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An Ayurvedic View On Pregnancy and Early Motherhood

Dr. Kumuda Reddy has been practicing medicine for over twenty-five years. Originally trained as an anesthesiologist, she is currently the Medical Director of the Maharishi Vedic Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Reddy is the author of several books, including Forever Healthy and For a Blissful Baby: Happy and Healthy Pregnancy through Maharishi Vedic Medicine. We asked her to speak about the role of Maharishi Vedic Medicine in helping mothers have a comfortable, healthy pregnancy.

Q: How does Maharishi Vedic Medicine differ from the conventional approach to pregnancy?

A: In conventional medicine, the mother is given a pregnancy test and also the blood pressure, pulse rate, and weight are checked. Then she is advised to eat a generally healthy diet and to take prenatal vitamins. However, this prenatal diet doesn't give any specific recommendations for maintaining a happy and healthy pregnancy.

In Maharishi Vedic Medicine, it is understood that pregnancy is a time when everything the pregnant mother tastes, sees, touches, hears, and smells should be nourishing to the mother and child. There are very specific recommendations to bring about a state of balance in the consciousness, mind, body, behavior, and environment of the pregnant woman.

Q: What does Maharishi Vedic Medicine recommend for the pregnant woman's diet?

A: The Vedic texts recommend sattvic foods, which means pure, easily digested foods that nourish the dhatus (tissues) of mother and the unborn child. These include foods such as milk, rice, wheat, and ghee (clarified butter), fresh vegetables, fruits and grains. Sattvic foods do not cause constipation or indigestion, and they create a more settled state of mind. These foods help the mother enjoy ideal health and vitality, and also help with the growth of the baby. Maharishi Ayurveda Vata Churna is a convenient way to add Vata-balancing spices to your diet, and the Apple, Mango and Peach Chutneys can help balance cravings. Vata Tea or Worry Free Tea can be sipped through the day to help balance the mind and emotions.

Q: What other techniques bring balance to the mother and unborn child?

A: Techniques such as abhyanga, the Ayurvedic oil massage are recommended for the mother. Mothers who do this once a day, on arising, find that they feel more evenness, more balance, more energy throughout the day. The massage and other techniques balance Vata dosha (the mind-body operator that governs movement and many mental functions), so the mother feels more steady, more even, less anxious. There is more happiness, even in the body itself, and more balance in the entire nervous system. Feelings of agitation, depression, or sorrow dissolve. I recommend the Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Women, cut 50% with a base oil such as Almond Oil, or the Moisturizing Massage Oil. In the summer, replace Moisturizing Massage Oil with the Soothing Massage Oil.

In Maharishi Vedic Medicine it has been recognized for thousands of years that the mother must be very happy and feel harmony with nature during pregnancy. For this, various strategies have been recognized. One is the social environment, which means that the family tries to keep her happy, especially the husband. The ayurvedic tradition says, "Let her hear good news, let her hear harmonious music, let her eat sweet foods, let her attend monthly celebrations to always keep her uplifted and nourished. Aromatherapy with an uplifting aroma blend such as Blissful Heart aroma can be helpful.

Q: What happens if the mother isn't happy?

A: Modern research shows that if there is grief, sorrow, or depression, those negative emotions definitely affect the growth of the baby.

Mukunda’s Yoga Therapy Center - 
HE IS A GREAT TEACHER AND HIS BOOKS ARE FANTASTIC.