Path to Ideal Motherhood (Garbha Sanskar)

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Path to Ideal Motherhood is a complete guide on pre-conceptual counselling, pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy is to nurture a life within, where a would-be mother experiences physical, psychological, emotional and societal changes. A complete knowledge of pregnancy, and d sincere and positive effort by the would-be mother is what is required to make this journey an enriching experience, filled with fond memories. The book discusses and provides a detailed information on important facts of childbirth and pregnancy, lifestyle changes during pregnancy, along with the importance of breathing, nutrition, exercises, sleep, etc. The book also dictates the concept of Garbha Sanskar for a healthy baby. Ass young mother nurtures a young life, the book seeks to nurture the young mother towards an ideal path to motherhood.

Vasudha Jayant Athavale is an experienced gynaecologist and obstetrician. She is a medical graduate from the Government Medical College, Nagpur. She started her medical practice in 1973. She has worked with the underprivileged sections of the society in rural India and, with various NGOs and the Indian Medical Association to deliver awareness lectures in smaller villages and taluks. Through her training programs. she also educates young women on healthy pregnancy and childbirth. She has developed a counselling and training program for pregnant women and launched the Garbha Sanskar classes in Vidharbha, Maharashtra and Bhilai, Chattisgarh. She has written books on pregnancy (Snehankar Rujtanna and Sumata Bhav) in Marathi and Hindi along with a scientific childcare guide in both the languages. She was awarded the Dr Suresh Nadkarni Mites Mandal Award of the Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra in 2012.

When Snehankur Rujtana was published in Marathi in the year 2007, it received spontaneous appreciation from people from all walks of life. Future parents found this to be very useful for them. It was a guide to grandparents and all other close relatives of the new parents about their roles in the lives of the new family unit. Most have shown their gratitude to Dr Vasudha Athavale. Babies born were healthy, and parents were happy to see the physical, mental and psychological development of their babies. It was then obvious that the author's interaction with her students would take her study to new heights.

The publishing of Path to Ideal Motherhood heralds a period of joy. The content of the book is based on scientific principles and the layout is pleasant. It has concisely given the succinct knowledge of the subject This book offers the new parents a lot to learn. The entire family where a new baby is expected will benefit from this book. I would like to mention that the information given by Dr Vasudha Athavale for the mothers-to-be is immensely beneficial. The precise information regarding the physical changes, mental challenges, garbha sanskar, nutrition for pregnant women, exercises and requisite rest given in this book are all contextual. There is also information about breastfeeding, stem cells, family planning and infertility. I feel that this book is like a ready reckoner for all information required on the subject of childbirth.

I congratulate Dr Vasudha Athavale for her herculean effort in bringing out this book and wish her success in her chosen field.

Pre-pregnancy and womb initiation training programs are conducted in Bhilai in recent years. Approximately, 350 women have participated in this. They have given written feedbacks, which has been extremely encouraging.

All the participants have unanimously agreed that the training has helped them greatly. Proper diet and exercises have not only helped them during the pregnancy, but have also given them the required mental strength and stability during pregnancy and delivery. All babies born were found to be healthy. The percentage of normal deliveries was also high.

These days most women are educated and several are employed in professional fields. The modem lifestyle is replete with work reducing equipments such as washing machines, cooking appliances, vacuum cleaners, etc. Thus women do not have much strenuous physical work to do too. Therefore, proper physical exercise becomes more important. Also women have only one or two children and therefore, each pregnancy is precious. Every woman expects her pregnancy to be smooth, and delivery normal and easy. The baby is expected to be healthy.

For all these benefits, proper diet, exercises and daily routine in pregnancy are important. This information is given during the garbha sanskar sessions through lectures and demonstrations. In the Western countries, sessions during pregnancy are attended by both husband and wife. In India, we have added the principles of garbha sanskar to such sessions. These principles which were followed during the ancient period have been scientifically proven to be beneficial. The feedback received from participants and doctors has been overwhelmingly encouraging.

The results of these programs were so encouraging that Dr Athavale decided to spread their use across the country. The young generation definitely needs this program and it is also important to propagate this concept amongst more people for a healthier younger generation.

The credit for this effort entirely goes to Dr Vasudha Athavale. For the past 10 years she has consistently worked towards popularization of this concept in different cities, developing program content and conducting workshops. The sole objective of her effort has been to ensure more and more pregnant women benefit from this enriching program.

Through this book, Path to Ideal Motherhood, she wishes to reach out to women across the country and the world. My best wishes to this book and the effort.

The book titled Path to Ideal Motherhood is a treatise of proper motherhood. The writer is a medical professional having a scientific knowledge of the subject. She has efficiently explained the science of bearing a child for aspiring mothers in a simple language without going into medical jargon. Therefore, the book makes it easy for a lay person with little medical knowledge to understand responsibility of motherhood.

She has described physical and psychological setup of a woman to become mother, starting from preconception behaviour, how to maintain normal health during pregnancy as well as how to nurture the growing foetus is explained in details. It also covers physical and psychological changes experienced by woman during pregnancy. It also covers all aspects related to diet, exercise, yoga and stresses on the importance of sleep and right thinking process during pregnancy.

In the chapter related to yogic practices, the author has rightly included breathing exercises, pranayam as well as dhyan and yogasanas. During pregnancy, a woman has to practice asanas repeatedly rather than maintaining the posture for a longer period of time. Spine, pelvic region and perineal muscles are to be prepared for bearing the brunt of growing foetus and delivery. The writer has advocated yogic techniques for better child bearing.

When we think about today's social setup of nuclear families, there is lack of experienced advisors in the family when a lady conceives for the first time. A pregnant woman may not get sufficient rest in a nuclear family, as she may have to continue doing her job and the daily household work. This might sometimes become too much for the woman, and at times cause harm to her.

Lastly, a book like this with personal guidance will be a real boon to a pregnant woman, as it will help her to handle the physiologic stress of pregnancy.

I admire the efforts of the writer for bringing out such a masterly work that would be useful for both the mother and baby alike. I would advice cedi and every pregnant woman to read and practice these principles.

**Contents and Sample Pages**