct times for eating all of the right foods prior to conception and prescribe a personalized purification and rejuvenation regime to ensure optimal ovum and sperm quantity, and more importantly quality.
The Ayurvedic approach for a healthy pregnancy and motherhood, recommends a holistic approach to touch on the diet, behavior, as well as activities of the family home that the child will be born into. The wisdom regarding the general management of pregnancy advises the use of varying degrees of vigilance during the many developmental stages of pregnancy. The goal is to foster protection and nourishment both for the growing fetus and mother, especially when approaching full term, and even before actual conception, to affect a normal delivery after normal gestation.
To prepare the womb, the food the mother eats should mostly be in purely liquid or semi-liquid form. Nourishing seasonal juicy fruits, coconut water, enriched milk are all advocated for the mother’s diet and can be supplemented with certain spices to increase appetite and aid digestion.
During Pregnancy Regime
An Ayurvedic physician can set guidelines mothers can then follow to better balance their menstrual cycles and schedule when best to use fortifying and cleansing herbs and natural supplements. Warm milk with added honey and ghee (clarified butter) is highly recommended for the first to the third month of pregnancy.
First to Third Months
By the third trimester, the need for calcium in the mother’s diet increases significantly due to the baby’s rapidly developing skeleton. Vedic medicine advises that before, during, and after pregnancy, women should take calcium supplements in addition to dairy products like milk and yogurt.
Fourth to Sixth Months
The herbs Ashwagandha and Guduchi are highly prescribed by Ayurveda specialists and can assist in ensuring the optimal condition of the uterine tissues as well as placenta. By the fifth month, the mother’s diet should change to include rice and butter. Fruits such as mangoes, apples, carrots, and leafy greens can be purely beneficial at this time.
Seventh to Ninth Months
From the seventh to the ninth month, the mother should eat food in smaller quantities, and frequently with and a small portion of sweets made with ghee or oil that is easy to digest. Also, she should avoid drinking water directly after a meal.
Above all else Ayurveda pregnancy care requires that a mother-to-be must be in touch with her own body to monitor and decipher any and all bodily or otherwise changes, and to know when an internal sign will require the advice of your doctor.
Sources:
An Ayurvedic View on Pregnancy and Early Motherhood
Ayurveda Pregnancy Care – Preparing a woman for pregnancy
Pregnancy and Motherhood in Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Diet in Pregnancy
