Ayurveda and The Journey of Pregnancy....
An entire branch of ancient Āyurveda was dedicated to women's health - from preparing for conception, to the act of conception itself, to each trimester or pregnancy and culminating with the postpartum experience. Of all of these stages, Āyurveda truly shines in it's gifts of mothering the mother during the postpartum period, now referred to by many proponents of Mama care as "the Fourth trimester".
From the Ayurvedic perspective... each choice we make ~ environment, food, actions, words and inner thoughts has a profound effect on our health and wellbeing overall including every single layer of tissue and every cell. For a mother, this is a huge responsibility and blessing, for her cells become the food that feeds a new life. The Vedic tradition is full of tales of the influence of mother's mental state, cravings and environment on the child... including impacting that child's adult life and his or her own children. Modern science is now coming around to this as well with more and more scientific evidence of the truly profound and intimate interconnectedness of even the brain cells of mother and child. What's beautiful about Āyurveda and Yoga is that there are simple and enjoyable life affirming and embracing actions you can take every day as a mother, regardless of what stage you being, to imbue your children's health and even their karma with great strength and blessings!
I hope you discover here both the awe of complexity of the universe as well as it's deep simplicity. That you see here something new as well as something so deeply ancient that you inner voice says "Yes, this is exactly what I already know to be true!" This is how I felt when I discovered Ayurveda and it made it natural and easy to apply the teachings to my own pregnancy and parenting. At the same time, I am careful not to be neurotically fixed to requiring things to be a particular way ~ I promise it's true when I say I ate organic vanilla ice-cream almost every day of my third trimester. Because... nothing is more important than mothers own innate wisdom. My hope is that Ayurveda makes your own wisdom more clear and natural to you, and that it may unfold in the way it is meant to in your life and the life of your child. ~ Love, Kaya
From the Ayurvedic perspective... each choice we make ~ environment, food, actions, words and inner thoughts has a profound effect on our health and wellbeing overall including every single layer of tissue and every cell. For a mother, this is a huge responsibility and blessing, for her cells become the food that feeds a new life. The Vedic tradition is full of tales of the influence of mother's mental state, cravings and environment on the child... including impacting that child's adult life and his or her own children. Modern science is now coming around to this as well with more and more scientific evidence of the truly profound and intimate interconnectedness of even the brain cells of mother and child. What's beautiful about Āyurveda and Yoga is that there are simple and enjoyable life affirming and embracing actions you can take every day as a mother, regardless of what stage you being, to imbue your children's health and even their karma with great strength and blessings!
I hope you discover here both the awe of complexity of the universe as well as it's deep simplicity. That you see here something new as well as something so deeply ancient that you inner voice says "Yes, this is exactly what I already know to be true!" This is how I felt when I discovered Ayurveda and it made it natural and easy to apply the teachings to my own pregnancy and parenting. At the same time, I am careful not to be neurotically fixed to requiring things to be a particular way ~ I promise it's true when I say I ate organic vanilla ice-cream almost every day of my third trimester. Because... nothing is more important than mothers own innate wisdom. My hope is that Ayurveda makes your own wisdom more clear and natural to you, and that it may unfold in the way it is meant to in your life and the life of your child. ~ Love, Kaya
5 Key Ayurvedic Princples for Pregnancy
From these roots the details of the other pregnancy client pages are born
1. Deep Inner Knowing ~ Mother Knows Best
During pregnancy your innate wisdom and sensitivity grows and expands inwardly and outwardly. Take this to heart. If you feel a strong sense to avoid a particular person, environment, food, or yoga pose, please listen to that. It's not to become fearful or excessively picky, but to draw inward to your own sense of inner knowing. If you feel the desire to embrace something, provided it is safe for you and your baby, embrace it... it may be your baby's desire coming through!
2. Vata Imbalance
Pregnancy and Birth in particular is a time of increased Vata dosha {air and space}. This is due to the increase of interior space and the massive amount of change you are undergoing. Suffice it to say that because of the Vata derrangement, anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, digestive discomfort and nausea are all common to almost all pregnant Mamas. Those who practice vata-balancing lifestyle and diet will have an easier time of it. Those Mama's who already have Vata constitution or Vata imbalance prior to pregnancy may struggle a little more. The gift of a stabilized and calm vata is a much more stable, calm, relaxed and confident pregnancy and birth. You'll be using the lessons in these pages to balance vata - grounding restorative yoga + seated poses for meditation + standing poses for strength; grounding foods such as root vegetables, whole grains and healthy fasts; massage with cocoa butter or shea butter, good sleep habits - these are all for the sake of balancing Vata which is for the sake of a healthy pregnancy.
3. Downward Flow
Downward flow {called Apāna Vāta in Sanskrit} is what you NEED and will kick in for labor and birth. It will be increasing throughout your pregnancy {heavy legs, heavy belly, increased peeing}... but you'll want to minimize excessive downward flow until the time that it is safe to deliver. This is the source of many of the items on the "Don't" lists for foods, botanicals and yoga. This is why I will recommend that you avoid certain herbs such as Sage and Aloe throughout pregnancy and certain yoga practices such as squatting {until you are closer to due date}. These increase downward flow, and we want to slow that process down until it's time to birth the baby.
