Ayurveda is an invaluable gift that India has given to the world. It guides every element of human existence and so much of it has been written thousands of years ago with nothing but pure experience and deep knowledge. Garbha Sanskar is one such important element of Ayurveda. Garbha means womb and Sanskar means to impart values, hence the practice of Garbha Sanskar essentially aims to programme a child within the womb itself. For example, a child brought up in the home of a musician or literature lover will grow up with musical abilities or will be fond of reading. This is because the child is repeatedly exposed to such a culture.
The process of Garbha Sanskar starts as soon as a couple decides to bring a life into this world. The whole idea of it is to create a healthy, divine and safe womb for the baby. Garbha Sanskar trains the parents-to-be to constantly instil positivity, confidence, health & brilliance in their mindset and the baby in the womb. Such a practice increases the possibility of a child absorbing these virtues on a much deeper level and having a great emotional bond with its parents. The newborns sleep soundly for a good amount of time and also do not fall sick very often. Most importantly, in future, such children are blessed with great health, a kind personality and often, extraordinary intelligence.
Richa Shet Talauliker is one of the leading experts in the field of Garbha Sanskar, Nutrition and Dietetics in Goa. Holding a master's degree in this field, she practises in different hospitals across Goa and the globe through online consultations. Dr Talauliker explained that a big part of a baby’s emotional and mental development takes place in the womb itself, and is highly influenced by the mother's state of mind and her surroundings.
Garbha Sanskar covers everything right from laying strong foundations in healthy eating habits before conception and during pregnancy, bonding with the baby in the womb, positive thinking, exercise, meditation and channelling one’s creativity. “All of these are simple yet can do wonders for the overall health of the fetus and the mother,” she said. Garbha Sanskar is highly effective in reducing maternal stress, anxiety, medical comorbidities, chances of operative deliveries and gives better neonatal outcomes in terms of growth and birth weight.
Garbhasanwad refers to talking to the baby in the womb. Dr Talauliker affirms that this little habit is magical and recommends it strongly to not only the mother but also her partner. “Share your feelings with the baby, sing, read stories to your baby. Gently massage the baby bump and also respond to kicks,” she said. “At first you might find it bizarre, but over time you will cherish this bonding the most,” she added further.
She explained that the mother should always try to stay in the best mental state. She needs to meditate, talk positively and gently with the baby, and engage in spiritual activities or do anything that touches her heart in a wholesome manner. Further, it is important to be mindful of everything she is putting in her body and eat clean, fresh food. Smoking, alcohol and all other substance consumption should be stopped, both by the mother and her partner. Just like humans, the foetus too can be affected by passive smoking.
Dr Talauliker emphasises strongly on the women's mental health because ailments like depression, anxiety or stress can severely impact her bonding with the baby. “Family members should be extremely kind, gentle and take utmost care of the pregnant woman and her mental health. They have to ensure a positive environment around her, both physically and mentally,” she remarked.
Garbha Sanskar also magnifies the value of Yoga among pregnant women. Yoga significantly helps to reduce shortness of breath which is very common during pregnancy. It also increases flexibility and improves blood supply to the fetus. Mediation reduces insomnia during pregnancy, which is a big stress relief for the mother.
Spirituality is an important aspect of Garbha Sanskar. The expecting mother is encouraged to listen to and watch spiritual and motivational content. Reading Bhagavad Geeta helped Dr Talauliker to remain calm and happy throughout her pregnancy. She advises all expecting mothers to read holy books and other scriptures of their choice, as it brings unparalleled peace and makes a difference in their mental state. Chanting reduces anxiety and helps in bringing self-awareness.
She further shared her personal experience where during her pregnancy, she would recite Ramraksha Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa every day along with many others. Now, her baby is about 9 months and he instantly smiles when he sees lord Krishna in a temple or on the television. When she recites Stotras, he listens to it attentively despite how fussy, moody or busy he is. “We never made conscious efforts to get him to react this way. But it is my emotional bond with the scriptures that is passed down to him while I carried him in my womb for 9 months,” she revealed joyfully.
Richa Shet Talauliker is one of the leading experts in the field of Garbha Sanskar, Nutrition and Dietetics in Goa. Holding a master's degree in this field, she practises in different hospitals across Goa and the globe through online consultations. Dr Talauliker explained that a big part of a baby’s emotional and mental development takes place in the womb itself, and is highly influenced by the mother's state of mind and her surroundings.
Garbha Sanskar covers everything right from laying strong foundations in healthy eating habits before conception and during pregnancy, bonding with the baby in the womb, positive thinking, exercise, meditation and channelling one’s creativity. “All of these are simple yet can do wonders for the overall health of the fetus and the mother,” she said. Garbha Sanskar is highly effective in reducing maternal stress, anxiety, medical comorbidities, chances of operative deliveries and gives better neonatal outcomes in terms of growth and birth weight.
Garbhasanwad refers to talking to the baby in the womb. Dr Talauliker affirms that this little habit is magical and recommends it strongly to not only the mother but also her partner. “Share your feelings with the baby, sing, read stories to your baby. Gently massage the baby bump and also respond to kicks,” she said. “At first you might find it bizarre, but over time you will cherish this bonding the most,” she added further.
She explained that the mother should always try to stay in the best mental state. She needs to meditate, talk positively and gently with the baby, and engage in spiritual activities or do anything that touches her heart in a wholesome manner. Further, it is important to be mindful of everything she is putting in her body and eat clean, fresh food. Smoking, alcohol and all other substance consumption should be stopped, both by the mother and her partner. Just like humans, the foetus too can be affected by passive smoking.
Dr Talauliker emphasises strongly on the women's mental health because ailments like depression, anxiety or stress can severely impact her bonding with the baby. “Family members should be extremely kind, gentle and take utmost care of the pregnant woman and her mental health. They have to ensure a positive environment around her, both physically and mentally,” she remarked.
Garbha Sanskar also magnifies the value of Yoga among pregnant women. Yoga significantly helps to reduce shortness of breath which is very common during pregnancy. It also increases flexibility and improves blood supply to the fetus. Mediation reduces insomnia during pregnancy, which is a big stress relief for the mother.
Spirituality is an important aspect of Garbha Sanskar. The expecting mother is encouraged to listen to and watch spiritual and motivational content. Reading Bhagavad Geeta helped Dr Talauliker to remain calm and happy throughout her pregnancy. She advises all expecting mothers to read holy books and other scriptures of their choice, as it brings unparalleled peace and makes a difference in their mental state. Chanting reduces anxiety and helps in bringing self-awareness.
She further shared her personal experience where during her pregnancy, she would recite Ramraksha Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa every day along with many others. Now, her baby is about 9 months and he instantly smiles when he sees lord Krishna in a temple or on the television. When she recites Stotras, he listens to it attentively despite how fussy, moody or busy he is. “We never made conscious efforts to get him to react this way. But it is my emotional bond with the scriptures that is passed down to him while I carried him in my womb for 9 months,” she revealed joyfully.
