Ayurvedic Tips for Late pregnancy care

LATE PREGNANCY CARE Ayurvedic Tips

Diet Recommendations (Aahar)

Diet should be balanced and well suited for  pregnancy needs. Diet in late pregnancies especially need to be catered to the need for the mother and the baby.

• Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.
• Eat a variety of foods
• Choose plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains, beans, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products
• At least four servings of dairy and othercalcium-rich foods should be taken every day. This will keep the teeth and bones of the mother healthy
• Food should be rich in folic acid to include leafy green vegetables, dried beans,liver, and some citrus fruits.
• Women with a normal BMI should gain weight within recommended ranges. Gaining the appropriate amount of weight lessens the chance of the baby growing slowly and reduces the risk of preterm birth. Excess weight gain may also predispose to pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes andhigh blood pressure.
• Food should be enriched with all six types of tastes (sweet, pungent, sour, bitter, spicy and astringent)
• Female with prior history of abortion should avoid brinjal, suran (elephant yam), papaya, celery, onion, chili, garlic, ginger, pepper, mustard, jiggery from diet
• Those who suffer from constipation, gas, bloating must avoid peas, potato and other heavy to digest cereals. They must take green grams.

Lifestyle changes (Vihar)

• Maintaining a healthy and stress free lifestyle
• Getting adequate exercise
• Getting adequate rest
• Avoid abnormal asanas (positions) in sexual intercourse, straining at abdomen, heavy exercise and weight loss programs
• Avoid travelling in a vehicle on rough roads, sitting for long hours, lifting heavy objects
• Avoid negative feelings and thoughts such as sorrow, anger, grief, fear and doubt as these things will affect mental and physical growth of fetus
• Avoid exposure to unhappy or violent events
• Avoid sleeping during the day and staying up late in night
• Do not hold natural urges like holding urine or motion
• Regular checkups and counselling
• Getting early and regular prenatal care
• Considering optional prenatal tests for women over 35 to check for birth defects
• Taking all vitamin, iron and calcium supplements
• Cessation of smoking and drinking