Changes

==Defective genital organs and supportive structures in mother ==

==Defective genital organs and supportive structures in mother ==

Excellence of uterus/female reproductive tract (kshetra) is an essential factor for the normal growth and development of fetus. The accessory structures like placenta (apara) and umbilical cord(nabhi nadi) also play a great role in nourishment of fetus(garbha poshana). Any defect in these structural entities certainly affects the fetus and may lead to some congenital deformities.

Excellence of uterus/female reproductive tract (kshetra) is an essential factor for the normal growth and development of fetus. The accessory structures like placenta (apara) and umbilical cord(nabhi nadi) also play a great role in nourishment of fetus(garbha poshana). Any defect in these structural entities certainly affects the fetus and may lead to some congenital deformities.

===Environmental/ Epigenetic Factors===

===Environmental/ Epigenetic Factors===

Role of time factor (kala)

'''Role of time factor (kala)'''

 

The term time (kala) can be interpreted in many ways.

The term time (kala) can be interpreted in many ways.

• Seasonal variation which is divided in to two in the basic manner as northward movement of the sun (adana kala) and southward movement of the sun  (visarga kala) and their effects on the growth and development of fetus may be considered here.  

 

• Age of the parents: The minimum age for achievement of successful conception is described as twenty five for male and sixteen for female. Since both the partners are full of valour and vigor at this age, the born child also possesses these qualities. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 35/13].  It is recommended that very young and very old women should not be impregnated. [Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/6]. The consequences of not following the recommended age of parents include intrauterine death of fetus, neonatal death, ill health and deformed body parts of  the child.[A. S. Sharira Sthana 1/5]

*Seasonal variation which is divided in to two in the basic manner as northward movement of the sun (adana kala) and southward movement of the sun  (visarga kala) and their effects on the growth and development of fetus may be considered here.  

 

*'''Age of the parents:''' The minimum age for achievement of successful conception is described as twenty five for male and sixteen for female. Since both the partners are full of valour and vigor at this age, the born child also possesses these qualities. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 35/13].  It is recommended that very young and very old women should not be impregnated. [Cha. Sa. [[Sharira Sthana]] 8/6]. The consequences of not following the recommended age of parents include intrauterine death of fetus, neonatal death, ill health and deformed body parts of  the child.[A. S. Sharira Sthana 1/5]

 

Pregnancy in very young age causes premature births. Aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome number) is the principal hereditary abnormality associated with either parental age. Risk increases logarithmically with advancing parental age; at age 40, the risk is about 2%. In Down's syndrome, maternal age is a primary factor, but occasionally the father can be implicated.  

Pregnancy in very young age causes premature births. Aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome number) is the principal hereditary abnormality associated with either parental age. Risk increases logarithmically with advancing parental age; at age 40, the risk is about 2%. In Down's syndrome, maternal age is a primary factor, but occasionally the father can be implicated.  

• Day of sexual intercourse:  As per the menstrual cycle of the women, proliferative phase (rutukala) is considered as the most fertile period. During the bleeding phase of menstrual cycle, coitus is prohibited.  Acharya sushruta has explained the consequences of coitus in first three days of menstrual cycle as below.[Su. Sa .Sharira sthana 2/31]

 

Menstrual Day Effect on the child

*'''Day of sexual intercourse:''' As per the menstrual cycle of the women, proliferative phase (rutukala) is considered as the most fertile period. During the bleeding phase of menstrual cycle, coitus is prohibited.  Acharya sushruta has explained the consequences of coitus in first three days of menstrual cycle as below.[Su. Sa .Sharira sthana 2/31]

First No pregnancy or pseudocyesis, intrauterine death or death immediately after delivery

Second Either abortion or intrauterine death or death immediately after birth or within a few days of delivery

Third Deficient or defective body parts and short lived.

!Menstrual Day!! Effect on the child

|First || No pregnancy or pseudocyesis, intrauterine death or death immediately after delivery

|Second ||Either abortion or intrauterine death or death immediately after birth or within a few days of delivery

|Third ||Deficient or defective body parts and short lived.

===Psychological and behavioral factors===

===Psychological and behavioral factors===

It is mentioned that pleasant state of mind is the prime requirement for conception. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 25/40]  

It is mentioned that pleasant state of mind is the prime requirement for conception. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 25/40]  

• Contra indications for sexual intercourse

*'''Contra indications for sexual intercourse'''

It is recommended to avoid sexual intercourse when either of the partners is suffering from hunger, thirst etc. or frightened, averse, sorrow-stricken, angry, not in good relationship with the partner, not having desire for sex or having excessive desire for sex. These mental status during the act of coitus adversely affect the conception as well as the quality of offspring. [Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 8/17]

 

• Non observance of regimens during menstruation (Rajaswala Paricharya)

It is recommended to avoid sexual intercourse when either of the partners is suffering from hunger, thirst etc. or frightened, averse, sorrow-stricken, angry, not in good relationship with the partner, not having desire for sex or having excessive desire for sex. These mental status during the act of coitus adversely affect the conception as well as the quality of offspring. [Cha. Sa. [[Sharira Sthana]] 8/17]

 

*N'''on observance of regimens during menstruation (Rajaswala Paricharya)'''

 

There are some activities which are recommended to be avoided during bleeding phase of menstrual cycle and the after-effect of non-observance of these regimens by the lady is said to be reflected on the future progeny. [Su. Sa. Sharira Sthana 2/25]

There are some activities which are recommended to be avoided during bleeding phase of menstrual cycle and the after-effect of non-observance of these regimens by the lady is said to be reflected on the future progeny. [Su. Sa. Sharira Sthana 2/25]

Don’ts during menstruation Possible defects/abnormalities in future child  

Sleeping during day time

(divaswapna) Over sleepy

|Don’ts during menstruation || Possible defects/abnormalities in future child  

Use of collyrium (anjana) Blind

Weeping / Crying ( rodana) Visual disturbance

|Sleeping during day time(divaswapna)|| Over sleepy

Massage (abhyanga) Skin disorders

Nail pairing (nakhakartana) Deformity in nails

|Use of collyrium (anjana) ||Blind

Chasing / Running (dhavana) Reckless, indecisive  

Excessive Laughing Discoloration (black) of teeth, lips and tongue

|Weeping / Crying ( rodana)|| Visual disturbance

Indulging in long conversations Over talkative nature

Listening of different kinds of loud voices Deaf

|Massage (abhyanga) || Skin disorders

Excessive combing of hairs Bald

Nasal instillation of medicine (nasya) Menstrual abnormalities (in female child)

|Nail pairing (nakhakartana) || Deformity in nails

Excessive Exposure to draughts and exertion Insanity

|Chasing / Running (dhavana)|| Reckless, indecisive  

|Excessive Laughing || Discoloration (black) of teeth, lips and tongue

|Indulging in long conversations || Over talkative nature

|Listening of different kinds of loud voices ||Deaf

|Excessive combing of hairs || Bald

|Nasal instillation of medicine (nasya) || Menstrual abnormalities (in female child)

|Excessive Exposure to draughts and exertion || Insanity

 

 

==During Antenatal Period==

==During Antenatal Period==

===Physical Factors===

===Physical Factors===