There are more nuclear families now than ever before, and so often pregnant women don’t have the proper information about diet during pregnancy. That’s why we’ve put together these healthy tips for pregnancy care, month by month. With this guide, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy pregnancy and have a happy and healthy baby.
Most women experience nausea and vomiting during the first, second, and third months of pregnancy. This makes it difficult for them to maintain a proper diet.
Consuming licorice with butter and honey can help pacify the vata dosha during pregnancy and help prevent miscarriage.
Take milk with some herbs like kakoli (Gymnema balsamicum) in the second month.
A light, sweet, and liquid diet is best during this period to help prevent dehydration from vomiting and also provides nourishment. You can cook rice with milk (paayasam), have milk with honey, khichari, fresh fruits, and green leafy vegetables.
During the fourth and fifth months of gestation, the fetus’ muscular tissue grows rapidly, requiring extra protein in the diet.
Powder of Shatavari (Aspagarus racemosus) and Yastimadhu (glycrriza glabera), 5gm each taken with milk twice daily will be beneficial during this period.
During this time, it’s important to eat protein-rich foods and foods that are easy to digest, like spinach, cabbage, sprouts, white butter, broccoli, fresh cheese, eggs, all kinds of nuts, banana, papaya, carrot, soybean, rice with milk, and vegetable soup.
By the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, most women suffer from edema, or water retention, in their feet. This can lead to complications related to the accumulation of fluid in the body.
Gokshur ( Tribulus terrestris) powder is a good diuretic and helps prevent water retention. Take 5 gms with ghee daily. You can also boil powder of Shatavari, Yasti madhu and shigru (moringa oleifera) with milk and drink it.
It’s suggested to use medicated ghee like Shatavari ghee during this period onward. In addition to this, continue with the protein-rich diet as suggested above. Along with this, you can consume sweetened yogurt during this period.
Seventh Month – During this period, it’s important for women to consume food and herbs which will help to suppress Pitta and Kapha Doshas. Eating foods that are diuretic, anabolic, and relieve emaciation will help to keep the body balanced and healthy.
There are a number of herbs that can be useful during pregnancy, including ashwagandha (withania somnifera), bala mool (sida cardifolia), satavari, and gokshuradi churan. Additionally, tablets like saptamrit loha, dhatri loha, and yastimadhu can also be helpful.
In order to maintain a healthy diet, focus on eating protein-rich foods like cereals, lentils, tofu, peas, fresh cheese, soya, sugar, and rice.
Eighth Month – Most women during the eighth month of pregnancy experience constipation. Anulomana, which regulating of vayu (proper bowel movement) and pacifying the vata is thus very important.
Enema therapy is very beneficial during this period, as it helps to cleanse and detoxify the body. The kshaya enema, which is a decoction of herbs, should be administered first, followed by the medicated oil enema. (This should be done under the guidance of a physician only). Yasti madhu and satavari should be consumed regularly to improve digestion and detoxification. Use of dried grapes is also beneficial at this time. Kheer (rice gruel) prepared with milk and some amount of clarified butter may be used along with the diet suggested for the seventh month.
The ninth month is a crucial time again during pregnancy, and it’s especially important to pacify the Vata dosha.
During this period, Basti with medicated oil and also enema with satavari ghee should be administered. Yastimadhu and Satavari should be consumed regularly to cleanse the body and improve overall health.
Enemas can relieve constipation and help to regulate the autonomic nervous system, which controls the muscles of the uterus. This can ease delivery and help to prevent complications.
During this period, it is advised to consume excess ghee along with the diet suggested for the seventh and eighth months. Different varieties of cereals should also be consumed, and regular use of soups is advised.
We have provided a brief overview of how to care for yourself during pregnancy according to ayurveda (using herbs and food).
