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In the ancient Vedic philosophy, the Shiva and Shakti energies unite the masculine and feminine seed to create a new life.

The soul-level understanding is that we choose our parents in order to receive what we need to come into human form and continue to evolve, healing karma, connecting to our dharma, and liberating the soul.

Every human begins in the womb where the spark ignites, opening into the miracle of creation that lies deep within. This time of maturation is a powerful time on all levels: spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. This essential and transformative journey opens up to higher wisdom, ancestral connection, heart chakra expanding, and the power of the feminine embodiment.

Ayurveda has a branch of medicine devoted to pregnancy and women’s health. With its foundations drawing on nature’s wisdom and the natural cycles of life, Ayurveda offers supportive guidance during this time. This complete healing system spans the entire journey, preconception, and pregnancy—both prenatal and postpartum.

Ayurveda focuses on the quality of the seed and the uterus, connecting that to the earth in which it germinates the seed, preparing for a vital and healthy pregnancy. Some recommendations include diet, lifestyle, activities, herbs, and treatments to support both the mama and baby, pre and postnatal.

Once the mother has given birth, she and the new family enter a sacred window for 42 days, six weeks. This is a potent time for healing, bonding, nourishing, and setting the foundations of this new life together. This new being results from the mother giving her heart, body, and soul. The baby has just left the protection of life in the womb and has now entered the world where Prana flows into the lungs and opens to the external environment. The father holds the baby for the first time in his arms and the family unites on a new level of love and devotion.

The new life benefits from ancient wisdom, understanding and supporting it with the sacred ayurvedic practices. Overall health and well-being are foundational for the pregnant woman. Then, entering conception, pregnancy, and postpartum, Ayurveda offers some amazing insights to support the mama and baby.

“Dharma artha streeshu lakshmischa streeshu loka; pratishtitha.”

“Women can bear children and are responsible for the continuation of the human species. Every woman represents righteousness, abundance, auspiciousness, and indeed, the universe itself.” ~ Charaka Samhita, Ayurvedic Texts

Here are some recommendations for a healthy pregnancy:

1. Balancing the vata dosha 

The vata dosha governs the nervous system, spiritual realms, and movement in the body. It is made up of air and ether, the space where everything begins. It is important to incorporate a vata pacifying diet and routine to support a healthy pregnancy.

2. Following a vata diet

Choose warm, freshly cooked meals with healthy oils such as ghee, coconut, or olive oil. Avoid cold, raw, dry, stale, spicy, heavy foods and don’t overeat or fast. Make sure you are eating regularly and mindfully. Eat white rice, yogurt, milk, butter, and ghee to help build vitality, as well as dates, figs, nuts, and seeds for the reproductive organs.

>> Drink one cup of warm milk with 1 teaspoon of ghee twice daily (or golden milk) to support vitality and the baby’s development

>> Try kheer, an Indian warm rice pudding with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and ghee

>> Sip ginger and fennel tea for morning sickness

3. Choosing a vata lifestyle

It is important to not aggravate the vata dosha during pregnancy. This helps maintain a calm nervous system and relax the body, mind, and spirit. Avoid traveling long distances as this increases vata due to fast movement and an increase in the space/air element. Do not resist natural urges such as hunger, bowel movements, urination, crying, and sleep. This helps to assist in the natural flow of energy to harmonize the vata.

4. Considering some vata daily routines 

A daily routine is essential to provide a dynamic framework for harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit. It supports the biological rhythm, healthy digestion, strong immune system, deep sleep, and inner peace of the body. It also provides a foundation for calming the nervous system and quieting the mind.

Vata is by nature erratic and mobile. By aligning with natural guiding principles, we tune our body’s daily rhythms to higher governing intelligence. The daily rhythm focuses on when we wake up, when we eat, when we work, and when we sleep. The consistent timing of these daily routines provides a stable and harmonizing support for the entire body systems.

5. Getting an ayurvedic massage

Ayurvedic massage, called Abhyanga in Sanskrit, is an essential part of healing and overall being in Ayurveda, creating balance for the body, senses, psyche, and spirit. This treatment is especially beneficial to pregnant mamas as well as the mama and baby during postpartum.

The warm oil offers the perfect qualities to balance the vata dosha, providing oily, warm, heavy, nourishing, and grounding qualities. It energizes the lymph and blood in the body, assisting in the movement and nourishment of fluids throughout the body. This treatment is revitalizing as it supports healthy digestion, sleep patterns, and the nervous system.

During pregnancy, mamas will benefit greatly from receiving this warm and loving treatment, whether through an Ayurvedic practitioner, partner, or self-massage.

6. Postpartum sacred window

During the postpartum sacred window, the mama and baby receive Abhyanga for the first 42 days after birth. This amazing practice is held in high regard, offering vital healing care during this sacred time.

The treatments help nourish the mama and baby as they transition into this next stage, supporting the nervous system, tissues, and circulation.

Having a partner massage with the baby is a beautiful way to establish their new bond.

7. Cultivating your own support system

This new beginning, new life phase is a special time to honor and nourish the ancient wisdom. Connecting with a supportive practitioner, friend, or elder during your own journey is essential. Whether through dreaming, conceiving, giving birth, postpartum, there are many ways to embody the feminine mother.

It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a healthy and nourished mama to offer her body, mind, and soul to create a new life.