Ayurvedic tips for a blissful pregnancy

You’re pregnant! Now, what?

“You’re pregnant”, hearing these words is, undoubtedly, a pleasurable moment in a woman’s life (and joyous news for her hubby). These words invoke a flurry of emotions.

As you’re overwhelmed with feelings of glee over the news, your automatic thoughts bring you to the worst possible scenario.

‘What if our child is not born healthy?’

This question frequently crosses your mind. For a mother, the safety and well-being of her child takes the first and foremost priority. And pregnancy is a period of unpredictability.

We cringe, anticipating nausea, morning sickness, headaches and similar symptoms.

Rest easy, because we have compiled a list of tips for pregnancy,in accordance with Ayurvedic principles, that make it a smooth and positive experience, as well as ensure a healthy baby.

What is Ayurveda?

You might have come across this term if you’re a fan of herbal remedies. Ayurveda is a holistic method of healing that originated in ancient India. Ayurveda literally translates to ‘the science of life’.

It is person-centered medical system that preaches a healthy lifestyle, prevention methods, and early detection and diagnosis.

Some basic principles of Ayurveda

Without delving too deeply into the intricate spiritual aspects, Ayurveda healing is basically centered upon maintaining a balance between the body, mind and soul. Balance is a pivotal element of Ayurveda.

It claims that each of us is composed of five basic elements; space, air, fire, water and earth. These elements meld to form three life forces, named ‘doshas’; Vata, Pitta and Khapa. And the disruptions in the balance of these life forces are the root cause of all adversities in health.

The Golden Rule of Pregnancy _ Balance Vata Dosha.

Vata is the connection between the air and space elements. The following tips are concerned primarily with the balance of this spiritual force within our body.

Head-spinning from all the spiritual mumbo jumbo?

Fret not; this won’t be an elaborate thesis on Ayurveda. We will simply give helpful tips for pregnancy from the lens of Ayurveda. So get out that pen and paper because you might want to take notes.

Anxiety is toxic, Stay Positive!

We can sympathize with all those mothers out there that fall into the depths of depression, concerned for the future of their child. In all likelihood, you visited this page because of concern for your child.

Negative emotions like grief, fear, sadness and frustration upset the delicate balance of Vata dosha.

Spend time with close friends and cherished family members. And do an activity like book reading to distract yourself from the negative stream of thoughts pertaining to pregnancy.

Take a breather, get some R&R.

Rest is  crucial for the management of Vata. Mothers are generally workaholics, with a strong urge to work hard for their family, whether to do house work, earn a livelihood or both.

Ayurveda cautions mothers to stay away from stressful work. Practice slowing down movements and taking deep, slow breaths to induce a peaceful state of mind.

Don’t eat that spicy burrito!

On second thought, avoid everything with hot spices and excessive ingredients.

Treat yourself to that rejuvenating massage you always wanted.

Getting an oily massage, known as Abhyanga, soothes the muscles and calms the nerves. It provides a barrier against illnesses.

Avoid processed goods, Go Organic!

The stacks of packed chips and juices might be calling out to you, but resist the temptation. Satisfy your cravings with more natural and wholesome foods.

Avoid food with excessive chemicals and preservatives like canned edibles. Goat, sheep or deer meat, cow’s or goat’s milk, ghee, honey, oil (sesame, olive, sunflower, coconut, rock-salt, moong dal and light, basmati are more preferred.

Maintain a regular routine

Uncertainty gives birth to stress. A routine makes your mind more prepared for the rest of the day and improves the efficiency of your nervous system (your actions).

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