Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy – Ayurvedic Perspective

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

Ayurveda has described in detail about signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Ancient Ayurvedic seers have keenly observed changes occurring in pregnancy and have documented them.

Table of Contents

Signs of recent pregnancy

Sadyo Gruheeta Garbha Lakshana:

Immediately after conception some signs and symptoms are seen in pregnant woman. These are called as sadhyo gruhita garbha lakshanas. Read – Conception And Formation Of Fetus As Per Ayurveda

Sadhyo = immediately Gruhita = conceived (in this context) Garbha = fetus Lakshana = signs and symptoms

These signs and symptoms indicate that conception has taken place, just now.

Repeated spitting
Heaviness of body
Malaise
Drowsiness
Goosebumps
Discomfort in heart region
Contentment
Withholding of sperms in vagina
Fatigue
Languor
Excessive thirst
Lassitude in thighs
Quivering in entire body and vagina
Retention of menstrual blood and semen in vagina
Nausea
Excessive salivation

Sanskrit verse

Charaka, Sushruta’s view

Charaka’s view (Cha. shaa. 2/23)

Nishteevana – repeated spitting
Gourava – heaviness of body
Angasada – malaise
Tandra – drowsiness,
Praharsha – goosebumps
Hrudaya vyatha – pain or discomfort in cardiac region
Tripti – feel of comfort or content
Beeja grahanam – withholding of seed or sperm in yoni (sperm needed for conception, fertilization)

Sushruta’s view (Su. shaa. 3/13)

Shrama – fatigue
Glani – languor
Pipasa – excessive thirst
Sakthi sadanam – lassitude in thighs
Shukra shonita avabandha – retention of shukra and shonita in yoni i. e. retention of menstrual and coital discharges in vagina or absence of same (depicts conception)
Yoni sphurana – quivering in vagina

Read – Herbs Useful For Maintenance Of Pregnancy

Vagbhata’s view (As. Sam. Shaa. 2/8)

Beeja grahana in yoni – retention of sperms in female genital tract, depicts fertilization and subsequent conception
Trupti – feel of content or comfort
Sphurana –quivering
Shukra artva anubandha – union of sperm and ovum
Praharsha – goosebumps
Hrullasa – nausea, feel to vomit
Tandra – sleepiness / drowsiness
Angasaada – malaise
Praseka – excessive salivation
Hrudaya vyatha – pain or discomfort in heart region
Glani – languor
Pipasa – thirst

Vagbhata 2 (A. Hru. Shaa. 1/37, 38)

Beeja sangraha in yoni – Retention of semen or sperms in female genital tract
Trupti – feel of comfort
Gurutva – feeling of heaviness
Sphurana – quivering
Shukra asra anubandha – union of sperm and ovum marking onset of conception
Hrudaya spandana – increased heart beats
Tandra – drowsiness, sleepiness
Trut – excessive thirst
Glani – languor
Lomaharshana – horripulation, goosebumps

Read – Ayurvedic Treatment For Stretch Marks During Pregnancy

Manifested pregnancy symptoms

Vyakta Garbha Lakshana Vyakta = manifested

When embryo gets implanted in uterus and gets manifested certain signs and symptoms of pregnancy are manifested. These are called vyakta garbha lakshanas. They are also called gruhita garbha lakshanas and garbhini linga. Read – Morning Sickness: Ayurvedic Treatment, Home Remedies

Below mentioned are signs and symptoms of pregnancy wherein body parts of embryo have been conspicuous. These according to Ayurveda are signs of late pregnancy which are manifested after 3 months of pregnancy.

Amenorrhea
Excessive salivation
Aversion towards food and anorexia
Nausea
Vomiting
Craving for sour foods
Desires for high and low quality foods alternatively
Heaviness of body parts and abdomen
Languor in eyes
Secretion of breast milk
Blackish discoloration of lips and areola and nipples
Edema of feet
Development of linea nigra
Dilatation of vagina
Coalescing of eyelashes
Getting irritated from good smell
Tiredness
Weakness of eyes and voice
Sleepiness
Yawning
Unconsciousness
Corpulence of cheeks and breasts
Decrease in strength
Emaciation
Burning sensation in whole body
Various kinds of desires

Read – After Delivery Care Of Mother For First Three Months By Ayurveda

Charaka has said that description of signs and symptoms of pregnancy for recognition, identification and management of ‘Douhruda stage’. Douhruda means ‘woman having two hearts’ i. e. one heart of her own and other heart of embryo developing in her, which means pregnant.