4. Love + Happiness
These are primary for you and your baby! If you have loving partner, such as the baby's other parent or a dear parent or friend to support you in your pregnancy, their MAIN JOB is to help with these! You'll need someone to keep you happy, joyful, grounded, and feeling secure. And you can choose all of the things in your life that support these and increase them throughout your pregnancy. Self massage {or massage from a prenatal massage therapist}, yoga, communing with nature, freshly prepared sattvic food, cuddling and good sleep all support this. When people smile at your belly, soak it in.
5. Relaxation + Strength
Yes, you'll need both, and they are not in conflict. They are Yin and Yang, Feminine and Masculine, Moon and Sun, Exhalation and Inhalation, Being + Doing. This will be supremely important as a birthing skill. Learn to relax deeply, but also increase your strength and resiliency throughout your pregnancy {the 2nd trimester is really the best time for the strength piece!} - walking, yoga, hiking and swimming are all great for the yang, and shavasana, good sleep, cuddling, yoga nidra and relaxation are all great for the Yin.
The First Trimester
1st Month ~ Fragile time. Described by Charaka as a vessel filled with oil. Even a slight movement can cause the oil to spill. This is a time to be careful, restful, still. Considered "kalala" ~ liquid stage. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
2nd Month ~ "gharana" stage... the liquid turns into a jelly quality, surrounded by fluid. Mores table, but still fragile. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
3rd Month ~ "piṇda" stage... more solid. Still fragile, but more stable still. Anchoring of the fetus starts... like a tree with roots. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
4th Month ~ organs are developed, but in small size. Fourth month is very important time of inspiration and emotions are very important at this time. Mother must increase joy and happiness and re-commune with nature and the world. Ayurveda says "dauhṛd" - two hearts are working together. Cravings begin that are coming from the baby. Fulfill them so that the baby is happy and satisfied. Deny the cravings and the baby will be sad and depressed. Honor the cravings, it's a call from inside. {The exception is if the cravings from within would harm the mother}.
5th Month ~ Charaka says vata and movement starts - mother will feel quickening and kicking {first pregnancy may not feel until the 6th Month}. Mother will be emotional, as her feelings interact with the feelings of the baby. There may be mood fluctuations. As vata is balanced, wisdom will increase.
6th Month ~ If not felt in the 5th month, movements will be felt by the mother now. More swelling, and possible water retention in the legs. If this happens, increase salt intake. Vata mothers can likely enjoy plenty of salt throughout pregnancy, as long as she is hydrating as well.
7th Month ~ Baby is completely developed and viable to survive birth. We do want to go to 32 weeks for lung development, so herbs and acupuncture and bed rest can be used to stop early contractions before 32 weeks. Mother feels heavier, but may still enjoy plenty of activity. Beware of balance issues and not being familiar with how much space your belly takes up! Time to do birth class, plan birth, plan postpartum! Good time to schedule your Postpartum consultation.
8th Month ~ Not a good time for birth. At this stage, ojas transfers from the mother to the baby {vitality of life}. There is a lot of ojas interaction between mother and child, and at a particular point the child drains the ojas from the mother. It is not safe to birth at this time, when either the mother or baby is lacking ojas. Take care if early contractions to slow down, take bed rest, or stop working if necessary. Take in plenty of ojas rich foods - such as dates, milk, ghee and almonds.
9th Month ~ Clarify your birth and postpartum plan, and begin perineal massage with birth partner.
2nd Month ~ "gharana" stage... the liquid turns into a jelly quality, surrounded by fluid. Mores table, but still fragile. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
3rd Month ~ "piṇda" stage... more solid. Still fragile, but more stable still. Anchoring of the fetus starts... like a tree with roots. Tired, nauseous, feeling heaviness and lethargy, craving sour {such as tamarind candy or lemon}.
4th Month ~ organs are developed, but in small size. Fourth month is very important time of inspiration and emotions are very important at this time. Mother must increase joy and happiness and re-commune with nature and the world. Ayurveda says "dauhṛd" - two hearts are working together. Cravings begin that are coming from the baby. Fulfill them so that the baby is happy and satisfied. Deny the cravings and the baby will be sad and depressed. Honor the cravings, it's a call from inside. {The exception is if the cravings from within would harm the mother}.
5th Month ~ Charaka says vata and movement starts - mother will feel quickening and kicking {first pregnancy may not feel until the 6th Month}. Mother will be emotional, as her feelings interact with the feelings of the baby. There may be mood fluctuations. As vata is balanced, wisdom will increase.
6th Month ~ If not felt in the 5th month, movements will be felt by the mother now. More swelling, and possible water retention in the legs. If this happens, increase salt intake. Vata mothers can likely enjoy plenty of salt throughout pregnancy, as long as she is hydrating as well.
7th Month ~ Baby is completely developed and viable to survive birth. We do want to go to 32 weeks for lung development, so herbs and acupuncture and bed rest can be used to stop early contractions before 32 weeks. Mother feels heavier, but may still enjoy plenty of activity. Beware of balance issues and not being familiar with how much space your belly takes up! Time to do birth class, plan birth, plan postpartum! Good time to schedule your Postpartum consultation.
8th Month ~ Not a good time for birth. At this stage, ojas transfers from the mother to the baby {vitality of life}. There is a lot of ojas interaction between mother and child, and at a particular point the child drains the ojas from the mother. It is not safe to birth at this time, when either the mother or baby is lacking ojas. Take care if early contractions to slow down, take bed rest, or stop working if necessary. Take in plenty of ojas rich foods - such as dates, milk, ghee and almonds.
9th Month ~ Clarify your birth and postpartum plan, and begin perineal massage with birth partner.