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Ayurveda
Health Tips In
Pregnancy
Month wise Regimen /
Ayurveda Pregnancy Care
General advice
Here are some general guidelines for the wellbeing of
the mother and foetus:
- Do not tie a tight knot over the abdomen.
- Do not use heavy blankets or place them over the
abdomen.
- Do not change your sleeping position from left side
to right side or vice-versa without getting up.
- Keep both thighs together while sitting.
- Sleep sideways instead of sleeping on the back.
Month-wise regime
First month
A pregnant woman should take natural supplements like
draksha, khajoor, manooka, and vidari with milk [cold/room
temperature] in the morning.
For the first 12 days, have ghee [prepared from cow’s
milk] boiled with leaves of saliparni herb. It is
important to have this preparation in a vessel made of
precious metals like gold or silver. After that, have
water that is boiled and cooled. Your breakfast should
comprise sweet, cold and semi-solid foods.
Women tend to start taking a massage or reverse massage
from this month. However, massages are to be avoided till
the fifth month.
Second month
Have milk mixed with the above-mentioned natural
supplements.
Third month
Have the same sweet natural supplements, but now mix
them with milk, honey and ghee.
Fourth month
Continue taking the same sweet supplements with milk.
This time replace ghee with butter [12 – 15g of makkhan]
made from milk.
Fifth month
Continue the supplement regime of the fourth month. Oil
application and gentle massage followed by a bath with
lukewarm water is recommended. Continue this till
delivery.
Sixth month
Continue the supplement regime of the fifth month.
Seventh month
Mothers-to-be may feel an itchy sensation on the breast
and abdomen or a burning sensation in chest or throat due
to increased size of foetus.
Eat food in smaller quantities, frequently, and a bite
of sweet something with little ghee or oil that is easy to
digest. Ensure that your salt intake during this period is
reduced to a minimum. Also, avoid drinking water
immediately after a meal.
Eighth month
Eat rice prepared with milk in semi-solid or liquid
form with ghee.
Ninth month
Follow the same diet as in the eighth month.
Apply oil on the abdomen and genital areas. Take an oil
enema in small quantities to help ease false labour pains.
You can even insert cotton ball dipped in oil into the
vagina to lubricate the passage. Be particular about
maintaining hygiene to avoid infection, which cause
itchiness or swelling of the genital area.
Have a healthy baby.
Special care
If you’re pregnant, you need a lot of emotional
support along with physical care. You should not harbour
any negative thoughts such as sorrow, grief, anger, fear
and doubt. These hamper the mental and physical growth
of the foetus. So, try to stay as happy as you can by
exposing yourself to happy circumstances, people and
things. And surround yourself with close friends and
relatives who support and care for you during this
special time of your life.
As far as physical care is concerned, refrain from
sitting on hard surfaces, sitting for long hours,
travelling, lifting heavy weights, walking long
distances—doing any tedious activity. These put the
foetus at risk. Also avoid staying up too late or
sleeping during daytime.
You must be in touch with your own body and learn to
monitor even minor changes. Though all signals may not
mean trouble, there are some signs that require calling
the doctor. Some of these warning signals are:
- Contractions or cramps—more than five in one hour
- Bright red blood from your vagina
- Swelling or puffiness of the face or hands
- Pain during urination [possible urinary tract,
bladder or kidney infection]
- Sharp or prolonged pain in your stomach [pre-eclampsia
signs]
- Acute or continuous vomiting [pre-eclampsia signs]
- Sudden gush of clear, watery fluid from your
vagina
- low, dull backache
- Intense pelvic pressure.
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