Ayurvedic Prenatal Diet and Lifestyle for Women

 

 

 

Ayurvedic Prenatal Diet and Lifestyle for Women

Guest post by Dr Barri Phatarfod

Diet is always important to keep the Doshas of the body in balance.

This is especially so when wishing to conceive, as the energy forces required to optimise conception need to be in harmony. In particular, Vata and Pitta need to be controlled and a nurturing Kapha environment established.

Vata is the moving force that, when functioning normally, ensures secretion of hormones, regularises the menstrual cycle and allows semen to travel easily into the uterus. However, when in excess, Vata impairs such activities. This is why before conception one should avoid all Vata-aggravating foods.

Vata-aggravating foods include raw vegetables, sprouted beans, cabbage, cauliflower, dry foods (for example, corn chips, dry crackers), fried foods, heavy beans (including kidney beans and chickpeas), cold foods (including icy drinks and foods straight from the refrigerator).

Pitta, the force of energy and agni (the digestive fire), also controls the female reproductive system. Good Pitta in the right amount is required for conception, but too much Pitta and heat in the reproductive tissues can not only prevent a women’s ability to conceive but can cause miscarriage and Pitta-related problems in the unborn child (for example, skin problems). Excess foods which increase the sharp and penetrating qualities of Pitta should be avoided.

These include sour and fermented foods like tomatoes, vinegar, yoghurt, alcohol.

Once pregnancy has started, the importance of a Kapha environment continues. Avoid mucus-producing or toxin-producing foods. There are subtle channels in the reproductive organs. Sticky toxins and accumulated mucus can both block and affect the flow of the ovum. Best avoid all sticky, heavy and hard to digest foods such as wheat, mature cheeses, red meat, refined sugars and processed foods.

Good eating for conception and pregnancy

• Between the 5th and 15th day of your cycle, take one teaspoon of sesame seeds and eat urid dal (black gram) every alternate day. This is because sesame and urid are so nourishing and improve the quality of ova.

• Give yourself a sesame oil massage followed by a bath or shower every other day to reduce Vata.

• Eat warm, unctuous, nourishing foods like mung dahl, basmati rice, freshly cooked root, greens, squash and seasonal vegetables as well as ghee, honey, almonds, figs, and pistachios. Warm, spiced cow’s milk is beneficial (as long as digestion is strong and you do not have a cough or cold) and rice pudding (kheer) is especially nurturing.

• Drink ginger tea with one tsp ghee, add digestive-stimulating herbs to food including cumin, coriander & fennel. These will boost digestion and assist in removal of toxins.

• Add barley regularly into your diet. While barley as a grain is heavy and warming, it is not heavy to digest or sticky like wheat. It has the property of removing excess water from the body. Add barley to stews, make porridge, substitute with rice in recipes and drink as barley water.

Other lifestyle considerations for conception

• During menstruation your body is more open internally. It is a time of activity and you are vulnerable. Support yourself and take as much physical and mental rest as you are able. Eat foods that are light and easily digestible like khichadi, cooked vegetables, soups, ghee, stewed fruits. Avoid sex, heavy exercise, strong and excessive exertion, air travel, exposure to strong wind or climatic extremes as all these activities will increase Vata and encourage it to move upward. At this time, Vata is needed to move downward to expel the menstrual flow. Following this regime during menstruation will create an environment for a healthy, normal foetus in future.

• According to Ayurveda, in order to ‘attract a good soul’, wear light-coloured clothing, cream or white and avoid wearing black or red.

• When trying to conceive, the female should be lying on her back during sexual intercourse to ensure that Vata can easily carry the semen upward into the uterus.

Albemarle Medical Practice

482 Old South Head Road, Rose Bay, Sydney.