Prenatal Care

A drop of nectar from the super specialty branches of Ayurveda!!!

Ayurveda the age-old healing tradition handles 8 specialist branches since its origin. The specialty dealing with pregnancy and childcare is known as Prasuthi Tantra. This is the place where you can get comprehensive guidance regarding prenatal care in Ayurveda.

• Germinal stage: from conception till 2 weeks of pregnancy
• Embryonic stage: Early pregnancy stage; from 2 weeks to 10 weeks.
• Fetal stage: lasts until delivery.

Preconception care

Ayurvedic description of prenatal care starts from the selection of the partner itself. Ayurveda describes several norms for partners and one of the positive outcomes of such instructions is healthy offspring for a high-end generation. Once you choose your partner, preconception preparation starts.
The essential elements for a healthy conception are compared to cultivation and classified into four:

• Ritu (means season; represents the fertility period in women),
• Kshetra (means location; structurally and functionally healthy organs),
• Ambu (means hydration; proper nutrition and blood circulation),
• Beeja (means seeds; represents healthy sperm and ovum).

Ayurveda recommends specific lifestyle and diet recommendations for men and women for a healthy conception. Milk, ghee, etc are recommended for men while oils and grains are recommended for women to improve fertility. If you have specific health issues even not related to the reproductive system, Ayurveda recommends correcting them as trouble-free, effective, and healthy conception happens at the pink of metabolism.

Ayurvedic Epigenetic Therapy

Epigenetics is a branch of science that deals with the interaction between the environment and gene expression. The role of preconception elements is undoubtedly explained in terms of Ayurvedic epigenetic therapy because for a healthy offspring a healthy atmosphere is inevitable. There lies the need for detoxification of the body through intense Panchakarma therapy before conception for a genetically supreme offspring. This includes internal lubrication using medicated ghee, detox via herbal preparations, various therapeutic enemas, therapeutic oil massages (Abhyanga), and so on. Such good quality sperm and ovum get naturally fertilised and conception occurs. You may feel fatigued and widened vagina in the following conception.

At Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic we support easy and healthy conception using various holistic methods of Ayurveda.

First Trimester

Once the Conception has happened, the Garbhini Paricharya or Prenatal Care begins. The germinal stage of the fetus is governed by Panchamahabhoota (Akasha-Space, Vayu-Air, Agni-Fire, Jala-Water, and Prithvi-Earth) and Tridosha (Vata-air factors, Pitta-Fire factors, Kapha-Water factors). Life begins with the association of these Panchamahabhoota with the soul in the embryonic stage. Ayurveda recommends taking medicated milk generously during this stage (if you are healthy and not intolerant to lactose). Milk should be taken in abundance at this period. During the second month, the embryo becomes a solid mass. Sweetish herbs are recommended during this stage. The fetal stage of pregnancy begins thereafter. By the 6th week, heartbeats become evident in ultrasonography. By this time all the sense organs and upper and lower extremities start developing. This is the time for administration of honey and ghee at 3rd month along with sashtika (a special kind of herbal rice cooked with milk). Nausea and giddiness are two common problems during this period which can be effectively managed through morning Ginger tea or Lemon tea. The Garbhini(Pregnant lady) should avoid lifting heavy weights, lying down on hard coats, anger, stress, night-outs, day sleeping, and lying down in a prone position and on back to avoid fetal anomalies and pregnancy complications.

Second Trimester

Coping Up with Pregnancy and Welcome your baby bellies!!!!

The second trimester of pregnancy is the fourth, fifth, and sixth months. The fetus’s nervous system starts functioning. Genitalia is developed, bones are getting denser, hair begins to grow, and the baby starts responding to external stimuli. So it’s a fact that the mother’s physical and emotional balance can have an impact on prenatal development. Elevated stress factors in the mother may cause increased blood pressure leading to fetal physical or emotional anomalies. Human and animal studies recommend that you should care about your diet and lifestyle during these periods as it may affect the risk of cardiometabolic disease in future life. Ayurveda advises medicated herbal soups and butter during the 4th month, herbal ghee during the fifth month, and Ghee processed with sweet herbs in the sixth month. No Panchakarma should be done before the eighth month.

Third Trimester: Prepare for the birth and welcome to the world of motherhood

During the third trimester, your abdomen distended rapidly and the body prepares for childbirth. Ayurveda recommends medicated tea, medicated porridge, herbal latte, oil enema, and pre-natal massages to address discomfort during this time and to prepare for easy childbirth. A gentle massage using Dhanwantaram oil is highly recommended. Nearing delivery the baby will drop down to the pelvis towards the birth canal. Specialized herbal enemas are advisable during the eighth month to aid in normal delivery. During the ninth month, you should take oily soups and gruels, enemas, and Pichu (applying cotton soaked in medicated oil in the vagina). At Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic we provide quality services and herbs to support baby growth, prevent complications and prepare for easy labor.

Most of the organs and organ systems get completely developed during this stage, and the baby can live outside the mother’s womb with medical support even if it is premature. Diabetic and hypertensive people should take great care during this period. The baby changes its position frequently and you can do simple exercises to relieve muscles. Practice meditation daily. Keep doing your daily routines, however, be careful with strenuous activities and activities that can cause pressure on the abdomen or back.