Fourth 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 4th month – Ayurveda
– Charaka – Garbha attains STHIRATA, Garbhini experiences ADHIKA GURU GATRATA.
– Sushruta Samhita – All Anga-Pratyangas become clearly manifested. Chetana Dhatu becomes manifested due to CLEAR Development of the Foetal HRDAYA, because Hrdaya is the seat of Atma (Chetana Dhatu). This is the reason why the fetus expresses the desires related to Indriyarthas. In this month, pregnant women are called DAUHRIDINI. When desires of expectant women are not fulfilled, she would give birth to a child with many deformities like hunch-back, distortion of arms, lameness, inactivity, dwarf or distortion of eyes or without eyes.
– Ashtanga Hrdaya – All body parts are clearly manifest.
– Ashtanga Sangraha – Major and minor body parts (anga-pratyanga) are clearly manifested). GARBHA STHIRATA – stability of the fetus occurs.
– Kashyapa Samhita – Garbha Sthiratva. Anga Gaurava – in the pregnant woman.
– Harita Samhita – Shiras at 3 and half months and Loma Utpatti in fourth month.
– Garbhopanishad – Formation and development of Jathara and Kati
Modern Embryology
– Week 13 – bones, mainly those of arms, legs and skull harden. The skin is thin and transparent, and will get thicker soon.
– Week 14 – neck more defined, red blood cell formation in the spleen is in progress, sex becomes clearer, length – 3 ½ inches / 87 mm and weight about 45 grams / 1 ½ ounces.
– Week 15 – growth is quick, bone development continues, scalp hair pattern is forming.
– Week 16 – head is upright, eyes move slowly, ears reach final position, skin gets thicker, limb movements are coordinated, length – 4 ¾ inches (120 mm) and weight – 4 ounces (110 grams).
In this article we shall have a look at different opinions of different acharyas regarding the development of the fetus in the fourth month of pregnancy, in Ayurveda treatises.
Development of Fetus in the fourth month of pregnancy – Different Opinions of Different Acharyas in Different Treatises
Charaka Samhita
In the fourth month the pregnancy becomes stability, and therefore the pregnant woman is more than the heavy body, especially in particular.||20||
(Cha.Sha.4/20)
Sthiratvam Apadhyate – fetus attains stability
Guru Gatratvam Adhikam – the pregnant woman feels more Heaviness in her body due to the stability attained by the fetus
Sushruta Samhita
In the fourth, the division of all the limbs is manifested, and from the sense of the manifestation of the heart-heart, the consciousness is expressed; Why? Because it is a place. Therefore, in the fourth month, the pregnancy makes the intention of the sense objects. They also call a woman who is a two-hearted woman. A woman gives birth to a son, a hunchback, a hunchback, a dull, a dwarf, a distorted eyes, a distorted eyes. Therefore, whatever she wants, she should give it to her. She has obtained a mighty son who has obtained a mighty life and has a long life. 17 ।।
All the major and minor body parts of the body of the fetus become clearly manifested and demarcated.
The Cetana Dhatu (conscious, spirit, atma) becomes manifested and expressive of desires. This happens due to CLEAR DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEART OF THE FOETUS. The reason is that the heart is the seat of Atma. This is the reason why the foetus expresses the desires in the objects pertaining to the sense organs i.e. Indriyarthas.
DAUHRIDINI – Due to having two hearts i.e. one of hers and the other of the child in her womb, the pregnant woman (mother) is thereafter (from fourth month onwards) called Dauhridini – ‘the one with two hearts’.
The desires of the child are manifested in the form of ‘desires of the pregnant woman’. When these desires are not fulfilled, the pregnant woman would give birth to a child with many deformities like hunch back, distortion of arms, lameness, inactivity, dwarf or one with distorted eyes or with no eyes at all.
This is the reason why all desires of pregnant women should be fulfilled. She should be given whatever she desires to have. Her cravings should be fulfilled without neglecting them. Only when these desires are fulfilled, the pregnant woman would give birth to a child who will be valiant and have longevity of life.
