Factors That Harm Fetus, Avoidable Food And Habits In Pregnancy

By Dr Raghuram Y. S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B. A. M. S

Some precautions need to be taken with respect to diet and life activities all through period of pregnancy. This helps to avoid complications and enable easy delivery of child at term. Caution at food and lifestyle activities will contribute towards well being of both mother and child and also will maintain pregnancy in a safe and healthy way.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Garbhopaghatakara Bhavas = Garbha + Upaghatakara + Bhavas
Garbha = fetus
Upaghata kara = which tend to harm or destroy
Bhavas = factors

‘Garbhopaghatakara Bhavas’ = factors which tend to harm fetus
Read – Herbs Useful For Maintenance Of Pregnancy

Food contra-indications

Sarvam ati guru ushna teekshna ruksham annapanam – excessive use of all types of food which are excessively hard to digest, intense and dry in nature shall be rejected hot and pungent substances
Vishtambhi ahara – hard to digest foods, constipating foods
Ati tarpanam – excessive satiation by consumption of satiating foods and activities
Shushkam paryushitam kuthitam klinnam cha annam na upabhunjeeta – she should not eat dried up, stale, putrified or wet (moistened) food
Na mamsam ashneeyaat / Amisham – excessive consumption of meat
Ajirna – indigestion of food
Upavasa – fasting
Vidahi anna – foods and edibles which produce burning sensation in the abdomen
Amlani – sour foods
Kadannam – polluted food
Vishamashanam – incompatible foods

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Consumption in excess of –

Shetodaka – cold water
Lashuna – garlic
Dwidalani – pulses
Ushna ksheera – hot milk
Mruttika – clay, mud
Surana kanda – corm
Palandu – onion
Khatodakam – drinking rain water

Read – Benefits And Usage of Water As per Ayurveda: Complete Compilation

Avoidable lifestyle

Contraindications related to lifestyle activities and mode of living

Vyavaaya – excessive indulgence in coitus
Vyaayama – excessive exercise
Diwaswapnam – excessive sleeping in day time
Ratri jagarana – excessive awakening during night time
Akala jagara – untimely awakening
Akala swapna – untimely sleeping
Daruna chestah – indulgence in violent or harsh activities and all types of abnormal activities which are beyond her capacity
Adhwa / Chankramanam – excessive walking
Na yaanam adhirohet (Yanavarohana) – should not ride vehicles / animals or run over uneven pathways
Utkataka (utkutuka) vishama kathina asanam – squatting or posture of sitting on the hams with soles of feet touching the ground or other abnormal postures and hard seating
Na cha aayaset shareeram – she should not fatigue herself
Na mrudvastaranam kuryat na ati uchcham shayanasanam – sitting or sleeping in very soft and high place
Uttana shayanam – sleeping in supine position
Bhartuh shayyaam – sleeping on husband’s bed
Guru praavaranam – covering herself with heavy sheets
Abhighata – trauma
Bharam – carrying excessive weights
Na gurum dharayet chiram – she should not carry heavy weights for long time
Atimatra sankshobhi yanayaana – riding in carriages or on animals which cause excessive jerking
Shwabhra kupa prapata – falling into the pits or wells
Atapa – excessive exposure to heat of the Sun
Agni – excessive exposure to the heat of fire

Visiting –

Nadi teeram – going to river bank
Devakha – going to temple or garden
Bahir nishkramanam – outing, roaming outside
Shunyagara – visiting lonely places
Chaitya – going near haunted tree
Smashana – going to cremation ground
Vrukshashraya – staying in shade of tree

Bad habits

Contraindications related to habits

Na madakaraani madhyaani abhyaharet – should not use intoxicating substances and wine or any other alcoholic preparations
Vegadharana – withholding the body’s natural urges
Upavasa – excessive fasting
Madhyam – consuming alcohol, wine
Na eva unnataa na pranataa – she should not remain for long in erect or flexed posture
Udvejanam hasyam sanghaatam varjayet – she should avoid tremering, excessive laughing and trauma

