Sutika Paricharya - Post Natal Care in Ayurveda

Abstract

Ayurveda give importance for the care of mother at every phase of her life specially when it comes to antenatal care and postnatal care. A postnatal period beginning immediately after the separation of placenta and extending up to 6 weeks, otherwise called as puerperium or puerperal period. Postnatal care certainly co-related with Sutika Paricharya explained in Ayurvedic classics. Garbhini and Sutika Paricharya are well described by our Ancient Ayurvedic scholars in their respective Samhitas. They have described dietary regimen, living style, and other required management for whole pregnancy and up to 6 month after delivery. In this stage mother should be educated to take care of herself and the new born baby. This period is of happiness and contentment, on one hand and physical and mental fatigue due to delivery, on the other hand, she become weak or emaciated after loss of blood and body fluid during delivery. Garbhini is much prone to the disease due to aggravation of Doshas. This further may be aggravated during delivery and puerperium due to loss of blood and other important Dhatus of body. Therefore she needs special and proper care during pregnancy as well as during puerperium. The regimen that helps the woman to regain her lost vitality and helps her body to revert back to prepregnant state is called Sutika Paricharya, as during this period she restores her health and strength.