Pregnant women have special health and nutrition needs. They are eating for two people, for themselves and for the new baby that is growing inside their womb. So they want to be sure they are eating healthy foods. It is important for pregnant women to watch what they eat and drink. For example, doctors advise the strict avoidance of all alcoholic beverages during pregnancy.
It is also recommended to take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is included in any good quality brand of prenatal vitamins, as are other important nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals like calcium, etc.
If you are trying to conceive, experiencing some symptoms of pregnancy, or are now pregnant, you will want to eat a balanced and healthy diet. Your body will experience many changes as the months go by. Be sure to get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common complaint of pregnant women. Your body is going through a lot of stressful work to create a human life. You are doing something totally amazing. And you deserve a rest, don’t you think? Of course you do. So take plenty of breaks, sit down, even take a nap every day if you can.
You and your baby will need more calories during the pregnancy stages. Some doctors estimate that you will consume round 300 additional calories each day. Just make sure the added calories come from healthy foods, not junk food. It is normal to have some cravings, because you need extra nutrients, but these cravings can be lessened by taking prenatal vitamins. You body wants and needs added nutrition, to help your baby grow, so eat plenty of health foods such as yogurt, fruit, bran muffins, veggies, etc.
Stay away from cigarettes and from people who smoke them. Second hand smoke can be bad for you and for your developing baby. Also avoid chemicals of all kinds. Don’t use, inhale or be around any paint, harsh cleaning compounds, bug sprays and pesticides, weed killers, or any serious chemicals such as those.
Get some mild exercise every day. Going for a walk is the best form of exercise. This gets your blood flowing and increases oxygen levels in your body. Don’t do any sit ups or crunches or tummy exercises. And avoid doing any heavy lifting.
Talk to your nurse or doctor on a regular basis. Pregnant women are going through a special time in their lives and they have special needs, special eating habits, special vitamins, etc. Take extra special good care of yourself so you will have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby
Ayurvedic Tips For Normal Delivery:
Antenatal care is must during pregnancy that means expected mother should be cared properly during this period. According to Ayurveda it is called Masanumasiki chikitsa. The meaning of word Masanumasiki is month-to-month treatment. As per ayurveda different food habits and treatments are required every month for a normal delivery. According to ayurveda there are nine varied groups of medicines and herbs for each month. Also ayurvedic tips for normal delivery emphasis on panchakarmas for purification if you have any doshas.
According to ayurveda, in every month different dahtu i.e. body building substance is formed in the baby's body. So for the proper development of dhatu meal and ayurvedic medicines should be taken for that month. Apart from diet for normal pregnancy there are many issues that are treated with ayurveda. High blood pressure is the most common of all these issues. Along with this diabetes, vomiting, hyperacidity, premature birth etc can also be seen. The effect vary from person to person. These problems can be treated with ayurveda.
• Walking is the best of all for a normal delivery. You should start walking as soon as you feel the first sign of labor. Doctors even recommend walking through out the labour pain.
• From seven months onwards you can take the milk with garlic paste. For this boil the garlic paste in milk and consume it.
• From nine months onwards for normal delivery take the drink made from roasted anise seed and water. To make this drink boil roasted anise seed in water and drink it.
• Have pomegranate juice daily as it ameliorates the blood cells of both baby and mother. With this juice your baby will also have the fair complexion.
• Take warm water bath before going to bed. This will relax your body from all kinds of stress and strains.
• On the commencement of delivery pains eat a spoon full of honey. Also make the paste of honey and black cumin powder and spread it over your stomach for normal deliver as per ayurveda.
• For good lactation after delivery take fenugreek - 1/4 tablespoon, 1/2 cup raw rice, 5 garlic pieces. Steam all the ingredients well and smash it. Consume it with enough water. This should be done 7th month onwards
* Any ayurveda tip for normal delivery must be done after due consultation with your doctor or ayurvedic specialist.
A pregnant woman should take natural supplements like draksha, khajoor, manooka, and vidari with milk [cold/room temperature] in the morning.
For the first 12 days, have ghee [prepared from cow’s milk] boiled with leaves of saliparni herb. It is important to have this preparation in a vessel made of precious metals like gold or silver. After that, have water that is boiled and cooled. Your breakfast should comprise sweet, cold and semi-solid foods.
Women tend to start taking a massage or reverse massage from this month. However, massages are to be avoided till the fifth month.
Have milk mixed with the above-mentioned natural supplements.
