Pregnancy is indeed a very blissful time for every woman, but it is also a time that requires the intended mothers to be at their best, both physically and mentally. Before and after pregnancy, ayurvedic care is very needed for moms. Ayurveda proclaims pregnancy to be a rejuvenating period for moms-to-be as it witnesses a definite transformation in their lives where they become the host to the birth of new cells and thereby a new living being. The journey from conception to delivery is considered to be extremely exhausting and overwhelming for mothers. This is why Ayurveda has come up with a healthy system to keep them on their toes and reduce the discomfort to the farthest extent possible. Here’s an overview of how Ayurveda aids in the healthy pregnancy journey.

Ayurvedic Tips for staying healthy during Pregnancy 

• Cravings: Cravings are a very natural part of the pregnancy journey. The cravings of the mother have to be satisfied and should never be disregarded. Cravings come because the fetus is lacking in a nutrient and prompts the mother to satisfy the need through food. According to Ayurveda, this is the explanation for pregnant women’s cravings.

• Avoid stress: Stress is an inevitable dilemma and can be a tad bit higher when you are pregnant. It is advised to stay away from anything that gives you that unwanted adrenaline rush and causes you too much stress. Ayurveda advises expecting mothers to avoid violent and horror films that provide jump scares and cause insomnia. It is also recommended to avoid major travel plans and other major life changes while pregnant. Anything that causes stress can create a vata imbalance, which triggers other discomforts such as changes in sleep patterns, diet, and the mental health of the expecting mother and the fetus. Try to be in a positive, relaxed, stimulating environment with good food and good music. 
• Oil massage for relaxation: A good oil massage from a good masseuse can bring in a lot of benefits inside out for a pregnant woman. Regular and gentle massage with oil can bring down the stress and nerves that a woman faces while she’s pregnant. It can also aid in reducing the swelling of the body, improves blood flow, improves bone strength and helps it to be prepared for the growth of the fetus, and also improves the functioning of the body organs in totality. The oil used for massage is sesame oil and is heated by placing a bowl of oil in warm water. 
• Meditation: Pranayama, which is a meditation technique practiced in Yoga can bring in a lot of calmness and reduce the impending stress that is caused to the mother’s body due to all the emotional and physical changes that are happening in her body. The breathing pattern induced by Pranayama is both beneficial for the fetus and the mother. It enhances the oxygen flow to the fetus and improves the hemoglobin levels in the mother’s body. It also additionally releases oxytocin. Practicing some natal yoga can help ease the elasticity in the pelvic region which aids in easy birth.
• Garbhopadravas: Garbhopadravas means the different kinds of health challenges faced by women during the pregnancy period. The usual ailments faced by mothers during this time include nausea, constant vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, fever, weakness, etc. Ayurveda suggests a good diet routine that will help in reducing the impact of these physical discomforts. 

Let us now look at the dietary changes prescribed by Ayurveda that can bring about a positive change in the daily lives of pregnant women and will aid a stress-free pregnancy journey. 

Pregnancy Nutrition and Care

Pregnant women should always consume a balanced diet, preferably something cooked at home that is prepared after giving importance to their liking and preferences. In this period, they have to give immense amounts of love, care, and attention, and all these have to be specifically shown in the kind of food prepared. Good and nutritious meals will ensure that the fetus stays wary of any kind of congenital anomalies. It is essential to make sure that they get to satisfy their different tastes, like sweet, sour, bitter, astringent, etc. All the food has to be prepared so as to cover the individual doshas they are suffering at that point in time. Keeping track of the lack of vitamins in different phases of pregnancy is indeed important, so make sure to keep up with it.

Let’s take a look at how the diet should look during pregnancy:

• Grains such as rice, wheat, and millets
• Cooked pulses
• Greens with leaves, such as spinach, fenugreek, mint, and amaranth
• Root vegetables like Sweet potato, ginger, onion, garlic, and turmeric roots
• Dried fruits such as apricots, resins, figs, almonds, and dried dates
• spices such as nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and black pepper
• Fresh seasonal fruits like avocados, dates, pomegranates, bananas, apples, oranges, and limes
• different milk products.
• Rock salt is preferred over refined table salt, and jaggery can be used in place of refined sugar.
• Avoid drinking coffee, soda, wine, and alcoholic beverages.

The diet can change according to the different months of pregnancy as well.

First and second months of pregnancy

For the first two months of pregnancy, expectant mothers are advised to eat primarily sweet, cold, and liquid foods. This is basically to make them comfortable and to aid in the digestion process. The foods listed above will aid in the stabilization and maintenance of the fetus’s health. Sweet foods promote cell formation and fetal growth while also stabilizing the fetus. Milk provides enough nutrients, like folic acid, carbohydrate, fat, proteins, amino acids, iodine, calcium, minerals, and enzymes.

Third Month

Milk and ghee must be consumed during meals, particularly at breakfast and lunch. Having fruits also aids in digestion. The major organs of the fetus are developed during the first three months. Consuming honey, an excellent antibiotic and analgesic that also eases heartburn, morning sickness, and digestive discomfort, can help reduce nausea and vomiting that are brought on by the physical and hormonal changes in the body. 

Fourth Month

It is necessary to incorporate good food into both breakfast and lunch. Rice can be eaten with healthy fats like curd or ghee, depending on the pregnant mother’s preferences.  Fruits like mango, watermelon, white pumpkin, yellow pumpkin, and pomegranate should be added to the diet.

Fifth Month

According to Ayurveda, having Shashti rice or a medicinal rice called “Njavara” can help add different nutritional profiles to your food consumption and help balance the tridoshas. The rice also has many micronutrients that help cure issues related to the digestive,  circulatory, and respiratory systems.

Sixth Month

Adding Gokshur to your diet is very essential in the sixth month of pregnancy. Gokhshur is best consumed in the sixth month of pregnancy to help with edema and water retention issues that are frequently experienced by the end of the second trimester.

Seventh Month

Consuming frequent small meals must become a habit during the seventh month of pregnancy. The increased growth of the fetus can also start creating a little discomfort to the throat and chest of the expectant mothers. An increased intake of calcium is suggested to avoid pregnancy induced osteoporosis. 

Eighth and Ninth Month

A medicated enema with oil should be given to expectant mothers to clear off toxins and help restore the smooth functioning of the nervous system. Cotton swabs infused with oil are placed inside the vagina to increase its elasticity, thereby increasing the chances of a normal vaginal delivery. 

These are some of the ayurvedic tips that can help you have a healthy pregnancy. Specific tips can be taken from an ayurvedic practitioner depending upon the exact condition or phase of pregnancy you are in.