Ayurveda And Pregnancy Care

Pregnancy Care Ayurveda- Melbourne

Pregnancy is one of the most important times in a woman's life. It completely transforms the person physically, mentally and emotionally. Although the couple and the whole family experience the changes, only the woman bearing the child knows this beautiful journey of growing a life inside. Women are so blessed to share nature's most wonderful gift of procreation.

These nine months prepare the women to fall in love for a lifetime. As someone once said, "Baby is the only blind date where you are sure that you will meet the love of your life!"

Pregnancy Ayurveda

Ayurveda has extensively discussed pregnancyin its branch called Sri-Roga and Prasuti Tantra. Sri-Roga discusses female gynaecological disorders, whereas Prasuti-tantra elaborates on pregnancy. This traditional Indian Science explores all components around pregnancy, from pre-conceptional planning to conception rituals to prenatal care for the pregnant lady. Prasuti-Tantra also suggests the detailed labour process and postpartum care of the mother and the care of the newborn. Going further, Ayurveda has a specific branch named Kaumarbharitya, which is completely loaded with a variety of information from the daily care of a healthy newborn to treating diseases in children.

The best part is that the Ayurveda principles are close to mother nature! Ayurveda believes that our universe and the human body are formed from the same five basic elements:aning space, air, fire, water and earth. The human body needs to be in sync with our surrounding atmosphere to stay healthy. If we respect mother nature, mother nature will also protect us! As a woman experiences this most beautiful feeling of growing a life inside her, we do not want to put any harsh chemical in her body that will indirectly affect the baby. That is where Ayurveda pregnancy care can help you with easy guided methods to deal with everyday life during pregnancy.

An expecting woman needs proper physical and mental care. Her body, mind and soul, diet, habits and exercise must all be concerted for the best Antenatal care (Garbhini Paricharya). Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, has mentioned enormous information in the ancient texts on the dietary regimen of a pregnant woman, what psychological counselling she should undergo, what exercises are good for her and what the dos and don'ts in such state.

With the support of Ayurvedic principles, a pregnant or pre-conceptual couple can learn to care about themselves in this exceptional phase of life.

Ayurveda Acharya Charaka suggests that a pregnant woman is like a pot of oil filled to the brim. This pot requires absolute steady movement and care from one place to another.

In the above Sanskrit, shloka Acharya Vagbhat has mentioned that a pregnant woman should be looked after by her husband/partner and the family affectionately. She should be supplied with what she likes or desires and offered the things that are good for her health. Acharya Vagbhatt specifically mentions using butter, ghee and milk to nourish a pregnant woman.

Antenatal care In Ayurveda (Garbhini Paricharya)

• Paripoornatva- Te ensure proper growth of the foetus and health of the mother
• Anupaghata- To prevent chances of complications in pregnancy
• Sukhaprasava- Ensuing normal healthy delivery of the foetus 

Ayurvedic Lifestyle of a Pregnant Lady

• Good rest.
• No jerky moments.
• She was getting up slowly from the bed.
• Brushing twice a day is very important, as vomiting and acidity from morning sickness wear down the enamel layer of teeth.
• Luke warm water from a shower, not hot, not cold.
• Gentle Massage with vata pacifying Ayurvedic oils.
• Local abdominal Massage of shat that ghrit to avoid miscarriage. 

Things to Avoid during Pregnancy

• Wearing red or very bright colours
• Wearing tight clothes
• Daytime sleeping. It is fine to have a rest.
• Smoking or drinking alcohol
• Fasting
• Heat exposure
• Watching the sunset or moon set
• Violent, harsh activity beyond capacity
• Animal riding
• Squatting
• Sleeping in the supine position
• Sleeping in the prone position
• Going to temples or funerals
• Fights, anger and mental stress
• Most importantly, do not stop the natural urge to go to the toilet or burp or pass the wind.

Ayurvedic Diet during Pregnancy

Ayurveda strongly suggest the use of the following food items in a pregnant woman's daily regimen

1. Gold infused water
2. Milk
3. Ghee
4. Butter
5. Buttermilk
6. Panchamrit

Caution: These items should not be consumed in excess. Water and milk are daily primary intake in a pregnant woman's diet. The rest of the products mentioned should be consumed alternatively each day. 

How to drink water during pregnancy

Suvarnabharit Jala (Water infused with Gold)

Gold is considered a natural rejuvenator in Ayurveda. It helps in the formation of new cells. During pregnancy, our body goes through an enormous transformation. Gold is regarded as a brain tonic, immunity enhancer, cardiac tonic and tri dosha balancer. It promotes the development of the brain and nervous system in the foetus.

To prepare Suvarnabharit Jala, all you need is a piece of Gold, like a ring or part of any jewellery that does not have other elements like diamonds or other stones. 24-carat Gold is considered pure and best in quality, but you may have 18 or 22-carat gold at home. That is perfectly fine to infuse the water.

Put this piece of Gold in 3 Litres of water. A pregnant lady's ideal amount of water should be 2 to 3 Litres a day.

