Pregnancy and Ayurveda - When To Cleanse by Hale Pule
Ayurveda offers timeless wisdom to support a woman’s journey from Maiden to Mother.
Taking a holistic approach, Ayurveda treats the mind, body and spirit to invoke the memory of perfect health that exists inside each one of us. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means the ‘science of living’.
When a health-conscious woman becomes pregnant according to modern medicine, she takes extra care with her diet and takes mineral and vitamin supplements. Mama-to-be may even adopt a Yoga, meditation and a breath work practice if she didn’t already have one.
In Ayurveda, it’s almost the opposite.
Cleansing practices are actually not recommended at all during pregnancy. Frequently clients will ask if they can do Yoga and abhyanga, an application of medicated Ayurvedic oil . Our response is that no strong practices should be introduced during pregnancy. Starting a new practice may trigger a detox response in the body, dislodging toxins that could reach the baby. Cleansing, fitness and muscular strength are all groundwork to lay before conception.
What can she do? Once pregnant, Mama continues with what her body is acclimated to, doing most exercise and self care practices she was doing prior to becoming pregnant and modifying as the pregnancy progresses. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this is the time for taking extra rest and fulfilling desires that arise within her, said to be the desires of the unborn baby.
Before conceiving, Mama and Dad-to-be have ideally cleared out any toxins present in their systems, are feeling vibrant and ready to unify their healthy sperm and egg.
So what are we doing in the 3+ months prior to conception? To remove toxins from the body and move the body, mind, and spirit toward balance, Ayurveda practices guide us to align with nature.
Remember, it takes two to tango! Dad doesn’t just get to show up on the day. He has some prep to do too. A man's sperm life cycle is 1-3 months, so for him, a minimum of three months of physical preparation is needed. For women, maintaining a well balanced lifestyle protects the quality of the eggs that she was born with and prepares her womb.
From Ayurveda, we understand how the right kind of nourishment and movement support a woman’s body for conception:
Nourishment
Eat your heaviest meal of the day at lunch
Opt for warm, freshly cooked, juicy, mildly spiced meals to stoke your digestive fire
Synchronize your sleep cycle to the circadian rhythm; rising with or before the sun and winding down from stimulating activities at sunset (sleep by 10 p.m. and up by 6:00 a.m.
Work with an Ayurvedic practitioner who can tailor a choorna (custom combination of herbs) to support your individual constitution and process
Body and Movement
Daily Yoga asana or movement circulates lifeforce or prana in your body. Exercise until a bead of sweat appears on your brow, then wind it back
Apply warm oil on your body to dislodge toxins wedged in channels of your body, tone the muscles and nourish your tissues. This profound Ayurvedic self care practice is called abhyanga.
Have one to two bowel movements a day, starting with the first thing in the morning. This will happen effortlessly once your daily routine is aligned with the rhythm of nature and your system is balanced.
Things to leave out
Minimize or eliminate toxins and stressors on the body like caffeine, alcohol, processed food, leftovers, frozen food and excessive time on technology.
Take an inventory of all cleaning products in your household, remove cosmetics and anything containing chemicals including fragrance.
Reduce your exposure to air pollution and if your fresh produce has been sprayed with chemicals, it’s time to make a trip to your local farmers market a cornerstone of your routine.
What about sex? Conserving the reproductive fluids that are released during ejaculation will support a clear and introspective mind. In the Yogic world, this practice is known as brahmacharya and it’s an ideal spiritual and physical practice for cultivating a conscious conception. So until you’re ready to make that sweet child of yours, keep physical intimacy to kissing and cuddling. It will make your conscious conception day(s) all the more special.
Claudia is a member of the team over at Hale Pule Ayurveda and Yoga, an educational center founded by Master Yogi and Ayurveda Practitioner Myra Lewin. Claudia is mother to a one-year old baby girl. She loves discovering more about Ayurveda each day as it applies to the evolving journey of motherhood, and she is honored to support other mamas and their babies to blossom and align with nature.
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