Total Ayurvedic Care During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not a merely physiological process. It is a great responsibility given by nature to us. Both, the father and the mother, should be aware of this responsibility and hence they should be prepared, physically and psychologically, to carry it. But, still, as the mother has to carry the baby in her womb, nourish it, and most importantly, give birth to the baby, more responsibility rests upon her shoulders.
Antenatal care means the care to be taken during pregnancy each month. In Ayurveda, it is called as Masanumasiki chikitsa. The word masanumasiki means month-to-month treatment. According to Ayurveda, there is different medicinal treatment for each month of pregnancy. Thus there are 9 different groups of medicines i.e. herbs for each month of pregnancy. If there are vitiated doshas, these should be purified with the help of panchakarmas. Then only, the couple is suitable for conception. This purification is called pindshuddhi. After conception, oral medication is started according to the month of pregnancy. As per Ayurvedic concepts, in each month a separate dahtu (body building substance) is formed in the body of baby. To help this dhatu to grow in normal way, medication is started. E.g. in the fifth month of pregnancy, the intellect of the baby begins to develop. In sixth month, it gets sharper. So, specific medicines which act on the intellect are given to the mother in fifth and sixth month. Medicinal treatment is not the only thing which is stressed upon in Ayurveda.
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