Happy pregnancy ensures healthy babies. 

Pregnancy is the time when everyone concerned rejoices and more so if it is the first baby and this is also the time when people start giving unsolicited advice, (some ridiculous, few practical) whichever they think is the universal truth.

Ayurveda, the ancient scientific system of Indian medicine recommends that the expectant mother should be happy, pleased, always calm and satisfied. All her wishes should be fulfilled to keep her body, mind and spirit in a blissful state. And it is a time-tested truth that what an expectant mother experiences has a lot of impact on the baby to be born and present-day research also confirms it.    

A little sacrifice now (or call it caution on your part) will bring you a gift of a lifetime - your healthy precious baby! 

·        The mother to be should hear or sing melodious songs, read sacred books or beautiful literature, which is not stressful, wear beautiful and comfortable clothes, adorn herself with fragrant flowers, ornaments and always be in a happy and serene atmosphere. Being creative and engaged in productive but light activities is highly advocated.

Dr T Mythily - Chief Music Therapist, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, reports that music therapy ensures smooth and natural delivery, and increases chances of giving birth to children who have better cognition, spatial and depth perception, grasping of concepts and mathematical ability and significantly higher APGAR- (Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance, and Respiration) scores that describes the baby’s cognition levels at birth.

·        If the expectant mother eats satwik food (that which is easy to digest and not packaged food with excessive sugar and salt, includes more of milk, ghee, rice, wheat, buttermilk, sweet dishes, fresh vegetables and fruits, and less of meat, eggs, fish, fried food and spices are very minimal, no alcohol or smoking or drugs) and follows a virtuous life style (keeping temper under control, being kind, concerned, not greedy or cruel etc) can beget healthier, happier, more creative and talented offspring.

  A study, published in an issue of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, suggests that stress and anxiety can cause subtle changes in an unborn child's development. Mothers who showed higher signs of stress—such as high blood pressure—more frequently had foetuses with increased heart rates than did non-stressed mothers

“Research, published in the International Journal of Psychology, has proven the theory that feotuses do recognize their mother’s voice and start learning while they are still in the wombs.”

·        Now what do they learn and from whom?  First teacher is always the mother and of course the whole family. So when expecting a newborn into the family it is every body’s responsibility to be at their best behaviour, following certain rules and regulations. Positive, peaceful homely atmosphere ensures that the expectant mother is also happy and calm and this is very essential for her to enjoy perfect health.

Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to show: Decreased-newborn Apgar scores, mental or academic performance scoring at age one year and at school going age, showed reduced I.Q.Shorter stature and smaller head circumference. Increased learning difficulties, behavioural problems and hyperactivity. (Children were 25 percent more likely to have learning disabilities if their mother smoked greater than 20 cigarettes a day) If both parents smoke, baby's SIDS(sudden infant death syndrome) risk is 3½ times greater than if neither parent smokes. Only mother smokes-2times greater and if only father smokes- baby's risk is 1½ times greater.

·        Sitting, standing, walking or any physical activity should be graceful, slow and sure and should not be stressful. Physical and mental exertion must be avoided always. Ayurveda recommends a natural effortless life style for all and a more scientific routine for an expectant mother. Try to avoid all medications especially those, which are not prescribed. And say no to food, beverages with excessive preservatives and artificial colours. Keep away from strong chemical fumes, smoke, paints, pesticides, allergens, fertilizers, alcohol and drugs.

·        Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is to be avoided or else it results in Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and this means your child could be born not only with physical malformations, learning disabilities but also become a criminal.

Lead author Nancy Handmaker, a University of New Mexico clinical psychologist with expertise in maternal-fetal health says (in a study appearing in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research) "What this tells us is that the earlier you abstain in a pregnancy, the better the outcome,”

·        Drugs like- cocaine, heroin, methadone, crack ecstasy, LSD and PCP etc can cause serious harm to a developing feotus and to the pregnant mother. By having a drug-free pregnancy, you can help ensure the safety of your child and avoid long-term developmental problems including: chronic diarrhea, irritability, excessive crying, neurological and behavioral problems, motor development deficits and lower intelligence and is a sure way to prevent miscarriage premature labour, and still birth..

 "Many things we need can wait, the child cannot. Now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, his mind is being developed. To him we cannot say tomorrow, his name is today."
-Gabriela Mistral, Chilean poet

 The author has been an Ayurveda consultant, a researcher from 2 decades and has been teaching Ayurveda in a reputed Ayurveda university from past 15years.Many of her articles have been published in-“Science India, Amrutha-Heritage, (from FRLHT) Journal of research & education in Indian Medicine, local papers, journals and she has been invited as a resource person to many scientific workshops, conferences, and also to create public awareness about health and natural life style.

The author has extensive Ayurvedic experience managing chronic degenerative eye conditions, compromised states of immunity, cancer and autoimmune disorders.