Garbhini Paricharya – The Ancient Art Conceiving, Pregnancy and Post Delivery – 2 of 3

In 8th and 9th month there is pain in abdomen and some time bleeding through vagina also. So use pain killing and stambhana (drug to stop bleeding) medicine.

Medicine

Shunthi, (Zigiber officinale) Jeshthamadha, Deodaru are pain killers. Sariva, Jeshthamadha, Ksheerkakoli Kashaya medicines. If pregnancy continues upto 10th month then only take – Shunthi, Ksheervidari Kashay or only Shunthi Siddha milk.

Application of oil, Medicated tampons, Medicated enema, Amulets, Vaginal douche are strongly recommended as they make the woman free from disease, and help in the easy delivery.

Vaidyas in Kerala have been following  another practise as tradition. Paal kashayam or Decoctions prepared with milk were advised for every month of pregnancy. The most important herb out of them is Kurunthoti or Bala (Sida cordifolia) which is compulsorily followed by all pregnant ladies till the end of pregnancy.

Preparation of Bala Kashayam

30gm of chopped bala (Sida cordifolia) malayalam- kurunthotti, Tamil-kurunthotti, mayirmanikkam

Ingredients

• Milk – 1 glass
• Water 4 glass

Boil the chopped root and stem of dried kurunthotti ver  in 4 glass of water and 1 glass of milk. reduce to 1 glass and take in evening around  3-4 pm after 1 or 2 hours of lunch every day, till 8th or 9th month

There are other medicines also which are prescribed by doctors commonly in antenatal care

For eg:  Dhanwantaram gutika  One tab is ground in  in jeeraka kashayam.(cumin seeds boiled in water aand reduced to kashayam and given once a day from the first month of pregnancy.

Medicinal ghee lilke phala ghrtam, kalyanakaghrtam are given every day after the first trimester

Every pregnant lady is assured that she gets oil massages with dhanwantaram kuzhambu followed by hot water bath (below the neck from 4rth month onwards. After 8months its given every day

Theorist Dr David Haig mentions pregnancy as a tug of war  in the womb between mother and baby over the nutrients. The mother has no control over the nutrient supply she offers the foetus. The mother has no access to foetal circulation and is restricted by the placenta. But the foetus can manipulate the mothers body by injecting hormones into the mothers blood to improve the nutritional supply to the foetus. The baby keeps demanding nutrition and mother constantly supplies.

In ayurveda Susruta mentions that the way the tree sucks nutrients from its nearby sources, the same way foetus draws  nourishment from the mother. So it is very important  that the pregnant women were supervised ensure healthy enjoyable pregnancy easy parturition. Just as in a tug-of-war, if one party drops its end, both fall over.

In his theory of genomic imprinting Dr Haig  mentions that the normal development can proceed only as long as both parental genotypes are correctly balanced against one another. Understanding the genomic imprinting and the maternal foetal battle behind it  researchers have been able to relate the  genetic causes for numerous disorders during pregnancy and childhood such as gestatonal diabetes, preeclampsia, miscarriages, childhood obesity, several cancer. It can also explain psychatric conditions such asschizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism in the children

The ayurvedic concepts of embryogenesis mentions  six factors necessary for a healthy progeny-Matrija (maternal), Pitrija (paternal), Atmaja (Soul), Rasaja(Nutritional), Satmyaja (Wholesomeness), and Sattvaja (Psych / Mind).Each factors contribute in  the physical and mental growth and development and functions of he body. They  are  the carriers of the organogenesis and other traits to the fetus. The normal transmitted traits through any of the Garbhakara Bhavas can be modified by the preventive or  curative measures, if they are not permanent or major. Out of the six factors the  last three Rasaja(Nutritional), Satmyaja (Wholesomeness), and Sattvaja (Psych / Mind) practiced properly can modify the intrauterine environment and psychosomatic health of the mother, producing a healthy impact on the progeny.

Thus the proper antenatal care would help in proper nourishment and  growth of foteus, uncomplicated labour and delivery of healthy baby, good health of mother and her ability to withstand the strain of labour and an even post natal phase including  production of breast milk.

In the last part of the article, We will cover the post-delivery care from ayurvedic point of view.