Mental, verbal discipline

Contraindications related to mind, speech and senses

Sarva indriya pratikoolaam cha bhaavaan parivarjayet – she should give up all things which are contrary to her indriyas i.e. sense organs and also should avoid other harmful articles
Yat cha anyadapi kinchit striyo vidhyuh – she should also keep away the things which are instructed to do so by old ladies
Shokam / Shosham – grief
Bhaya – fear
Krodha / rosham – anger
Utrasa – terror
Udwega – excitement
Udwejaneeya kathaah pariharet – should keep away from hearing or reading exciting stories
Krodha bhaya shaskaraam cha – getting indulged in acts leading to anger and disgrace
Uchchaih bhaashyaadikam – talking in high pitch
Apriya avalokana shravanadayah – looking or hearing about disliked things
Shraddha vidharanam – suppression of urges and desires
Durgandha durdarshanani pariharet – she should keep away from foul smelling and awful looking substances
Mruta apatyaam – association with woman whose child has died

Read – Bad Food Combinations And Solution As Per Ayurveda

Treatment contra-indications

Contraindications related to treatments and medicines

Ati karshanam – getting excessively emaciated by emaciating measures
Akala snehadi kriyam, shonita mokshanam, vegavidharanam – untimely use of snehana (oleation), bloodletting and suppression of natural body urges
Rakta shruti shuddhim vastim – bloodletting, cleansing treatments, enemas up to eight months
Na cha taila abhyanga utsaadanaadeeni nisheveta – she should avoid repeated excessive oil massages and unguents
Teekshna aushadha – use of pungent substances
Swedana – sudation
Vamana – emesis
Kshara – alkalies

Conduct, ritual contra-indications

Contraindications related to beliefs, conducts, rituals and cosmic influence

Ksheeyamanam cha shashim – she should not look at the declining moon
Astam yaantam cha bhaskaram – she should not look at the setting sun
Ubhau rahu darshane – should not see the Rahu and Ketu
Soma arka sangrahau (activities during eclipses) – knowing about solar and lunar eclipse, the pregnant woman should go into the middle of the house and perform religious rites and offer oblations to free the planets from the clutches of the grahas.
Na dwishyat atithim – she should not insult, ignore, disrespect or hate the guests
Bhiksham dadhyat – she should give alms to the beggars instead of turning them out
Swayam prajwalite cha agnau shaantyartham juhuyaad ghrutam – she should perform oblation with ghee in burning fire (lit by her) for pacification
Na kinchit pratirudhniyaat – She should not oppose full ewer, ghee, garland and pot filled with ghee or curds
Na raktaani vaasaamsi / Rakta nivaasanam – She should not wear red garments for protection from the effect of gods, demons and their followers

Miscellaneous contraindications

Shwabhra kupeksham – peeping into pit or well
Malina vikruta heena gaatrani – She should not touch dirty or disfigured persons possessing deficit body parts
Na badneeta garbhini, sootrena tanunaa rajjvaa stambhanam bandhanaani – she should not tie anything from thread or thin rope and loosen all bonds over her
Bandhani mokshayet – she should free herself from all bonds or wear very loose garments

Read – Lifestyle Tips For Healthy People And Patients In Ayurveda

Analysis

Analysis of contraindications during pregnancy and fetus-harming factors explained by various authors

Contraindications mentioned for pregnant woman during pregnancy and factors which could harm fetus when consumed can be categorized into below mentioned headings –

Factors producing psychological or physical strain – includes causes like excessive grief, exercise, coitus etc. Generally exercise and coitus are beneficial in normal terms. However excessive indulgence in these activities or psychological trauma may precipitate abortion. This is more common in woman who had already experienced abortion i. e. habitual for abortion.
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Factors which cause sudden shock – visit to cremation ground, lonely places etc cause sudden shock. This shock may cause many abnormalities in fetus. It can even cause abortion. Therefore they should be avoided.

Factors which cause sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure – factors like carrying excessive weights, riding vehicles and animals etc may precipitate abortion by causing increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Prolonged squatting in abnormal postures and supine position may influence placental and uterine blood flow due to pressure of gravid uterus on iliac blood vessels. This may cause abortion, intra-uterine death of fetus or other abnormalities and complications.
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Difference of opinion regarding dietetic regulations and contraindications – diet is an important factor during pregnancy. It is important for maintenance of her health and also for proper nourishment and growth of fetus. There is contraindication for use of meat in many treatises. But Sushruta has advised use of meat of wild animals in 4^th and 5^th months of pregnancy. From this we can infer that contraindication is for use of other forms of meat like meat of aquatic animals, animals living in marshy lands etc. Similarly, wine in small quantities is not harmful, when taken in large quantities it may harm fetus. It is very difficult to explain logic behind contraindications for use of pulses, garlic and onion etc. We can infer that excessive use of these foods may cause digestion related abnormalities.
Read – Diet And Lifestyle For Women In Ayurveda

