Changes

'''Keywords''': Jatisutriya, Dhatri, obstetric care, [[Prenatal care (garbhini paricharya)]], maternal health,[[Garbha‎‎]], fetus, post-pregnancy regimen, post natal care ([[Sutika Paricharya]]), [[Congenital disorders]], [[Neonatal care]], infant care, upbringing of child.   

'''Keywords''': Jatisutriya, Dhatri, obstetric care, [[Prenatal care (garbhini paricharya)]], maternal health,[[Garbha‎‎]], fetus, post-pregnancy regimen, post natal care ([[Sutika Paricharya]]), [[Congenital disorders]], [[Neonatal care]], infant care, upbringing of child.   

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

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While menstruating, the woman should abstain from coitus for three nights, sleep on the ground, consume food with her hand from unbroken utensils, and should not clean her body by any means. On the fourth day, she should be anointed well with oil and should be given a good head bath, cleansed well, and then made to wear white coloured apparel. The man should follow similar rituals as the woman on her fourth day of menstruation. Then onwards, the two, wearing white apparels and garlands, with pleasant disposition, loving each other, should enter into acts of cohabitation - on even days if desirous of a male child, and on odd days for a female child. [5]

While menstruating, the woman should abstain from coitus for three nights, sleep on the ground, consume food with her hand from unbroken utensils, and should not clean her body by any means. On the fourth day, she should be anointed well with oil and should be given a good head bath, cleansed well, and then made to wear white coloured apparel. The man should follow similar rituals as the woman on her fourth day of menstruation. Then onwards, the two, wearing white apparels and garlands, with pleasant disposition, loving each other, should enter into acts of coitus - on even days if desirous of a male child, and on odd days for a female child. [5]

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=== Postures and circumstances to be avoided for coitus ===

=== Postures and circumstances to be avoided for coitus ===

Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained. [14]

Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained. [14]

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=== Role of ''[[mahabhuta]]s'' in contributing to the complexion of the offspring ===

=== Role of ''[[mahabhuta]]s'' in contributing to the complexion of the offspring ===

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*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 ''[[dosha]]s'' 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 ''[[dosha]]s'' 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 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.  

*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 fetus.  

*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.