Concept of Antenatal Care in Ayurveda: Garbhini Paricharya
By Dr. Kajal Jha
BAMS, M.S (Stree roga tatha Prasuti Tantra), BVP, Pune, India
Lecturer - Ayurveda Campus, IOM/TU
Gadapatyanam hi mulam naryah param nirnam
(Charak Chikitsa sthan 30/5)
Stree (woman) plays a very important role in producing, caring, bearing fetus in womb, bringing up, maintaining, supporting and nourishment of child. Stree tries to protect that upcoming Kumar (baby) from hazardous effects like garbha shrava, garbha-pata etc.
As we all know, woman health is the main pillar of family health since only healthy woman can give birth to a healthy baby. To maintain the health of baby or kumar swasthya, Ayurveda has mentioned special aspects regarding paricharya (caring) of Stree Visistha Awastha such as garbhini paricharya, sutika parichary etc.
It is necessary to follow garbhiniparicharya for a garbhini (pregnant) to give birth of healthy fetus.
Garbhini paricharya includes the special aahar(meal) and vihar (daily activities) for a garbhini. Our Acharyas have mentioned month wise paricharya for a garbhini. The aims of Grbhini paricharya are:
1. To avoid harzadous effects on fetus.
2. To promote normal growth and development of fetus.
3. To conduct normal delivery without any fetal and maternal complications.
Month wise Regimen of Garbhini:
Regimen for the first month of pregnancy: Having doubt of conception from the first month itself she should take non-medicated kshira (milk) repeatedly in desired quantity considering her digestive power and strength. Congenial diet should be taken in morning and evening.
Regimen for the Second month of Pregnancy: Milk medicated with madhura dravya (drugs) and sweet and cold diet should be planned for garbhini.
Regimen for the third month of Pregnancy: Milk with madhu (honey) and ghrita (ghee), sweet and cold diet and specially sasti rice with milk.
Regimen for fourth month of Pregnancy: Butter extracted from milk in the quantity of two tola (approx 20 gm) or milk with butter. Cooked sasti rice with curd, dainty and pleasant food mixed with milk and butter and meat of wild animals.
Regimen for Fifth month of Pregnancy: Ghrita, cooked sasti rice with milk, meat of wild animals, along with dainty food with milk and ghrita, yawagu, paayasa (rice cooked with milk and sweetened).
Regimen for sixth month of Pregnancy: Medicated ghrita with madura group of drugs, yawagu prepared with gokshura (Tribulus terristris).
Regimen for seventh month of Pregnancy: Ghrita medicated with prithakparnyadi group of drugs. This helps in proper growth and development of fetus.
Regimen for eighth month of Pregnancy: Ghrita mixed yawagu should be given. And in this month, for clearing the retained feces and anuloma of vayu, the aasthapana basti should be given with decoction of badari (Zygiphus jujuba) mixed with bala (Sida cordifolia) , atibala (Abuliton indicum) , satapuspa (Antheum sowa) , palaka, mixed curd, mastu (expressed part of curd), oil, salt, madanphala (Grandia spinosa) , honey and ghrita. This should be followed by use of anuvasana basti of oil medicated with milk and decoction of drugs of madhura group.
Regimen for ninth month: In this month anuvasana basti with oil prepared with the drugs of madhura group or the same as used in 8th month. Vaginal tampon of Til tail should be advised in this month.
Significance of Regimens according to Ayurveda:
Describing the benefits of this dietetic regimen prescribed for the woman having normal development of fetus, woman remains healthy and delivers the child possessing good health, energy or strength, voice compactness, and much superior to other family members. Vaginal canal, abdomen, sacral region, flanks and back become soft. Vayu moves into right path/direction, feces, urine, and placenta are excreted or expelled easily by their respective passages. Skin and nails become soft. Woman gains strength and good complexion. She delivers easily at proper time, a desired, excellent, healthy child possessing all qualities and long life.
Significance of regimens according to Modern Aspect: During first trimester of pregnancy most of women experience nausea and vomiting, thus can not take proper diet. Use of cold and sweet liquid diet and milk will prevent dehydration and supply required nourishment, besides the drugs of madhura group being anabolic will help in maintenance of proper health of mother and fetus. Fourth month onwards muscular tissue of fetus grows sufficiently requiring more protein which is supplied by use of meat soup.
By the end of second trimester most women suffer from edema of feet and other complications of water retention. Use of gokshura, a good diuretic, in sixth month will prevent retention of water as well as its complications. The drugs of vidarigandhadi group are diuretic, anabolic, relieve emaciation and suppress pitta and kapha, their regular use in 7th month might help in maintaining health of mother and fetus. Most women experience constipation in late pregnancy due to pressure of gravid uterus over the bowel and effect of progesterone. Use of basti (enema) in eighth month will relieve this constipation, besides this may also affect the autonomous nervous system governing myometrium and helps in regulating their function during labour. Tampon of oil may destroy pathogenic bacteria of vaginal canal and prevent puerperal sepsis, besides this tampon may also soften vaginal passage thus help in normal labour. It is just possible that the regular use of tampon might influence autonomic fibers governing myometrium and help in its relaxation during labour.
Milk and drugs of madhura group have been advised for entire pregnancy period. Milk is a whole diet and good source of calcium. The drug of madhura group are anabolic, thus use of these will help in maintenance of proper health of mother and growth and development of fetus.
Hence it is necessary to follow the garbhini paricharya.
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