Boil the water with the gold piece for at least 15min. Once it cools down, you can remove the Gold. Keep this Gold aside if possible so it does not attract unnecessary impurities. You may use this technique to infuse water every day throughout pregnancy.

This water can then be used like normal drinking water.

• How to make Ayurvedic Ghee at home

• How to make Ayurvedic Butter at home

• How to make Ayurvedic Buttermilk at home

The following recipe will help you make all three ghee, butter and buttermilk from one recipe, as these are the different by-products of milk.

Click here to learn the Ayurvedic benefits of using Milk, Ghee, butter and buttermilk in our diet.

Let's start with full-cream milk.

Take 5 litres of full cream cow's milk. Please bring it to a boil and let it cool down. A creamy layer will be formed on the top of the milk. Separate this layer and save it overnight to settle down and thicken up.

Next day you will need a cup of culture to make yoghurt. It can be buttermilk or Indian yoghurt (known as curd) or any yoghurt free from gelatine and naturally set.

Warm up the cream to a lukewarm temp and mix with buttermilk/curd to start the probiotic setting process. It usually takes around eight hours. So best to do it at night time. Set this mixture aside overnight in a warm temperature area (roughly approximately 25 degree Celsius). This will result in setting the whole cream into a thick yoghurt next morning.

Now, churn this yoghurt out using a hand or stand mixture to separate the butter. You will notice the butter rises on the top. You may need to add cold water to ease the process.

Now you have your Ayurvedic Butter! The leftover separated white liquid is the Ayurvedic Buttermilk!

You may keep half of the butter aside in the fridge and make the ghee from the rest of the half butter.

Put the butter in a pan and warm it up on a low flame. Gently stir in the beginning, but stop stirring, once it starts boiling. Let the residue and impurities settle down. You may notice some foam or bubbles forming on the top layer of melted butter. Try to take the layer out with a spoon or paper towel. Once it looks like a golden liquid after one boil, turn the flame off and let it cool down for 10mins. Burnt residue will be stuck on the sides and the bottom of the pan. Please, do not try to mix it up. Those are the impurities that have been cleared from the butter. That is why ghee is called clarified butter.

Strain the golden liquid in a glass jar. Your Ayurvedic Ghee is ready! It has a very long shelf life. It can be used for 6-12 months and kept at room temperate.

Panchamrit recipe for Pregnant woman

Panchamrit is considered strengthening and nourishing for the mother and the foetus; it balances pitta doshas and helps to relieve hyperacidity, indigestion etc. It is also very beneficial for hair and skin.

Ingredients:

1. Raw Sugar or jaggery- energy provider.

2. Honey (Yogavahi- acts as a career), immunity enhancer, reduces cough and cold, antiseptic, healer.

3. Yoghurt (source of calcium and phosphorus, and proteins, offers probiotic gut health)

4. Ghee (increases Ojas, tridhosha balancing, memory booster)

5. Luke warm Milk (rich in calcium, protein, Vitamin B12, A and D)

Use a glass bowl. Take one teaspoon each of sugar, honey and yoghurt and mix well. Set aside for 10 min. Then add 5-7 teaspoon milk and mix well. Lastly, add two teaspoons of ghee.

These are some basic suggestions on how to look after yourself while pregnant. You may contact us to book an appointment if you wish to explore further. You may also book a pregnancy Ayurvedic Massage treatment.

Morning sickness and Ayurveda

If you wish to understand your pregnancy further and support your pregnancy with an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle in a natural way, please get in touch with us to book an appointment. We offer a special Ayurvedic Pregnancy diet and lifestyle consultation at Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic, Melbourne.

If you wish to consult Ayurveda, you may contact one of our Ayurveda Practitioners, Gurnam Saini or Pooja Saini, in Melbourne. Both of our Practitioners are Qualified Ayurveda Doctors from India. You may contact us at "Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic". People who can't reach us personally may choose online Ayurveda consultation.

Disclaimer: The information on any of the Ayurveda Products, Ayurveda treatment, Ayurvedic Medicines, or any other services mentioned on the Pure Herbal Ayurved clinic website is for educational purposes only and not for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Ayurveda products should only be taken after Full Ayurveda consultation with a Registered Ayurveda Practitioner. On the website, if any of the Ayurveda Products mention heavy metals or some prohibited/restricted plants, the reader should not assume that these products are used, prescribed, or sold by Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic in Australia. Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic does not take liability or responsibility for accidental adulteration or contamination of any unwanted material in the Ayurveda products. Readers should not assume that all of the products mentioned on the website are available for prescription in Australia. The website purely describes the uses and indications of herbal products based on Traditional Ayurvedic textbooks.  These are not for self-medication or online purchase. Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic does not claim or guarantee to cure any disease or health condition or terminal illness. Ayurveda treatment plans should be supplemented with an appropriate diet and lifestyle to get beneficial effects. Ayurveda medicine is generally safe if taken under the strict supervision of a qualified Ayurveda Practitioner, but it may also cause adverse reactions in rare cases. We suggest that you discuss your Ayurvedic treatment plan with your Medical Practitioner to ensure safe and effective use.