Chakrapani, commentator of Charaka opines that this stage starts from 3^rd month.

Dalhana, commentator of Sushruta tells that term ‘garbhini linga’ written by Sushruta reflects ‘uttarakalina gruhita garbha lakshana’ i. e. signs and symptoms of late pregnancy, i. e. signs and symptoms of pregnancy which are seen after ‘signs of immediate conception’ i. e. ‘sadhyo gruhita garbha lakshanas’.

Thus, according to Dalhana –

Sadhyo Gruhita Garbha Lakshanas – means signs and symptoms of immediate conception
Vyakta Garbha Lakshanas or Gruhita Garbha Lakshanas (according to Sushruta) –
means signs and symptoms of pregnancy which are seen after sadhyo gruhita garbha lakshanas i. e. they are signs and symptoms of late pregnancy (seen at 3 months and later according to Chakrapani, beginning of douhruda)

Vagbhata has clearly mentioned these symptoms as ‘Vyakta Garbha Lakshanas’ i. e. signs and symptoms of clearly manifested fetus. Indu, commentator of Ashtanga Sangraha says that ‘Vyakta Garbha lingas mean signs and symptoms of a pregnant woman who possesses embryo of conspicuous but under-developed body parts’. Read – Essential Elements For Conception – Garbha Sambhava Samagri

Thus, Vyakta Garbha Lakshanas according to different authors sums up to following meanings –

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy
Signs and symptoms of late pregnancy which manifest after manifestation of immediate signs of conception
Signs and symptoms of pregnant woman
Signs and symptoms of pregnancy which indicate douhruda stage i. e. manifestation of second heart in pregnant woman, which happens to be after 3 months of pregnancy (Chakrapani)
Signs and symptoms of a pregnant woman possessing embryo of conspicuous but under-developed body parts
Signs and symptoms indicating clear establishment of fetus

Sanskrit verse-2

Charaka’s opinion (Cha. sha. 4/16)

Artava adarshana – amenorrhea
Asya samsrava – excessive salivation
Anannabhilasha – aversion towards food
Chardi – vomiting
Arochaka – anorexia
Amla kamata – craving for sour foods
Shraddhaa pranayanam uccha vacheshu bhaveshu – alternate desires for high quality and low quality foods, articles and lifestyle practices / deeds
Gurugatratvam – heaviness of body parts
Chakshu glani – languor in both eyes
Stanayoh stanyam – secretion of breast milk from breasts
Stana oshtayoh stana mandalayoh kaarshnyam atyartham – blackish discoloration of lips and areola of breasts
Paadayoh ishat shwayathu – slight edema of feet
Roma raji udgamah – development of linea nigra
Yonyah chatalatvam – dilatation of vagina

Sushruta’s opinion (Su. Sha. 3/14-15)

Stanayoh krushna mukhata – blackening of areola
Roma raji udgama – manifestation of linea nigra
Akshi pakshmani samilyate – eyelashes coalesce
Akamata chardi – vomiting without apparent cause
Shubhaat gandhaat udvijate – gets irritated from good smells
Prasekah – excessive salivation
Sadanam – tiredness

Read – Anomalies, Defects In Fetus, Ayurvedic Treatment

Vagbhata’s opinion (A. Sam. Sha. 2/9, 11, 51)

Kukshi matra gauravam – heaviness of abdomen
Kshaama netra swarataa – weakness of eyes and voice
Akshi roma samlulana – disordered eye lashes or quivering of eye lashes (pubic hairs – Indu)
Nidra – sleepiness
Jrumbhanam – yawning
Moorcha – unconsciousness, fainting
Chardhi – vomiting
Aruchi – anorexia
Pada shopho – edema of legs / feet
Amla abhilasha – craving for sour substances / food
Teshu cha uchcha vacheshu bhaveshu – desires for high quality and low quality foods
Peena kapola payodharata – cheeks and breasts become corpulent
Krishna oshta chuchukatvam – blackish discoloration of lips and nipples
Bala kshaya – as fetus grows in womb, its weight increases and there is diversion of her nutrients towards child, consequentially her energy decreases

Vagbhata’s opinion (A. Hr. Shaa. 1/50-52)

