Changes

*In the fifth month of pregnancy, milk along with ghee should be given.

*In the fifth month of pregnancy, milk along with ghee should be given.

*In the sixth month of pregnancy, milk with ghee processed with sweet-tasting drugs should be given to drink.

*In the sixth month of pregnancy, milk with ghee processed with sweet-tasting drugs should be given to drink.

*In the seventh month of pregnancy, she should be given the same regimen as prescribed in the sixth month. Experienced women are of the opinion that during this period, the fetus develops scalp hair and it causes burning sensation in the mother. But this view is negated by Lord Atreya, who says that due to the pressure created by the fetus, the three ''doshas'' of the mother reach the chest region and cause burning sensation in her, causing itching which, in turn, causes ''kikkisa'' (stretch-marks or striae gravidarum -linea albicantes – the white abdominal lines seen during and after pregnancy on the abdomen). To manage this condition, she should regularly be given butter medicated with sweet-tasting drugs, the quantity of which she can hold in her single palm, along with a decoction of ''kola'' (Zizyphus jujube Lam). Her breasts and abdomen should be massaged with a paste of ''chandana'' (Santalumalbum Linn.), ''mrinala'' (stalk of lotus) or powder of ''shirisha'' (Albizia lebbeck Benth), ''dhataki'' (Woodfordiafruticosa Kurz), ''sarshapa'' (Mustard – Brassicanigra Koch), and ''madhuka'' (Glycyrrhizaglabra Linn.) or paste of ''kutaja'' (Holarrhenaantidysenterica Wall.), seed of ''arjaka'' (Ocimumgratissimum Linn.), ''musta'' (Cyperusrotundus Linn.), ''haridra'' (Curcumalonga Linn.) or paste of ''nimba'' (Azadirachtaindica A. Juss), ''kola'' (Zizyphusjujuba Lam.), ''surasa'' (Ocimumsanctum Linn.) and manjishta (Rubiacordifolia Linn.) or triphala (three pungent fruits – Terminaliachebula Linn., Terminaliabelerica Roxb. and Emblicaofficinalis Gaertn.) mixed with the blood of prishta (spotted deer), massage with oil prepared with leaf of karavira (Neriumindicum Mill.) and sprinkling with water processed with jati (Malati – Aganosma dichotoma K. Schum.) and madhuka (Glycyrrhizaglabra Linn.) plant. Thus, itching should be avoided to prevent stretch-mark on skin (and therefore, avoiding disfiguring the skin). If itching is too severe to tolerate then it should be overcome by an application of unmardana (anointing) and udgharshana (rubbing with pastes) procedures. During this period, she should eat sweet-tasting food that is vata alleviating in nature and is light on oil, fat and salt, and should drink less water immediately after the food.  

*In the seventh month of pregnancy, she should be given the same regimen as prescribed in the sixth month. Experienced women are of the opinion that during this period, the fetus develops scalp hair and it causes burning sensation in the mother. But this view is negated by Lord Atreya, who says that due to the pressure created by the fetus, the three ''doshas'' of the mother reach the chest region and cause burning sensation in her, causing itching which, in turn, causes ''kikkisa'' (stretch-marks or striae gravidarum -linea albicantes – the white abdominal lines seen during and after pregnancy on the abdomen). To manage this condition, she should regularly be given butter medicated with sweet-tasting drugs, the quantity of which she can hold in her single palm, along with a decoction of ''kola'' (Zizyphus jujube Lam). Her breasts and abdomen should be massaged with a paste of ''chandana'' (Santalumalbum Linn.), ''mrinala'' (stalk of lotus) or powder of ''shirisha'' (Albizia lebbeck Benth), ''dhataki'' (Woodfordiafruticosa Kurz), ''sarshapa'' (Mustard – Brassicanigra Koch), and ''madhuka'' (Glycyrrhizaglabra Linn.) or paste of ''kutaja'' (Holarrhenaantidysenterica Wall.), seed of ''arjaka'' (Ocimumgratissimum Linn.), ''musta'' (Cyperusrotundus Linn.), ''haridra'' (Curcumalonga Linn.) or paste of ''nimba'' (Azadirachtaindica A. Juss), ''kola'' (Zizyphusjujuba Lam.), ''surasa'' (Ocimumsanctum Linn.) and ''manjishta'' (Rubiacordifolia Linn.) or ''triphala'' (three pungent fruits – Terminaliachebula Linn., Terminaliabelerica Roxb. and Emblicaofficinalis Gaertn.) mixed with the blood of ''prishta'' (spotted deer), massage with oil prepared with leaf of ''karavira'' (Neriumindicum Mill.) and sprinkling with water processed with ''jati'' (''Malati'' – Aganosma dichotoma K. Schum.) and ''madhuka'' (Glycyrrhizaglabra Linn.) plant. Thus, itching should be avoided to prevent stretch-mark on skin (and therefore, avoiding disfiguring the skin). If itching is too severe to tolerate then it should be overcome by an application of ''unmardana'' (anointing) and ''udgharshana'' (rubbing with pastes) procedures. During this period, she should eat sweet-tasting food that is ''vata'' alleviating in nature and is light on oil, fat and salt, and should drink less water immediately after the food.  