Effect of over satiation – excessive satiation or over-nourishment may excessively increase body weight of mother and fetus. Over eating is one of causes of pregnancy toxemia. Over weight of fetus may cause difficulty in labour.
Read – How Much Food To Eat Per Day As Per Ayurveda?

Effect of abnormal rays – specific rays emitted during solar and lunar eclipse may produce harm to fetus and pregnant woman and cause many fetal anomalies and complications.

Effect of purifying treatments – treatments given to purify body including emesis etc can also precipitate abortion and harm fetus and mother. This can happen due to effect of reflex stimulation of myometrium caused by these treatments.
Read – Ayurvedic Panchakarma Treatment: simple explanation for easy understanding

Effect of using contraindicated things by pregnant woman during pregnancy

Effects

*Sl No*	*Dietetics & mode of life of pregnant women*	*Effect on fetus (child)*	*Authors (Ref)*
1	a) Used to squatting / sitting in abnormal positions b) Habit of suppression of urges of defecation, urination & flatus (fart) c) Regular indulgence in mproper & excessive exercises d) Use of less quantity of food, pungent & hot foods	Intrauterine death of fetus Premature delivery of child or Fetus becomes dry (upasushka – missed abortion)	Cha. Sha. 8/21
2	a) Trauma or compression in lower part of belly b) Peeping or falling into a deep pit or well c) Taking a ride on a vehicle or animal which keeps jerking d) Listening to words which are not pleasant to hear	Premature delivery of child Abortion	Cha. Sha. 8/21
3	a) Pregnant woman sleeping in supine (on back, facing upwards) position with upper and lower limbs stretched	umbilical cord strangulates neck of fetus and troubles it	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
4	a) Woman sleeping in open areas without covering herself b) Night walking	Unmatta – child becomes insane	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
5	a) Woman who is inclined to quarrel physically or verbally (quarrelsome)	Apasmara – child would be epileptic or with low memory	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
6	Excessive indulgence in coitus	child would be born deformed, impudent or lazy and henpecked	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
7	Always being distressed or grieved	child would be coward, emaciated and thin, would have less life span (short-lived)	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
8	Wishing bad and evil for others (abhidhyatri)	child would have nature of troubling others, would be jealous of others and henpecked	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
9	Thief, robber (habituated to steal)	Idle, industrious, spiteful	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
10	Intolerant	Furious, deceitful, insidious, calumnious	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
11	Sleeping in excess	child would be sleepy, ignorant and will have less digestive power	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
12	Addicted to drinking wine regularly	child would always be thirsty, will have short term memory and fickle mind	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
13	Regularly eating meat of iguana (godha mamsa)	Child would suffer from stones in urinary bladder, gravel in urinary bladder or passages or slow stream of urine	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
14	Regularly eating hog’s meat or pork (shukara mamsa)	Child would have red eyes, rough body hairs and obstructed breathing or snoring	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
15	Used to eat fish regularly (daily)	Child would have fixed eyes or delayed blinking of eyes	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
16	Regular and excessive use of sweet articles with exception of milk	child would suffer from prameha (urinary disorders, diabetes mellitus), would become obese and dumb	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
17	Excessive and daily use of sour articles	child would suffer from raktapitta (bleeding disorders) and also diseases of skin and eyes	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
18	Excessive and daily use of salty foods	Child would suffer from early wrinkling, graying of hair and balding	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
19	Excessive and daily use of pungent foods	child would be weak, possess less quantity of semen and would be infertile	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
20	Excessive and daily use of bitter foods	Child would suffer from emaciation or edema, weak and debilitated	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
21	Excessive and daily use of astringent foods	Child would be dark or dusky complexioned, would suffer from flatulence and eructation, upward and abnormal movement of vata	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61
22	Use of articles and foods likely to produce diseases	Diseases are produced according to causes	Cha. Sha. 8/21 & A. San. Sha. 2/61

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