Have the same sweet natural supplements, but now mix them with milk, honey and ghee.
Continue taking the same sweet supplements with milk. This time replace ghee with butter [12 – 15g of makkhan] made from milk.
Continue the supplement regime of the fourth month. Oil application and gentle massage followed by a bath with lukewarm water is recommended. Continue this till delivery.
Continue the supplement regime of the fifth month.
Mothers-to-be may feel an itchy sensation on the breast and abdomen or a burning sensation in chest or throat due to increased size of foetus.
Eat food in smaller quantities, frequently, and a bite of sweet something with little ghee or oil that is easy to digest. Ensure that your salt intake during this period is reduced to a minimum. Also, avoid drinking water immediately after a meal.
Eat rice prepared with milk in semi-solid or liquid form with ghee.
Follow the same diet as in the eighth month.
Apply oil on the abdomen and genital areas. Take an oil enema in small quantities to help ease false labour pains. You can even insert cotton ball dipped in oil into the vagina to lubricate the passage. Be particular about maintaining hygiene to avoid infection, which cause itchiness or swelling of the genital area.
Have a healthy baby.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Pregnancy:
Care of a woman in pregnancy is described in ayurveda under Garbhini Vyakaran. Management of pregnancy and the problems of pregnancy are described in separate chapters such as general management, special management, diseases in pregnancy and their treatment and so on. Besides herbal remedies rules regarding diet, activities, behavior and mental activity (ahar, vihar, achar and vichar respectively) are also described. After pregnancy is confirmed, you will be advised to follow certain rules by your ayurvedic practitioner. Certain ayurvedic home remedies for pregnancy are based on the diseases peculiar to pregnancy as identified in system of medicine.
General care from initial stages of Pregnancy to Delivery
1.Try to be in a happy and cheerful mood
2.Keep yourself clean, neat and well dressed
3.Wear simple and comfortable clothes
4.Sleep in a clean room (not infested with insects such as mosquito's, cockroach etc.)
Avoid the following
1.Too much sex specially in early and late pregnancy
2.Eating in excess or fasting
3.Sleeping in the day time and keeping awake till late at night
4.Tight and uncomfortable clothes
5.Seeing or listening to things that make you feel sad, angry, horror or agonized
6.Journey in a vehicle on rough roads
7.Squatting for a long period or sitting in an uneasy position
8.Lifting heavy things or bending down for a long time
9.Beholding natural urges to freshen yourself unless in an emergency
10.Spicy, oily, stale, heavy, hot or strong food, alcohol and meat (fish is allowed)
Treatment of Diseases in Pregnancy: Ayurveda considers that any disease in a pregnant woman should be treated with mild drugs that are compatible and safe for the fetus. Panchakarma (detoxifying procedures) should be avoided during pregnancy, apart from basti (enema) and pichu (tampon) in the eighth and ninth months of pregnancy.
According to Ayurveda nine diseases are caused as a result of the pregnant status in a woman, and are called garbhopadravas as they are peculiar to pregnancy. The garbhopadravas include nausea, anorexia, vomiting, dryness of mouth, fever, edema, anemia, diarrhea and retention of urine.
According to Ayurveda medication should be avoided during the first three months of pregnancy if possible. Symptomatic treatment with very mild herbs and a suitable diet should be tried and only if the symptoms are severe the disease should be treated with ayurvedic remedies.
Ayurveda for Morning sickness: Most pregnant women have morning sickness during the first three months of pregnancy. If your problem is severe consult a professional ayurvedic practitioner. Some useful herbs for ayurvedic treatment of morning sickness are Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Lemon (Citrus limon), Mint (Plants of the Mentha family)
1.Ginger (Zingiber officinale): It is considered as one of the best remedies for morning sickness. It can be taken as paste, ale, tea, etc to relieve the symptoms of morning sickness.
2.Lemon (Citrus limon): It has a strong but pleasant odour that is beneficial in the treatment of morning sickness. If you have morning sickness just sniffing at the juice or the peel of a lemon is enough to control symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
3.Mint (Plants of the Mentha family): Mint is very useful in controlling morning sickness. The fragrances and flavors of different mint like spearmint, horsemint and peppermint can stimulate the different channels of the body and ease the feelings of nausea and vomiting.
Ayurveda for Constipation in pregnancy: Constipation should be avoided in preganacy. You may take mild laxatives if constipation is a problem or oil enema for hard stools.