Being
pregnant brings an enormous change to a women's life. In to-day's high
stress times of modern life most mothers with their newborn babies can
suffer a variety of health problems. Most of which could be avoided if
the 'mother-to-be' had good knowledge on how to lead the correct life
during the crucial months of her pregnancy. According to Ayurveda the
gradual development of the foetus growing is the most important time for
the future welfare of that child's health. The foetus depends totally on
mother for its nourishment. During the crucial stages of foetal
development a woman needs to have a sound mind and be in good physical
condition. Everything a mother experiences, every feeling, whether its
pleasurable one or negative one, like having recurring anxieties are
unknowingly passed onto the unborn child. One should never underestimate
the power of transferring these emotions into the make-up of the unborn
child. When the child is eventually born and they begin to grow up they
can suffer from psychological problems if the mother has suffered undue
stress during her pregnancy. According to Ayurveda the pregnant mothers
should seek out gentle leisure activities for relaxation and calmness so
to impart stability to the unborn child. Women should avoid situations
that create anger and frustration, circumstances that provoke
unnecessary stress and tension in the body and avoid habits, which are
not beneficial for the health. The cord is attached to the rasvaha nadi (maternal part of the placenta) of the mother and this carries ahararasa-virya (nutrition) from the mother to the foetus. The foetus grows by this indirect supply of nutrition. From the time of conception till the zygote gets itself attached to uterus, its nutrition depends on the nutritive parts carried by sperms and ovum. Charaka says that with the normalcy of all six factors of conception and use of appropriate diet along with proper mode of life followed by the pregnant woman, the foetus thus obtaining its nourishment from rasa (supplied by mother) by the process of upasneha (attracting moisture) and upasweda (osmosis) and influenced time factor along with its own nature or desires grows normally. The foetus does not feel hunger and thirst and is totally dependent upon the mother. So nourishment plays an important part in the foetus development. Proper care and advice is mandatory for the proper growth of foetus.