• In the eighth month, she should take gruel prepared with milk and mixed with ghee in all her meals in their appropriate times. Bhadrakapya has opposing views on this and believes that it causes paingalya (tawny discolouration of the eyes of foetus) in the foetus, and hence  should not be practiced. On this point, Lord Atreya believes that while the risk of paingalya may be there, it does not indicate in any way that the above regimen should not be applied. The woman following this regimen remains free from all disorders and gives birth to a child endowed with excellent health, strength, complexion, voice and compactness of body.  

*In the eighth month, she should take gruel prepared with milk and mixed with ghee in all her meals in their appropriate times. Bhadrakapya has opposing views on this and believes that it causes ''paingalya'' (tawny discoloration of the eyes of fetus) in the fetus, and hence  should not be practiced. On this point, Lord Atreya believes that while the risk of paingalya may be there, it does not indicate in any way that the above regimen should not be applied. The woman following this regimen remains free from all disorders and gives birth to a child endowed with excellent health, strength, complexion, voice and compactness of body.  

• Finally, in the ninth month of pregnancy, she should be treated with unctuous enema prepared with sweet-tasting drugs. A cotton swab soaked in the same oil should be kept in her genital tract in order to lubricate the passage of the foetus.  

*Finally, in the ninth month of pregnancy, she should be treated with unctuous enema prepared with sweet-tasting drugs. A cotton swab soaked in the same oil should be kept in her genital tract in order to lubricate the passage of the fetus.  

If the specific dietary regimen and therapeutic measures mentioned above are followed right from the first month of pregnancy to the ninth month, the entire child-bearing region of the woman’s body – including her womb, waist, sides of pelvis, and her back - become soft at the time of delivery, vata functions in anormal way, urine and bowel movement pass smoothly, skin and nails become soft, her strength and complexion are improved and the woman delivers the child effortlessly. [32]

If the specific dietary regimen and therapeutic measures mentioned above are followed right from the first month of pregnancy to the ninth month, the entire child-bearing region of the woman’s body – including her womb, waist, sides of pelvis, and her back - become soft at the time of delivery, ''vata'' functions in a normal way, urine and bowel movement pass smoothly, skin and nails become soft, her strength and complexion are improved and the woman delivers the child effortlessly. [32]

प्राक् चैवास्या नवमान्मासात् सूतिकागारं कारयेदपहृतास्थिशर्कराकपाले देशे प्रशस्तरूपरसगन्धायां भूमौ प्राग्द्वारमुदग्द्वारं वाबैल्वानां काष्ठानां तैन्दुकैङ्गुदकानां भाल्लातकानां वार(रु)णानां खादिराणां वा; यानि चान्यान्यपि ब्राह्मणाःशंसेयुरथर्ववेदविदस्तेषां; वसनालेपनाच्छादनापिधानसम्पदुपेतंवास्तुविद्याहृदययोगाग्निसलिलोदूखलवर्चःस्थानस्नानभूमिमहानसमृतुसुखं च||३३||  

प्राक् चैवास्या नवमान्मासात् सूतिकागारं कारयेदपहृतास्थिशर्कराकपाले देशे प्रशस्तरूपरसगन्धायां भूमौ प्राग्द्वारमुदग्द्वारं वाबैल्वानां काष्ठानां तैन्दुकैङ्गुदकानां भाल्लातकानां वार(रु)णानां खादिराणां वा; यानि चान्यान्यपि ब्राह्मणाःशंसेयुरथर्ववेदविदस्तेषां; वसनालेपनाच्छादनापिधानसम्पदुपेतंवास्तुविद्याहृदययोगाग्निसलिलोदूखलवर्चःस्थानस्नानभूमिमहानसमृतुसुखं च||३३||