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