ABSTRACT

In? India,? in spite of many spectacular advances in modern medicine,? a large section of people still maintain the traditional practices during pregnancy and pureperial period, particularly, the dietetic practices.?? In this paper an attempt is made to enlighten the dietetic importance during the pregnancy and puerperal period which is not just a specific diet but also helps in the better development of foetus, prevention of some pregnancy related? complications, promotes uneventful puerperal period by helping in the early and better involution.


INTRODUCTION:??????????

Basically Ayurveda is a Science that go on Thridosha Theory. Vitiation of thridoshas result in disease. Particularly in pregnancy and puerperal period, vata is the dosha which has to be given due consideration.


Pregnancy is one of the most important events in the life of every woman and Ayurveda suggested a very good protocol for that which is called “GARBHINIPARICHARYA”. Diet is the most important component of garbhiniparicharya. It ultimately results in foetal growth , maternal health and post delivary lactation.

?

?Ayurveda, describes “safe motherhood”.? This great science compares conception to the germination and sprouting of a speed and its transformation into a sapling and advises special attention to be paid to the nutrition & protection of the woman.


?“DHRUVAM,CHATURNAM,SANNIDHYAT,GARBHAHASYAD, VIDHIPURVAKAM,

RUTU,KSHETRAMBU, BEEJANAM, SAMAGRYADANKURO, YADHA”? || (SU. SA)


ESSENTIAL FACTORS FOR CONCEPTION

RUTU

FERTILE PERIOD

KSHETRA

A HEALTHY REPRODUCTIVE TRACT

AMBU

THE ESSENTIAL HORMONES

BEEJA

HEALTHY SPERM & OVUM

?
Diet advised by Ayurvedic classics during pregnancy ultimately results in foetal growth, maternal health and post delivary lactation including prevention of? some? diseases.

???????????
Sootika is the term given for the lady after child birth till 45 days.? It can be considered? as the puerperial period. Lot of emphasis is given regarding the diet (ahara) and mode of living (vihara) to be followed during this period not only to maintain good health but to prevent so many diseases.

?

It is said in Ayurveda that a puerpera? (sootika) is just like an extremely old and perishable cloth which will be teared with slightest? negligence also.

?

“ PARIJEERNAM, YATHA, VASTRAM, MAVA DIGDHAM, SAMANTATAHA,

KLESHENA, SODHAYATAE, TAGNAIH, |

PRADRUSYA, TATTADASHRAYAM, TATHA, SAREERAM, SOOTAYAH,

PARI KLISHTAM, PARISRUTAM, |-------------(KA. SAM)

??

As? the lady after the delivary becomes weak due to unsteadiness of the sapta dhatus and loss of blood, the specific diet protocol helps in the speedy recovery of the woman from the stress and strain of the labour and reaches her near pre pregnant state uneventfully and prevents nearly 74 diseases (? which are caused due to improper? diet and mode of living ) listed out by kasyapa which are trouble some for the woman. It is achieved by preventing the vitiation of tridoshas particularly vata.

DIET PROTOCOL DURING PREGNANCY

( GARBHINI PARICHARYA)

?
More emphasis is given on the consumption of ghee, milk & meat by all acharyas.

?

“ KSHEERAM-------PUSHTI ,DHRUDATVAM, LABHATECHA,? GARBHO”----------(KA. SAM)

?

PROTOCOL FOR THE FIRST TRIMESTER:

“? KSHEERAMANUPASKRUTAM, MATRAVAT, SEETAM, KALE, KALE,----------PIBETH”|???? (CHARAKA)

?

“MADHURA, SEETA, DRAVA, PRAYAMAHARA, MUPASEVET|?? (SUS)

“DVITEEYE,? MASE, KSHEERAMEVACHA, MADHURAOUSHADHASIDDHAM” (CHARAKA)

?
The above statements are indicating the importance of milk. Some of the authors also mentioned the use of honey and butter.? During the second month it is advised by charaka and vaghbhata to consume medicated milk with madhura drugs. (i.e.carbohydrate rich substances)

?
During third month it is advised to consume milk with? honey and ghee. susruta advices the intake of specially cooked rice cereal with milk.

?

SCIENTIFIC OUT LOOK:??

?The? advice to use milk constantly 9 months? and particularly first 3 months indicates the emphasis laid on supplementing the essential? nutrients. Milk is considered as the? best jeevaneeya dravya as per Ayurveda, i.e. which is essential for life.

?
Milk is having the property of antacid and mild laxative to combat the common ailments during first trimester like constipation and heart burn. During the first trimester of pregnancy the foetus is in a formative stage.? During this stage the embryo is nourished by a process called upasnehan (percolation). Therefore more liquid diet as per susrutha is adviced.? The milk medicated by drugs such as satavari (asparagus) ,and vidari (pureria tuberosa) acts as sustainers of pregnancy (prajasthapana).

?

The use of butter and ghee is also justifiable as fats are essential for the absorption of vitamins A,D,E etc.? recent studies ?proved? the consumption of pure ghee can check? various diseases. (new Indian?? express? 13 July 2004). Use of cold and liquid diet along with milk prevent dehydration during the first trimester as most of the woman expirience nausea and vomitings hampering the intake. Madhura indicates the substances rich in glucose content which help to reduce vomitings. Susrutha even says that milk has got the property of preventing abortions.

?

PROTOCOL OF DIFFERENT ACHARYA’S

FIRST TRIMESTER

?SUSRUTHA

?Ksheera with madhura, Seetha, Drava Ahara & Sali Odana (Milk along with, cool, liquid diet rich in carbohydrates, rice cereal.)

CHARAKA

Ksheera with Madhura Oushadha yukta (mderate cool milk frequently, followed by milk with drugs rich in carbohydrates eg. Vidari).

OTERS

Amalaki,? Madhu, Navaneeta, Ghrutha (Emblica officinalis Honey, Butter and Ghee)

FOURTH MONTH :??

Charaka advices milk with butter and susrutha advises cooked rice with curd and rice with butter and meat.

?

“GHRUTAM-------SMRUTHIMATI------MEDHA------KANTI-------BALA KARAMAYUSHYAM-----MEDHYAM---VISHAHARAM------(SUS)

?

Ghee? increases the intellectual capacity of the child and also with its vishara (anti toxin) property helps in eliminating any form of toxins produced in the body. It even helps in controlling convulsions (moorcha)? and prevents unconsciousness (apasmara).

?

The advice of meat from? fourth month onwards stress the importance of development? of dhatus (tissues) particularly muscular tissue? which require more protein which is supplied by meat. Meat is also one of the best source of folic acid, iron, iodine and essential aminoacids.