Eighth Month Development of Fetus According to Ayurveda: Different Texts, Different Opinions

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

AIAPGET Points

Development of fetus in 8th month – Ayurveda

– Charaka Samhita – The fetus is still immature. The ojas moves from mother to fetus and fetus to mother. The to-and-fro movement of ojas takes place through rasavaha srotas. Due to this, the pregnant woman frequently becomes happy or dull (exhausted). The same events happen in the fetus also. Due to the instability of ojas, birth of the child in this month is harmful to the child and the child would die after birth.

– Sushruta Samhita – ASTHIRI BHAVATI OJAHA – Ojas is unstable. The child will die soon after death. The death of the child is also attributed to NAIRUTA. Therefore, MAMSA ODANA BALI should be given to NAIRUTA.

– Ashtanga Hridaya – KSHIRA PEYA mixed with GHRTA should be given (to the mother) for drinking. Anuvasana Vasti should be given using MADHURA GANA SIDDHA GHRTA. Mulakadi Niruha Vasti (Mulaka, Kola, Amla, paste of Satahva, Taila, Ghrta, Saindhava). Purpose of Vasti – PURANA SHAKRT SHUDDHAYE.

– Ashtanga Sangraha – Analogy for death of the child immediately after birth – Due to absence / instability of ojas, the fetus may come out, breathe only for a short duration of time due to the activity of ojas and then die. CHINNASYA IVA ANGA – just like the movements observed in a severed limb for a few minutes.

– Ashtanga Sangraha – The death of the fetus born during the 8th month is due to the influence of NAIRUTA. The expectant woman should take bath every day and maintain cleanliness, abstain from sex and get indulged in worshipping Gods and offer MAMSA ODANA BALI – oblations of meat and rice.

– Kashyapa Samhita – JATHARAGNI develops.

– Garbhopanishad – the child will be SARVA SAMPURNA – completely formed with all features.

Modern Embryology

– Week 29 – POKES are noticed by the mother in place of KICKS & JABS (due to the fetus getting cramped in the amniotic sac).

– Week 30 – the child would control its own body heat. The brain is maturing and rapidly growing.

– Week 31 – fetus processes more information and stimuli. More distinctive patterns can probably be noticed which shows if the child is awake or asleep.

– Week 32 – the skin of the fetus is no more translucent. Most organs, except lungs and brain are well formed and the child is ready for birth.

– The fetus is about 17-18 inches in length and weighs about 5 pounds.

In this article we shall have a look at different opinions of different acharyas regarding the development of the fetus in the eighth month of pregnancy, in Ayurveda treatises.

Development of Fetus in the eighth month of pregnancy – Different Opinions of Different Acharyas in Different Treatises

Charaka Samhita

In the eighth month the fetus and the mother from the mother to the fetus are repeatedly given to each other by the vessels that deprive them of the taste, since the fetus is incomplete [३५] |

Therefore then the pregnant woman is again and again happy and again and again pale, and so is the womb; Therefore then the birth of the fetus is disturbed, because the energy is not stable

Considering that very meaning, the experts say that the eighth month is insignificant.||24||

In the eighth month, the fetus is still immature. Due to this, the ojas moves from mother to the fetus and from fetus to the mother. This to-and-fro movement of ojas takes place through the rasavaha srotas – channels transporting nutritive fluid. Due to this, the pregnant woman frequently becomes happy or dull (exhausted). The same thing happens with the fetus too. The birth (delivery) of the child in the eighth month is said to be harmful to the child because of the instability of ojas. As a result, the experts do not consider the eighth month fit for labor.

Sushruta Samhita

In the eighth house the energy becomes unsteady, and if he is born there he does not live because he is not healthy and because he is in the northwest, then one should offer him a sacrifice of meat and food. Su.Sha.3/2

The ojas is asthira (unstable) in the eighth month of gestation. The child born in this month will not live (will die). It will die soon after birth. This is also attributed to Nairuta i.e. a kind of malignant monster. Therefore, in the eighth month of pregnancy, meat offerings should be given to the demons and monsters.

Ashtanga Hridaya

In the eighth house, the mother and son move about again and again, one after another. 62 ॥ That’s why they’re both faint and happy, and the one born there doesn’t live. A woman may be suspicious of her child’s pregnancy. 63 ॥ A.Hr.1/62-63

The ojas moves (travels) from mother to child and child to mother alternatively during the eighth month. Due to this, both the mother and child become fatigued and contended respectively. The child born in the eighth month will not survive. Similarly, the life of the expectant mother is also doubtful because of the absence of ojas.

