Dr. SHAMANTHAKAMANI NARENDRAN

Consultant PediatricianPh.D. in Yoga Science

On the Brink of Birth

A full term fetus, is shown in its mother’s womb in this Leonardo da vinci drawing. One of the first accurate renderings of a part of the human anatomy. The smaller sketches depict details of the uterus. Of all the triumphs of the body, its crowning glory is the power to reproduce its kind and pass some of its hereditary characteristics on to later generations.

Structure of Female reproductive organs

Internal Genital Organs

These include • A pair of Ovaries - the primary reproductive organs • A pair of Fallopian Tubes - uterine tubes • The Uterus - body & cervix • The Vagina - receives male sperm

Ovulation Process

PELVIS

Which surrounds the pelvic canal. This is specially adapted to the needs of childbirth in the female. This reproductive adaptation affects particularly the lesser pelvis; but the changes in this, affect the proportions and dimensions of the greater pelvis to a variable degree in the female.

Female Bony Pelvis Female Pelvis with Fascia and Ligaments

Fertilization

Embryo to Fetus

fifteen days twenty-one days thirty days thirty-four days six wks eight wks

Life: One Seed + One Egg Life begins when an egg, previously released from one of the two ovaries, merges with just one of the hundreds of millions of sperm cells supplied through the vagina by the male reproductive system. The fertilized egg then descends to the wall of the uterus, where it implants itself to begin gestation.

Fetus

The average weight of the Indian baby at 40 weeks of

pregnancy is 2,750Gms at birth.

New Born

A healthy new born cries vigorously as soon as he is born, kicking his limbs actively, giving the greatest joy to the tired mother.

I A Y T

PERFECT HEALTH &

KNOWLEDGESTRESS

IS SPEED

ANANDAMAYA

STRESS ACCORDING TO TAITTIRIYA UPANISAT

MANAH PRASAMANA UPAYAH YOGAH – Vasista

YOGA IS THE SKILL

TO CALM DOWN THE MIND

YOGA ?

Astanga Yoga of Maharshi Patanjali

Yama

Niyama

Asana

Pranayama

Pratyahara

Dharana

Dhyana

Samadhi

YOGA IN PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is stress because of extra load of

1. Biochemical changes – Metabolism of water, salt, minerals, iron, glucose, fat, calcium, etc.

2. Hormonal changes.

3. CNS-ANA changes.

4. Emotions.

Yoga has to look at helping

MOTHER & FETUS

I TRIMESTER (1 – 3 MONTHS)

  YOGA FOR STRESS REDUCTION

  ACCEPTANCE OF PREGNANCY

  AVOID

      DYNAMIC ASANAS

      ACUTE EXTREME BENDS

      KAPALABHATI

  RISK OF ABORTION

  FOETUS

   ORGAN FORMATION

INTRA UTERINE ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT

      CHEMICALS – CONGENITAL DEFORMITIES

      STRESS - ABORTION

  MOTHER

      DISTURBANCES + STRESS = DISEASE

      MORNING SICKNESS + ANXIETY = VOMITING

      VOMITING + STRESS = HYPER EMESIS

      GASTRITIS – HYPERACIDITY

      CONSTIPATION

1-3 Months

MOTHER

1. Emotional – Acceptance, Adaptation – Better in planned pregnancy

2. Anxiety – In delayed pregnancy & in assisted reproduction.

3. Rejection – Unwanted pregnancy.

RISKS/PROBLEMS

MOTHER: Excessive vomiting.

Abortion.

FETUS: Formation of organs.

Risk of congenital abnormalities.

II TRIMESTER (4 – 6 MONTHS)

  MOTHER – STABLE PERIOD

  IMPORTANT TO STABLISE YOGA PRACTICES

  FOETUS – ORGANOGENESIS & MATURITY

  STEADY GROWTH

  SENSE ORGANS START FUNCTIONING

  SPEND MORE TIME FOR YOGA

  INCREASE PRANAYAMA

  INCREASE CHANTINGS

  BE CHERFUL & RELAXED

REDUCE WORK LOAD

4-6 Months

Stable period

• Growth of Baby – All organs increase in weight.

• Mother’s health picks up – weight increases.

