Prasava Raksha(Antenatal and Postnatal Care)

For generations, there has been a strict regime that my family follows for prasava rakshai. As I followed it, I documented the list for future reference. And, here it is.

Antenatal(Prenatal) care

We are big followers of Ayurveda and use a few medicines especially during pregnancy.

Dhanvanthram Guligai*

This is taken mainly to relieve gas problems which are at their peak during the third trimester. Guligai is to be taken from eighth month the first thing in the morning with warm jeera(cumin seeds) kashayam* and in the evening (6 pm rough timeline). Boil a pinch of cumin seeds in half a glass of water and let it reduce a little. Strain and dissolve the guligai and drink.

Butter

This helps ease nerves and relieves constipation. After eighth month, butter (size of a jujube fruit) is to be taken in the morning before breakfast.

Dhanvanthram thailam/oil

Again starting from eighth month, take enough oil to apply all over your body, warm it and apply focusing mainly on the pelvis, lower back,legs and breasts. This is to be done before having a bath. Avoid pouring warm water directly onto the bump.

It is good to apply coconut oil before having a bath right from fourth or fifth month when bump starts growing. This not only helps in keeping the skin moist thereby avoiding itching due to the skin stretching but also helps with stretch marks. It also helps in avoiding the nipples becoming dry which in due course causes sore nipples and loads of problems with feeding post delivery.

Postnatal care

Panchamoola kashayam*

The kashayam helps in removing all the blood from uterus. You might experience heavy blood flow while taking this kashayam, but that is normal.This is to be taken by the mom for 10 days after delivery. It is made of thipili (long pepper), arathai (galangal root), grambu (clove), molagu (pepper), chukku (dry ginger), coriander seeds. Heat all the above, grind and powder. Add this powder to a glass of water.When it comes to boil, add jaggery (vellam) and let it boil till it reduces by half. Take half of it in the morning and the rest in the evening.

Oil massage

Same as antenatal except to be followed by forceful shower/spray of hot water on tummy while massaging it downwards. Head bath can be had only for a maximum of 3 days until eleventh day after delivery. After that, head bath is advised every 2 days to make sure body doesn’t get overheated.

Poricharu

Starting from third day until the seventh, the mom must have poricharu (similar to rasam/soup) with rice for lunch. Powder thipili (long pepper) and black peppercorns together. Mix it with water and bring it to boil with a pinch of salt. Temper with ghee*, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves.

Kelari marundhu

This medicine is supposed to help with digestion and prevent the baby from spitting. This is prepared at home using a lot of ingredients. Unfortunately, I don’t have the recipe for this yet. A gooseberry size of this to be taken by the mom starting 28th day post delivery until 90th day.

Although this is the advised period to take the medicine, it can be taken anytime later when you are having trouble with digestion or have eaten something new and don’t want it to affect the baby. The medicine generates lot of body heat, hence it is advised to have oil bath once in two days while regularly consuming it.

Pathiyam

This is the diet to be followed by the mom to avoid gas, constipation, indigestion and baby spitting. It is advised to not overeat and follow a strict timing for bath, food and sleep. Coconut and brinjal (aubergine) are to be avoided until 3 or 4 months. Good to include lots of vegetables and garlic in food.

For the first two days post delivery, mom eats only broken matta rice (brown rice) porridge with ghee and salt. From third day, fried manathakali (solanum nigrum) with rice followed by poricharu. Yogurt is to be avoided until 11th day. After that can have boiled buttermilk(kaachina more).

Lots of milk shloud be consumed to help with milk production. It is believed to be very effective to eat milk with rice for dinner after 7th day.

Once kelari marundhu is started, it is to be followed by a glass of diluted curd rice. Vendhaya (Fenugreek seeds) dosa is to be taken with sesame oil for afternoon snacks.

*
Guligai – small round tablet
Kashayam – decoction
Ghee – clarified butter