The drinks here are milk and ghee, and the dressing is ghee. It was prepared with sweet ingredients for purifying the Purāṇas 64॥ It is recommended with dry roots, cola, acid and alkali. Śataḥvā, lime, gout, oil, ghee and sandalwood. 65 ॥ (A.Hr.1/64, 65)

During this month, kshira-peya i.e. thin gruel prepared with milk should be given to the expectant mother for drinking. Ghee should be added to the peya prepared with milk. Likewise, Anuvasana Vasti should be administered using ghee prepared with madhura gana – sweet tasting herbs and it is said to be beneficial. Similarly, decoction enema should be administered using decoction prepared with dry mulaka, kola, amla, mixed with paste of satahva, oil, ghee and saindhava is ideal to expel the old faeces.

Ashtanga Sangraha

In the eighth stage the embryo and the mother repeatedly pass on the semen from the mother to the fetus through the vessels that carry the taste. Therefore, when the pregnant woman is repeatedly happy, so is the pregnancy. Thus, the birth of the fetus is a traumatic event. Because the energy is not stable. Similarly, when one is about to leave the body, one experiences changes and other things, and one is separated from the body by the same energy. Although it may be breathing for a while, it is as if the body has been cut off and the energy of the body has been restored. The mother, however, with her steady energy in one place, is depressed when she is in contact with the taste.

Ojas keeps moving frequently between foetus and mother and mother and foetus, through rasa transporting channels during the eighth month. The mother will become sometimes cheerful and exhausted at some other time. The fetus too will have similar experience. The delivery of the fetus may become abnormal due to instability of ojas in the eighth month.

The fetus may assume difficult postures (positions) during the course of its movement outwards. This would happen due to the absence of ojas. For the same reason, the fetus may come out, breathe only for a short duration of time due to the activity of ojas and then die, just like the movements observed in a severed limb for a few minutes. Since the ojas is unstable and moves between the pregnant woman’s body and fetus along with rasa, she would only undergo exhaustion.

Others repeat. Because it is the southwestern part of the body, the fetus dies there. Therefore, to prevent childbirth, a woman should be clean, celibate and devoted to the worship of the demigods. The sacrifice of meat and food should be offered here

According to some other opinions, the death of a fetus born during the eighth month is due to the influence of Nairuta (evil spirit, demon). The expectant woman should take bath every day and maintain cleanliness. She should also abstain from sexual activities and get indulged in worshiping gods, offering oblations of meat and rice. She should do all these things to prevent delivery.

Kashyapa Samhita

In the eighth month of pregnancy, the ojas becomes agile and remains unstable due to the maturity of the fetus. It moves from mother to foetus and foetus to the mother through the channels transporting rasa. Due to this instability of ojas and its to-and-fro movement, the mother and foetus become alternately happy or dull. They will be happy when ojas is present and dull when it has gone to the other side.

Life becomes doubtful if the child is delivered this month. If the ojas is present in the mother at the time of delivery, the child would die. If the ojas is in the child, the life of the mother may be in danger and she may die. Therefore, the wise physicians do not consider this month as appropriate for delivery of the child.

Harita Samhita

In the eighth month of pregnancy, there is development of Jatharagni – digestive fire in the child.

Bhavaprakasha

9th to 12th month is the duration of Prasava Kala – delivery of the child.

Garbhopanishad

In the eighth month, the child will be sarva sampurna i.e. completely formed with all features.

According to Modern Embryology

Development of fetus in the eighth month of pregnancy

There is continued maturity of the fetus. Body fat reserves in the body of the fetus also develop further. It is during this time that there is rapid brain development in the child. It can hear and see most stimuli. There is also a good development of internal systems. The lungs may still be immature.

Week 29 – The mother may notice the pokes now which were previously experienced as kicks and jabs due to the fetus getting cramped in the amniotic sac.

Week 30 – In this week, the fetus would control its own body heat. The brain is maturing and rapidly growing.

Week 31 – More information and stimuli will be processed by the fetus in this week. More distinct patterns suggesting if the child is awake or asleep can probably be noticed.

Week 32 – The skin of the fetus is not translucent anymore. Most organs are well formed and ready for birth, other than the lungs and brain.

In the eighth month, the fetus is about 17-18 inches in length and weighs as much as 5 pounds.