III TRIMESTER (7 – 9 MONTHS)

 

  YOGA – MOST ASANAS CANNOT BE PERFORMED

  SHAVASANA – LEFT LATERAL POSITION

  ADD BADHA KONASANA BY 36 WEEKS

  FOETUS : MATURES

  AIMS – PREPARE FOR ENJOYABLE LABOUR

  BACK PAIN

  SWELLING OF LEGS

  BODY ACHES & PAINS

  ANXIETY ABOUT LABOUR

  PROBLEMS IN MOTHER

      PREGNANCY HYPERTENSION

      DIABETES

      IUGR

      PRE MATURE LABOUR

  MEDITATION ON “OM” 10 MINUTES 3 TIMES A DAY

7-9 Months

• Growth – Variability.

Risk – Growth retardation, premature birth.

MOTHER

• High BP

Protein in urine

Swelling of legs

• Diabetes – Back pain.

• Anemia.

PET

LABOUR

  I STAGE:- CONTRACTION – PAINS FOR DILATATION OF CERVIX & DESCENT OF BABY

  INCREASED ANALGESIC REQUIREMENT

  INCOORDINATE UTERINE ACTIVITY

  PROLONGED LABOUR

  FOETAL DISTRESS – INCREASED C. SECTION

  ABDOMINAL BREATHING – NADISHUDDHI

  NADANUSANDHANA – POORNAMADAH

  RELAX – IRT - CONSERVE ENERGY

YOGA AFTER DELIVERY

II STAGE:- BIRTH OF THE BABY

  MOTHER – ANXIETY – PROLONGED LABOUR – INSTRUMENTAL DELIVERY – C SECTION

  RESPIRATORY DIFFUCULTY IN NEW BORN

  ANTAR KUMBHAKA – DRT

  STRENGTHEN ABDOMINAL MUSCLES

  STRENGTHEN FLOOR OF THE PERINEAM

  AVOID OBESITY

  ENJOY NURSING

IAYT

Avoid all dynamic asanas – Risk of abortion

Avoid Prone Postures – Shalabhasana & Dhanurasana

Emphasize

Vamanadhouti in the morning –for morning sickness.

1-3 Months

To avoid abortion

- Viparitkarani with chair/wall support.

- Deep abdominal breathing

- AAA chanting

Repeat 3 times

YOGASANAS

IAYT Basic set

Avoid – Dynamic asanas

- Go on decreasing the difficult asanas

- Increase breathing practice.

4-6 Months – Aim – Maintain steady growth

YOGASANAS

Avoid

- Dynamic asanas - Prone postures

- Forward bends - Acute back bends

Because of increasing size of abdomen

Add: Butterfly exercise (Badha konasana) to open the neck of womb in 8th & 9th months for easy delivery.

7-9 Months – Aim – Prepare for easy natural delivery

Practices for koshas

Manomaya/Vignanamaya

Life of Contentment

Joy

Relaxed lifestyle

Reduce workload

Meditation – OM

Read good books

Emotions of mother affects the fetus

Stress – Reduced blood flow fetus is distressed.

Growth decrease

Fetal fatigue at labour.

Listen to good music

Chant loudly

Poornamadah

Mrityunjaya Mantra

Japa

MODULE OF YOGA PRACTICE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN1-3 3-6 6-9 1-3 3-6 6-

9

LOOSENING EXERCISES ASANAS (PRONE) Hands Stretch/ Side Stretch Bhujanga Hands in / out Salabha Ankle Stretch Savasana Left lateral Forward/ Backward Bending ASANAS (SITTING) Side Bending Vajrasana (thunderbolt) Twisting Malasana (squatting) Neck Release Baddha Kona Shoulder Release Ardha-Ustra BREATHING EXERCISES Sasanka Tiger Breathing Vakra Rabbit Breathing Ardha-Matsyendra Dog Breathing Pascimottana Sasankasana Breathing PRANAYAMA ASANAS (STANDING) Nadi Suddhi Ardhakati cakra UjjyiArdha cakra Sectional Breathing Padahasta Sitali/ Sitkari/ Sadanta Prasarita Padahasta RELAXATION TECHNIQUES ASANAS (SUPINE) Instant relaxation (IRT) ST Leg Raising Alternate Deep relaxation (DRT) ST Leg Raising Both Legs GAZING TECHNIQUES Viparita karani (Wall support) Jyothi Trataka Matsya MEDITATION Savasana OM – AAA, UUU, MMM

During delivery

Prepare – Look forward to enjoy your baby

DRT – To relax in between

Kumbhaka – To bear down

QRT, IRT – To calm down.

Enjoy pain by defocusing practice.

Post delivery

AIM – To maintain your weight

To strengthen the abdominal muscles

Diet – High fibre

High fluid intake

Yoga – Go on adding all practices after bleeding stops