Ayurveda and The Journey of Pregnancy....
An entire branch of ancient Āyurveda was dedicated to women's health - from preparing for conception, to the act of conception itself, to each trimester or pregnancy and culminating with the postpartum experience. Of all of these stages, Āyurveda has a great deal to say about "preparing the field" for pregnancy.
From the Ayurvedic perspective... each choice we make ~ environment, food, actions, words and inner thoughts has a profound effect on our health and wellbeing overall including every single layer of tissue and every cell. For a mother, this is a huge responsibility and blessing, for her cells become the food that feeds a new life.
The Vedic tradition is full of tales of the influence of mother's mental state, cravings and environment on the child... including impacting that child's adult life and his or her own children. Modern science is now coming around to this with studies and evidence of epigenetics.
From the Ayurvedic perspective... each choice we make ~ environment, food, actions, words and inner thoughts has a profound effect on our health and wellbeing overall including every single layer of tissue and every cell. For a mother, this is a huge responsibility and blessing, for her cells become the food that feeds a new life.
The Vedic tradition is full of tales of the influence of mother's mental state, cravings and environment on the child... including impacting that child's adult life and his or her own children. Modern science is now coming around to this with studies and evidence of epigenetics.
5 Key Ayurvedic Principles for Conscious Conception
All recommendations for Mayurveda Conception are born from these principles
1. Timing
Jyotish... Karma
Your cycle...
Your life...
Your partner...
Your cycle...
Your life...
Your partner...
2. Building Ojas + Nourishing Reproductive Tissue
Nutrition, lifestyle, sleep
3. Nourished Reproductive Tissue
Botanicals, Minerals, Herbs, Castor Oil Packs, the period before you conceive
4. Love + Happiness
These are primary for you and your baby! If you have loving partner, such as the baby's other parent or a dear parent or friend to support you in your pregnancy, their MAIN JOB is to help with these! You'll need someone to keep you happy, joyful, grounded, and feeling secure. And you can choose all of the things in your life that support these and increase them throughout your pregnancy. Self massage {or massage from a prenatal massage therapist}, yoga, communing with nature, freshly prepared sattvic food, cuddling and good sleep all support this. When people smile at your belly, soak it in.
5. Relaxation + Strength
Yes, you'll need both, and they are not in conflict. They are Yin and Yang, Feminine and Masculine, Moon and Sun, Exhalation and Inhalation, Being + Doing. This will be supremely important as a birthing skill. Learn to relax deeply, but also increase your strength and resiliency throughout your pregnancy {the 2nd trimester is really the best time for the strength piece!} - walking, yoga, hiking and swimming are all great for the yang, and shavasana, good sleep, cuddling, yoga nidra and relaxation are all great for the Yin.
Traditional Ayurveda Perspective by Trimester
1st Month ~ Fragile time. Described by Charaka as a vessel filled with oil. Even a slight movement can cause the oil to spill. This is a time to be careful, restful, still. Considered "kalala" ~ liquid stage. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
2nd Month ~ "gharana" stage... the liquid turns into a jelly quality, surrounded by fluid. Mores table, but still fragile. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
3rd Month ~ "piṇda" stage... more solid. Still fragile, but more stable still. Anchoring of the fetus starts... like a tree with roots. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
4th Month ~ organs are developed, but in small size. Fourth month is very important time of inspiration and emotions are very important at this time. Mother must increase joy and happiness and re-commune with nature and the world. Ayurveda says "dauhṛd" - two hearts are working together. Cravings begin that are coming from the baby. Fulfill them so that the baby is happy and satisfied. Deny the cravings and the baby will be sad and depressed. Honor the cravings, it's a call from inside. {The exception is if the cravings from within would harm the mother}.
5th Month ~ Charaka says vata and movement starts - mother will feel quickening and kicking {first pregnancy may not feel until the 6th Month}. Mother will be emotional, as her feelings interact with the feelings of the baby. There may be mood fluctuations. As vata is balanced, wisdom will increase.
6th Month ~ If not felt in the 5th month, movements will be felt by the mother now. More swelling, and possible water retention in the legs. If this happens, increase salt intake. Vata mothers can likely enjoy plenty of salt throughout pregnancy, as long as she is hydrating as well.
7th Month ~ Baby is completely developed and viable to survive birth. We do want to go to 32 weeks for lung development, so herbs and acupuncture and bed rest can be used to stop early contractions before 32 weeks. Mother feels heavier, but may still enjoy plenty of activity. Beware of balance issues and not being familiar with how much space your belly takes up! Time to do birth class, plan birth, plan postpartum! Good time to schedule your Postpartum consultation.
8th Month ~ Not a good time for birth. At this stage, ojas transfers from the mother to the baby {vitality of life}. There is a lot of ojas interaction between mother and child, and at a particular point the child drains the ojas from the mother. It is not safe to birth at this time, when either the mother or baby is lacking ojas. Take care if early contractions to slow down, take bed rest, or stop working if necessary. Take in plenty of ojas rich foods - such as dates, milk, ghee and almonds.
9th Month ~ Clarify your birth and postpartum plan, and begin perineal massage with birth partner.
2nd Month ~ "gharana" stage... the liquid turns into a jelly quality, surrounded by fluid. Mores table, but still fragile. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
3rd Month ~ "piṇda" stage... more solid. Still fragile, but more stable still. Anchoring of the fetus starts... like a tree with roots. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
4th Month ~ organs are developed, but in small size. Fourth month is very important time of inspiration and emotions are very important at this time. Mother must increase joy and happiness and re-commune with nature and the world. Ayurveda says "dauhṛd" - two hearts are working together. Cravings begin that are coming from the baby. Fulfill them so that the baby is happy and satisfied. Deny the cravings and the baby will be sad and depressed. Honor the cravings, it's a call from inside. {The exception is if the cravings from within would harm the mother}.
5th Month ~ Charaka says vata and movement starts - mother will feel quickening and kicking {first pregnancy may not feel until the 6th Month}. Mother will be emotional, as her feelings interact with the feelings of the baby. There may be mood fluctuations. As vata is balanced, wisdom will increase.
6th Month ~ If not felt in the 5th month, movements will be felt by the mother now. More swelling, and possible water retention in the legs. If this happens, increase salt intake. Vata mothers can likely enjoy plenty of salt throughout pregnancy, as long as she is hydrating as well.
7th Month ~ Baby is completely developed and viable to survive birth. We do want to go to 32 weeks for lung development, so herbs and acupuncture and bed rest can be used to stop early contractions before 32 weeks. Mother feels heavier, but may still enjoy plenty of activity. Beware of balance issues and not being familiar with how much space your belly takes up! Time to do birth class, plan birth, plan postpartum! Good time to schedule your Postpartum consultation.
8th Month ~ Not a good time for birth. At this stage, ojas transfers from the mother to the baby {vitality of life}. There is a lot of ojas interaction between mother and child, and at a particular point the child drains the ojas from the mother. It is not safe to birth at this time, when either the mother or baby is lacking ojas. Take care if early contractions to slow down, take bed rest, or stop working if necessary. Take in plenty of ojas rich foods - such as dates, milk, ghee and almonds.
9th Month ~ Clarify your birth and postpartum plan, and begin perineal massage with birth partner.