about Safe Motherhood mentioned in Ayurveda

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Ayurved, the ancient Indian medical science, describes " safe

motherhood " Thus, " Motherhood is the basis of family life which, in

turn, is the backbone of all the orders of society. Hence, family

life remains protected if the woman is safe and

protected. " This great science compares conception to

the germination and sprouting of a seed and its transformation into a

sapling. When the male and female seeds unite and the soul enters the

union, it becomes an embryo (garbha). Ayurved gives importance to the

quality of the seed and hence, to the development during adolescence,

of both the male and the female. In addition to the female seed, the

mother also provides the 'soil, nutrition and the right season' for

the seed to grow. Hence, Ayurved advises special attention to be paid

to the nutrition and protection of the woman to keep her (the soil)

rich and clean. It further advises that a female under sixteen years

of age and a male under twenty should not bear a child. The rules of

sexual intercourse are also laid down. So also, those of antenatal

care: the husband and other family members are advised to take care

of the pregnant woman's diet and encourage activities that are dear

to her and beneficial to the foetus or child growing in her body.

Thus, the approach towards motherhood, that is pregnancy and

childbirth, is a holistic one. Such concepts are excellent, but the

question is are they practiced? In fact, it needs thorough

introspection on our part to find out why this approach was abandoned

General Rules from Inception of Pregnancy to

Delivery

The mother-to-be should -

Always try to be in a happy mood

Be clean, neat and well dressed

Wear simple clothes

Sleep under a roof in a clean environment (not infested with

insects such as mosquito's etc.)

The food she eats should be tasty, more of it should be in a liquid

form, moist, nourishing, enriched with all the six rasas (tastes) and

treated by deepan drugs which are known to increase appetite and

digestive power.

She should always avoid -

Excessive sex particularly during early and late pregnancy

Overeating or fasting

Sleeping during the day time and staying up late at night

Tight clothes and tight belts

Witnessing or listening to things which give rise to feelings

of sorrow, anger, horror or agony

Travelling in a vehicle on rough roads

Squatting for a long time or sitting in an uncomfortable

position or on a hard surface

Lifting heavy things or remaining in a bending position for a

long time

Oleation massage etc. unless positively indicated

Beholding natural urges unless in an emergency

Dry, stale, fermented, heavy, hot or strong food, alcohol and

meat (fish is allowed)

Visiting abandoned and remote places

Leaning into a deep well.

An integrated program for safe motherhood may be evolved by using

these suggestions. I wish to conclude with a quotation from Maharshi

Kashyap, which means: " Out of sheer love, affection and compassion,

the would-be mother bears all the agony to protect the child with

grace and dignity. That is really the greatness of MOTHERHOOD. "

DR R.K.GUPTA

B.A.M.S. (Gold medalist), D.Y.A., M.D. (Ayurved) sch.