Pregnancy

Puberty

Puberty in girls start from menses, i.e. menarche during the age of 12 rto 16 years. This is the time for development of breast, hair growth in arm pits and genitals, voice change and desire for sex. In boys, there would be a sudden increase in height, hair growth on face, arm pit and genitals, voice change, muscular build up, production of sperm and desire for sex. Their height increase would stop around the age of 20 - 22. Girls mature about 2 years earlier than boys. That is the reason for marriage to girls earlier than to boys. Less age for wives than husbands is due to this. At this age development of breast, voice change and hair growth occurs. In boys there is sudden height increase. In girls there is premenstrual headache, pain pimples etc. In boys habits like smoking, aggressiveness, alco­holism and drug addiction start.

Infertility

Take tender leaves of neem, add with jeera and heeng. Grind and make in small tablets. Take three tablets on the fourth day of menstruation. Do it regularly every time.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy starts in the fallopen tube with the union of ovum and the sperm, called zygote. This ultimately moves from the tube and settles in the uterus. The total period of pregnancy is 280 days, i.e. 9 months and 10 days from the moment of the above said union.

During pregnancy

Expectant mothers should increase their calorie intake by taking more fruits and vegetables and avoid taking any food from outside. The water they take should be boiled water. They should continue to work and move and even have ante-natal exercises in consultation with their doctor. Again in consultation with the doctor, they should go for regular medical examinations and tests and keep a watch on the progress and baby’s health. They should also think of having immunization, viz. two doses of tetanus toxoid shots in the second trimester of their pregnancy and also one against hepatitis B.

If they feel itching at the stomach, they should apply oil or cream at the place so that they can avoid scratching. If they scratch, it could leave marks on the stomach

Baby’s breath

The most important breath in the child’s life is the first one that it may take. Some babies do not take that breath and are still born. In some infants, there is delay before the first breath or cry and brain damage results. Premature babies have immature lungs. Some of them that breathe at first cannot sustain the effort for long. Babies that breathe late may develop cerebral palsy. Maternal diseases during pregnancy affect the unborn baby’s well being. Common problems are malnutrition, anaemia, hyper tension, heart disease, diabetes and infections. In these situations the fetus will have growth retardation and resultantly the infant is at a higher risk for having respiratory problems at birth. So, mothers have to be careful about these factors.

Morning Sickness

Mix juice of 20 curry leaves with 2 tsp lime juice and 1 tsp sugar
Take in the morning daily
Mix ½ tsp juice of ginger with 1 tsp each of fresh lime juice and pudina juice
Add 1 tbsp of honey and take frequently
Mix 1/8 tsp of nutmerg powder with 1 tbsp fresh amla juice
Take 3 times a day for few days – Don’t prolong this

Advisable intakes:

When the period stops
Morning sickness is common. Take in the empty stomach, a drop of ginger juice added to lemon juice.
Jeera can be powdered and chewed
Make powder of dry fried jeera. Add little salt and ghee and take
Avoid your items of desire as they would not suit the child

After 40 days
Start taking bath in warm water. No cold and no hot
Avoid travels upto 90 days
Avoid chillis. If needed, pepper can be used in food

5th month
There could be pain in the stomach due to child movement
Heat castor oil and fry in it methi seeds
Apply that oil around the naval area and also put some oil in it
After some waiting period, or in morning, take bath in warm water
Start taking early dinner. Avoid tamarind

6th month and beyond
Reduce salt to prevent swelling in body
Take water added with khaskhas
Otherwise add half tea spoon jeera to water and boil and drink cooled
Also take honey in warm water to help the child get more blood
It would also reduce weight of the stomach for the mother
Continue to work and go for walks and live with positive mind frame
Spend sometime in hearty prayer
When false pain come
Boil water with jeera and drink. The pain will reduce and stop
For easy delivery of baby
In 1 cup water, mix 3 tsp lime juice, ¼ tsp powdered black pepper and 1 tsp honey and drink from 6th month