Kshaamata – emaciation
Kukshi Garimaa – heaviness in abdominal area
Murcha – fainting
Chardi – vomiting
Arochaka – anorexia
Jrumbha – yawning
Praseka – excessive salivation
Sadanam – languor
Romarajyaha prakashanam – appearance of linea nigra
Amla ishtata – liking towards sour foods and substances
Peenau stanau – corpulence of breasts
Sa stana krushna chuchukau – blackish discoloration of areola and nipples
Pada shopha – swelling of feet
Vidaha – burning sensation in whole body
Anye sraddhah cha vividhatmikaa – expression of various desires

Read –Monthly Development Of Fetus – Ayurvedic perspective

Masanumasika Lakshanas

Garbhini = pregnant woman Masanumasika = every month

As fetus grows in womb different signs and symptoms are seen and documented in every month of pregnancy. These are called masanumasika lakshanas.

In fourth month of pregnancy heaviness of body is manifested.
In fifth month of pregnancy pregnant woman becomes emaciated.
In sixth month of pregnancy woman undergoes loss of strength and complexion.
In seventh month of pregnancy woman experiences extreme exhaustion.

Signs and symptoms in 4^th month of pregnancy

Gurugatratvam – Guru gatratvam means heaviness of body. In fourth month of pregnancy fetus gets stabilized. Due to this, weight of fetus increases comparably. As a result, pregnant woman feels more heaviness in body.

Signs and symptoms in 5^th month of pregnancy

Karshya – Karshya means emaciation. In fifth month of pregnancy, muscles and blood of fetus gets nourished and enriched.

Chakrapani, commentator of Charaka Samhita, gives a clarification for emaciation in pregnant woman in 5^th month of pregnancy. He says, since this nutrition reaches to fetus from mother, i. e. from mother’s rasa dhatu or nutrition, there will be insufficient rasa to nourish tissues of mother (pregnant woman). Since tissues are not properly nourished and enriched as a result of diversion of maximum part of nutrition towards fetus, pregnant woman loses little weight and gets emaciated.

In actual terms, if diet and health of pregnant woman is normal, she gains considerable weight from 4^th to 7^th month. Hence there will be no emaciation.

Signs and symptoms in 6^th month of pregnancy

Bala-varna hani, shramadhikya – Bala varna hani means loss of strength and complexion. Shramadhikya means more tiredness. In 6^th month of pregnancy, pregnant woman suffers from loss of strength and complexion. She feels more tired. This is because during 6^th month there is enhancement of strength and complexion in fetus, which is derived in excess from mother’s nutrition. Thus there is a compensatory loss of strength and complexion in mother.

Face-mask or deposition of pigments in other parts of body might have been referred as loss of complexion. Read – Varnya Gana: Complexion Enhancing Herbs: Review, Uses, Formulations

Signs and symptoms in 7^th month of pregnancy

Sarva aakaraih klantatama – Sarva aakaraih klantatama means excessive exhaustion by all means. In 7^th month of pregnancy, pregnant woman feels excessively exhausted. She also has relatively more loss of flesh and blood during this month. This happens since fetus attains over all maturity in this month. Excessive exhaustion of pregnant woman is due to her contribution to overall maturity of fetus in terms of losing her flesh and blood.

Read – 15 Precautions And Benefits Of Massage In Pregnancy

Yugma Garbha – Signs in twin pregnancy

When the abdomen of pregnant woman is elevated on both sides and depressed in centre just like a trough i. e. droni bhutam udaram, will deliver twins. (Su. Sha. 3/34 & A. Hr. Shaa. 1/72)

Dauhruda Lakshana

Dauhruda means two hearts. Pregnant woman in 3^rd and 4^th (according to some other authors) months of pregnancy is called dauhridini i. e. ‘ one with two hearts’ because she will have a heart of hers and other heart of fetus.

Fetal heart is connected to maternal heart through rasavahi srotas. Child communicates its desire through these channels. Pregnant woman expresses certain desires during this period which are actually desires of fetus. These desires of fetus expressed through expectant mother are called dauhruda. Read – Pregnancy Cravings – Reasons, Ayurvedic Explanation

All ancient authors opine that desires of pregnant woman i. e. dauhruda should not be suppressed in fact they should be fulfilled. If desires are not fulfilled vata gets aggravated reaches fetus and destroys fetus or cause several complications. child may be born with many mind and body anomalies. If desires of dauhrudini are satisfied and granted child born will be intelligent healthy and virtuous.