Vihaaras that Should be Avoided During Pregnancy

Vihaaras are Ayurvedic lifestyle guidelines and suggestions. They come down to us from ancient Indian scriptures and have been followed through the ages because of their effectiveness.

Here are the vihaaras that should be observed by pregnant women

• Avoid all strenuous exercise and switch to gentle yoga asanas and pranayamas that’ll calm you and prepare your body for the strains of childbirth.

• Women are advised against sexual intercourse during pregnancy, as it is taxing on the body.

• Swapna Viparyaya, the practice of sleeping during the day and staying up nights, should be avoided. Pregnant women should only rest for 1-2 hours during the afternoon, sleep early and wake up early.

• Over sleeping is also frowned upon since it could lead to the child having a weak agni and becoming ignorant and sleepy.

• Women shouldn’t squat or as it could cause abortion, premature delivery, or intra-uterine death of the foetus.

• To maintain the apana vayu (downward flow of energy), you should always urinate when the urge hits you.

• Staying out in the sun for too long or undertaking an arduous journey is strictly forbidden during pregnancy.

In addition, expecting mothers are encouraged to read the scriptures or listen to texts from Ramayana’s Sundara Kanda. She should not read, hear or watch scary, tragic, or macabre stories. Instead, she should try and stay in a calm and happy state of mind, keeping out negative emotions like fear and anger.

Everything a woman does during the course of her pregnancy affects the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of her child. To bring a healthy baby into this world, speak to one of our doctors about the Jiva AyurBaby program. Dial 0129-4040404 or click on ‘Speak to a Doctor’ under the CONNECT tab in Jiva Health App.