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12 Factors for Baby’s Development

Ayurveda defines 12 factors contributing to the quality of baby’s development. Visualize if you can, how nutrition can influence all these 12 factors:

1) Paternal influence

2) Maternal influence

3) Soul/ past life karmas (aatmaja)

4) Agni – Tejas (physical and mental digestive strength)

5) Soma – Ojas quality (immunity strength)

6) Vayu – Prana (vitality — life force strength)

7) The 3 mental Gunas – Sattva, Rajas & Tamas and their influence on mood and character

8) The 5 senses (strength of vision, hearing, smell, touch and taste)

9) The Mind – (stability and strength of focus)

10) The Buddhi (intellect or intelligence)

11) Smruti (memory and ability to retain and recall)

12) the 5 elements (the quantity of earth, water, fire, air and ether in a person’s constitution)

In a nutshell, shukra (sperm) and artava (egg) contain the maternal & paternal elements of heredity. These include components of the: 5 elements, 20 qualities of nature, 3 mental gunas (SRT), three doshas (VPK), 7 dhatus (tissues), and refined essence of the three doshas (ojas, tejas and prana–OTP), all of which shape the embryo  and are known as “basic units of hereditary.”

Within the first 2 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta is working, giving oxygen and life force to the baby. The prana taken in by the mother must be refined and delicate, not intense or jarring. Rasa dhatu (plasma) should be sattvic for this intricate process which means it needs to be clear of ama (toxins) or anything that may obstruct the tiny but critical developments. Pitta toxins and kapha phlegm both morning sickness which blocks the flow of prana. The invisible work of mothers in pregnancy is to provide a supportive harmonious energy field and nourishment for her developing baby’s body and blueprint. Proper nutrition of mind and body (the 12 factors) are what create this environment.

To learn more about the 12 factors for Baby’s development check out the following class:  Enhancing Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth with Ayurveda

 

4 Key Foods Throughout Pregnancy

rice and dairy

According to Ayurveda, there are 4 key sattvic foods used in varied ways throughout pregnancy for most mamas: new basmati rice, pure ghee, butter and milk. These foods are naturally sattvic (harmonious and pure), building, easy on the digestion when properly used, and do not create mental and emotional negativity in their nature.

For vegan mamas, the list of 4 becomes 1 – just new basmati rice (not aged, and not brown due to the heating quality of brown rices), and these mothers often crave the three dairy options during pregnancy. Whatever foods are actually used, much care must be taken to substitute for these foods with sattvic, pitta and vata pacifying, ojas building qualities of other foods. For example, some common substitutes for dairy include:

Old, processed or life-force weakened foods undermine nutrition, as does slow maternal elimination. The stress of our prevalent Type A/rajasic overdrive in modern cultures will deplete the life-energy and nutrients for mama and baby. Poor digestion or poor food choice can create ama, which can lead to morning sickness and other problems.

Many other foods are important too, of course, but these take a special grounding, pitta and vata balancing, and ojas enhancing role.

 

Ayurvedic Bodywork in Pregnancy

If you are an Ayurvedic masseuse or have specialized in postnatal bodywork, consider expanding your package of offerings to a value specific month by month service for your clients.  Here is the advice sourced from the Dhanwantari Institute, from some of the classical texts, with a few comments from the peanut gallery.

Because the fetus in the first three months is of very unstable, jelly like consistency and hyper-responsive to maternal experience, Ancient Ayurvedic texts tend not to advise regular massage the first three months. Some gentle oil/massage on marma points and especially the hands and feet (not deep digs however) is considered often beneficial however.  Points to avoid are similar to in accupuncture and other modalities.

Oiling in general is considered to increase warmth in the body, and mama’s pitta is up especially in the first trimester, so warm oil massage may not be best idea as full body treatment.  Use of coconut will be preferred, or more energy work such as marma therapy, polarity, acupressure, etc.  Heightened pitta continues though generally not as dramatically, with vata on the increase naturally also after the first trimester.

In any case, what mama experiences, Ayurveda believes baby experiences, so stress or intensity to maternal body can create some strain to baby’s system which is living in heightened sensitivity and delicacy at this time.  Or mild massage can be be beneficially stimulating to the marmani for mother and baby.

From 4 months to labor, massage has specific advisories also, according to the Dhanvantari Institute. In our forth month, gentle massage which benefits mama’s mind and mood helps stabilize baby’s heart, taking extra care around mother’s abdomen.   We know that just applying warm oil against the lay of the hair increases neurotransmitters in a good way.  Applying oil is a more appropriate way to speak of massage style than what most call massage for this time.

At this time oil padding over the vagina is recommended also.

In the 6th month, gentle breast massage, especially nipples, is advised with herbalized or plain coconut oil.  Why 6th month specifically, I have no idea.  Perhaps this is recommended from 6th month on; I would say so.  Modern research has found that twisting and stretching of the nipples this early does not seem to really make a difference, similarly starting so early on stretching of the perineum.  Oiling serves to promote natural elasticity and comfort however.

In the 7th month, an herbal paste on the stretching and sometimes burning tissues along with massage is valuable, and massage can be especially helpful with swelling on the feet.  Although the article does not say which herbs, I would choose demulcent and skin herbs and oils, and essential oils like myrrh, geranium, ylang ylang, chamomile, rosewood and vetiver for the skin which are seriously committed to quality, as they will be influencing baby in utero also.

Massage schools teach what therapists agree, with the strain on body mechanics of weight changes, deeper work along spine, hips and neck/shoulders feels especially good, done in well supported side-lying position.  Yet, due to softening of connective tissues from the hormone relaxin in some mothers early to mid pregnancy, deep work may need to be modified to not overstretch already easily stretched ligaments and tendons.  Again, mothers may crave and need some extra support to pregnancy discomforts, so personalized choices by therapist and mother are important.  Use of the Ayurvedic abhyanga style oil massage gives many relaxing and balancing benefits without going into excessively deep tissue work.

In the 8th and 9th month, vaginal massage and oil padding of the vaginal area is advised, and from 36 weeks/9th month a small 30 ml basti on alternate days is advised on regular basis to lubricate the tissues. The quantity of oil does not significantly increase apana vayu, but offers good preparation for birth in multiple ways. This practice is discussed by several practitioners including Vaidya Seema Datta in the UK, on Jan 13th, 2013 in the pertinatalayurveda forum.

“Tissues being softened and elastic, less resistance during the delivery results in bearable pain and many of our mums are able to deliver without any intervention with much less average delivery time” reports Seema. She advises this protocol regularly with all her expectant client at 36 weeks with olive oil or sesame oil, unless mother is post due date. Then a mix of castor and sesame is more indicated.

Once a mother has gone into early labor, another warm small oil enema of about 1/3-1/2 cup, after full body abhyanga (oil massage) is advised for natural body relaxation and easier labor.  Ayudoulas know that the mother with vaginal delivery can benefit from postpartum massage as soon as she would like.  After major abdominal delivery, application of warm oil all over her body except avoiding abdomen is still very beneficial for maternal Vata, but massage is contraindicated until the wound is sealed, mother feels ready, and doctor or midwife gives the ok for this gentle treatment.

Ysha Oakes, LMT, CPAD