Pregnancy Stage

Ayurveda reserves a separate category for all the pregnancy issues, including pregnancy stages, which is known as “Garbhini Vyakaran.” This detailed knowledge of ayurveda pregnancy talks about all- pregnancy diet, physical and emotional changes in the pregnant woman, physical as well as mental activities for her and the like. They are called 'Ahar' (food), 'Vihar' (activities), 'Achar' (behaviour), and 'Vichar' (thinking). The week by week pregnancy and the development of baby in the pregnant woman's womb is referred to as 'Garbhavakranti.' Ayurveda explains the stages of formation of embryo through 'Garbhavakranti sarira adhyaya' (formation of the foetus). Special regimens have been advised by Ayurveda for each month of pregnancy stages under 'Garbhini Paricharya' meaning service rendered to the pregnant woman. Generally, Ayurveda recommends taking greater care during the first three months or the first trimester of pregnancy and after the completion of the seventh month, that is, in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy trimesters are the common criteria for describing pregnancy stages. Pregnancy is considered to have started from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP) and it normally lasts for roughly about 40 weeks (from pregnancy conception to the birth of the baby). Pregnancy stages are divided into three trimesters- first trimester, second trimester and third trimester.

First Trimester Pregnancy- 1st Week to 12th Week of Pregnancy

The first trimester pregnancy lasts from first week of pregnancy till the 12th week of pregnancy. In the early pregnancy stages, the woman might experience certain pregnancy symptoms which includes tiredness, tender, swollen breasts, morning sickness and cravings or distaste for certain foods among others. In the 4th week of pregnancy, heart, brain and spinal cord of the baby begins taking shape. Arm and leg buds also appear and the fetus becomes 1/25 of an inch long. In the 8th week of pregnancy, all the major organs and external body forms start taking shape. Heart of the baby beats with a regular rhythm. The arms and legs of the baby become longer and fingers and toes also start forming. Internal sex organs are developed and the eyes move forward on the face as well as eyelids are formed. Now the umbilical cord can be clearly seen and at the end of 8 week, the baby appears more like a human being. Length of the baby at this pregnancy stage is about 1 inch long and weight is less than 1/8 of an ounce.

In the 12th week of pregnancy, the nerves and muscles of the baby start working in coordination as much as that the baby can now make a fist. External sex organs can be seen in the 12th week of pregnancy and it could be determined whether the baby is a boy or a girl. Eyelids at this pregnancy stage is closed in order to protect the developing eyes. The baby in the end of the pregnancy first trimester is about 3 inches long with a weight of about an ounce.

Second Trimester Pregnancy- 13th Week to 28th Week of Pregnancy

In the second trimester of pregnancy which lasts roughly from 13th to 28th week, the pregnancy symptoms that were experienced in the first trimester begin to fade away. Now the pregnancy could be seen externally with the abdomen of the pregnant woman expanding as the baby grows. In the 16th week of pregnancy, a more complete skeleton of the baby is formed with continual forming of muscle tissue, bones and skin. Meconium (the baby's first bowel movement) develops in its intestinal tract and the baby makes sucking motions with its mouth. Now the baby is around 4 to 5 inches long and weighs approximately 3 ounces. In the 20th week of pregnancy, the baby becomes more active and the mother could feel slight fluttering inside. Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails, and toenails of baby have all formed till the 20th week and it could now hear and swallow too. Baby' length reaches about 6 inches at this pregnancy stage and it now weighs about 9 ounces.
In the 24th week of pregnancy, baby's bone marrow start making blood cells. Taste buds of the baby develops and hair starts growing on its head. Baby's lungs are now formed, though not fully. Body clock of the baby is set which means that the baby sleeps and wakes regularly at particular times. If the baby is a boy, his testicles start moving from abdomen into the scrotum and if it is a girl, her uterus and ovaries are in place, and a lifetime supply of eggs form in the ovaries. The baby at this pregnancy stage is about 12 inches long with a weight of about 1½ pounds. At the end of the second trimester, the mother could feel the baby moving inside.

Third Trimester Pregnancy- 29th Week to 40th Week of Pregnancy

The third trimester of pregnancy lasts roughly from about 29th to 40th week of pregnancy (or till the birth of the baby that can be earlier or later than 40th week). Many pregnant women find breathing difficult at this pregnancy stage apart from feeling the urge to urinate more often than normal. These conditions appear because the baby gets larger and bigger and puts more pressure on mother's organs. In the 32nd week of pregnancy, the baby's bones are completely formed but they still remain soft. The kicks and jabs of the baby are forceful as compared to late 2nd trimester pregnancy stage. Eyes of baby could open and close while sensing changes in light. The body of the baby begins storing vital minerals like iron and calcium. The baby now is about 15 to 17 inches long and weighs about 4 to 4½ pounds.
In the 36th week of pregnancy, fat of the baby's body increases and it becomes larger enough to feel inconvenience in moving around. It is about 16 to 19 inches long at this pregnancy stage and weighs about 6 to 6½ pounds. During the few last weeks (by the end of 37th week of pregnancy), the baby gets fully developed to support its own organs. As the due date of delivery approaches, the baby might turn into a head-down position for birth. Most of the full term babies acquire a length of about 19 to 21 inches and a weight that range between 6 pounds and 9 pounds.

Apart from all the normal pregnancy stages as described by the modern science, Ayurveda also describes stages of labour. According to Ayurveda, there are four stages of pregnancy labor (delivery process of the child from the womb of the mother)- Prajayini; Upasthita Prasava; Prajayi Syamana; and Apara Patana. It also explains the signs of labour and gives certain tips for easy delivery of baby.