Waiting for welcoming your bundle of joy?

GARBHINI PARICHARYA (Antenatal Care in Ayurveda):

Antenatal care in Ayurveda aims at a healthy baby from a healthy mother. It emphasizes the special care given to the pregnant lady in terms of diet, life style modifications and discipline. The success of antenatal care relies upon three factors-ie, proper guidance given by the physician, the efforts made by the care-takers and its proper adaptation by the pregnant woman herself.

GARBHINI SADVRUTTA (The Code of Conduct of a pregnant woman)

The role of mother is very crucial in the physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioural development of the baby during the antenatal period.

According to Ayurveda, the pregnant lady is supposed to follow a virtuous code of conduct right from the first day of diagnosis of pregnancy and maintain it throughout the pregnancy period and thereafter. She should uplift herself in all the possible ways. She should follow proper hygienic measures, nutritious diet, restrict herself from strenuous physical activities like exercise, sexual intercourse, lifting heavy weight etc. She should engage herself in social and cultural activities related to charity, spirituality and welfare.

Role of Husband or Care-taker: In Ayurveda classics, it is recommended to provide special care and support to a woman by her husband or any care taker throughout her journey of pregnancy. It is mentioned that she should be handled as gently as possible in order to avoid any kind of physical or psychological stress during pregnancy. It is compared with the act of shifting a pot filled with oil (to its maximum capacity) from one place to another without any spillage. It is recommended to satisfy the desires expressed by the lady during pregnancy period, in order to ensure her psychological contentment. Even unwholesome demands of her should be addressed and fulfilled with wholesome modifications.

Role of an Ayurvedic gynaecologist: The main role of an Ayurvedic gynaecologist is to educate the pregnant woman with genuine advises during pregnancy and ensure the optimum health status of both mother and the foetus in every stage of pregnancy. Any deviation from normal status will be considered for additional precautions and vigilance. General dietary recommendations and month-wise diet modifications will be advised by the physician as per the principles of Ayurveda. Ayurvedic herbal formulations will also be prescribed to ensure the optimum growth and development of the baby and also to maintain the favourable health status of the mother. Herbal drugs having anabolic and immune- boosting actions (Rasayana) are prescribed in general. Milk decoctions with specific herbs are given in each month. The minor ailments during pregnancy will be managed with suitable dietary modifications and Ayurvedic medications. Ayurvedic treatment procedures to facilitate normal delivery can be administered after the completion of 8th month of pregnancy depending upon the health status of the mother and baby. The procedures include medicated oil enema(Matra vasti), milk decoctions(Ksheera vasti), enema with herbal decoctions(shodhana vasti), oil applications(abhyanga),bath with medicated water, vaginal tampons with medicated oil(Yoni pichu), filling of vaginal canal with medicated oil(Yoni poorana) etc. along with oral medications to facilitate normal delivery. These procedures will help in preparation of the mother’s body, especially the genital tract for an easy and uneventful delivery.

“Every superhero needs a sidekick”… Let’s do it in Ayurvedic Way!!!!