Abstract

GARBHINI PARICHARYA: ANTENATAL CARE IN AYURVEDA

*Divya Sharma and Rashmi Sharma

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Abstract

Systematic supervision (examination and advice) of a woman from the date of conception to delivery of baby or during pregnancy is called antenatal (prenatal) care. It is very well described by our ancient Ayurvedic scholars mainly of Samhita period. They have described monthly dietary regimen and living style for whole pregnancy with a aim to ensure a normal pregnancy with delivery of a healthy baby from a healthy mother. Antenatal care comprises of careful history taking and examinations and after that proper advice given to the pregnant woman according to her need. Antenatal care is named as Garbhini Paricharya in Ayurvedic classics. The proper garbhini paricharya would result in the proper development of the fetus, its delivery, the health of the mother and thus her ability to withstand the strain of labour and have an eventless post-natal phase. The care should start from the beginning of pregnancy and end at delivery. Objectives of antenatal care are to assess the health status of the mother and fetus, to screen out the high risk pregnancy and to design the plan of subsequent management.

Keywords: ante natal care, garbhini, garbhopaghatakara bhava, fetus, nutrition.