The pregnant woman should be given with whichever indriyartha i.e. sense objects she prefers to take and desires to enjoy. If they are not given, they might trouble the fetus. When the objects of her desire are fulfilled, she would give birth to a son (child) endowed with good qualities.
When the desires of objects of sense organs are not fulfilled, the pregnant woman would give birth to a son (child) having many abnormalities and troubles in the related sense organs.
| Desire of pregnant woman (pregnancy longing) | Effect on the child |
| To see the king | A son who will be wealthy and virtuous will be born |
| Desire of wool or silk and ornaments | A son who will be fond of adorning himself with silk, wool or ornaments and also engaging in activities of love will be born |
| Staying in a hermitage | A son who will be highly disciplined and would keep himself engaged in virtuous acts will be born |
| See the idols of Gods | A son who will be like a devotee – follower of God will be born |
| Wild animals | A cruel son is born |
| Eat makes itself – iguana | A son who likes to sleep always and would cling on to the things he likes will be born |
| Eat cow meat | A son who will be strong and capable of enduring / tolerating all kinds of troubles will be born |
| Eat buffalo meat | A son who is brave, having reddish eyes and plenty of body hairs will be born |
| Eat boar meat | A son who is always sleepy and brave will be born |
| Eat deer meat | A son having strong thighs and who would always roam in forests will be born |
| Eat srmara (big deer) meat | A son who will always have an excited meat will be born |
| Eat meat of tittira bird | A son who will always be scared of something i.e. a timid son will be born |
| Any other thing not mentioned above, in relation to the body, behaviour or virtuous | A son who is of similar nature will be born |
The desires of a pregnant woman develop in her mind by the act of divine will (providence), just like the future happenings show up earlier, initiated by actions of the past and present lives.
Ashtanga Hridaya & Ashtanga Sangraha
In the fourth manifestation of the limbs
(A.H. Sha. 1/57).
Ashtanga Hrdaya – All parts of the body manifest distinctly (clearly manifest).
In the fourth, the division of the limbs and the limbs is stable and the manifest pregnancy is stable.
(A.S. Sha. 2/13).
Ashtanga Sangraha – Major and minor body parts get clearly manifested. Fetuses get stable.
Kashyapa Samhita
Acharya Kashyapa has specified Garbha Sthirata in the fourth month i.e. the foetus would become stable. The fetus becomes conspicuous without complications. The pregnant woman would experience heaviness in her body.
Harita Samhita
Acharya Harita has specified
– Appearance of Shiras – head at the point of three and a half month and
– Appearance of Loma – body hairs in the fourth month of pregnancy.
Garbhopanishad
Below mentioned structures are formed / developed –
– Jathara – belly, abdomen
– Kati Pradesh – pelvis
According to Modern Embryology
Development of fetus in fourth month of pregnancy
Week 13
Bones of the skeleton start hardening, mainly the long bones of the arms and legs and the bones in the skull.
The skin is thin and transparent which will start getting thicker soon.
Week 14
The baby’s neck becomes more defined.
In the spleen of the baby, formation of red blood cells is in progress.
This week, the sex of the baby will most likely become clearer.
Dimension – it is almost 3 and half inches (87 mm approximately) long from crown to rump.
Weight – about 45 grams or one and half ounces.
Week 15
The baby is quickly growing.
Bone development continues and they would soon be seen on ultrasound.
The scalp hair pattern of the baby is also forming.
Week 16
The baby’s head is upright.
The baby’s eyes can now slowly move.
The ears of the baby are about to reach their final position.
The skin is slowly getting thicker.
The limb movements of the baby are getting coordinated. They can be seen during ultrasound tests. The movements are too small to feel.
Dimensions – the baby is about 4 ¾ inches or 120 mm long from crown to rump.
Weight – about 4 ounces – 110 grams.
