Pregnancy

During the time of pregnancy a women should not engage in stressful activities as much as possible. She should refrain from emotional stress and strain as much as possible and those around her should provide her with a calm and secure atmosphere for in this time she is most susceptible. She should avoid being in the presence of psychic conflict or argumentation as much as possible. So if she is around those who are bickering or of ill will, she should get away from such people and such situations if possible. It is important that she keep her mind in a calm state of equanimity ideating always upon the supreme and thinking sweet and loving thoughts as much as possible.

Now during this time there are many physiological changes occurring that create a certain psychic disturbance, Many women may feel an emotional disturbance in which they are feeling angry or fearful or despondent from time to time. The emotions go up and down more than in the norm. So to combat this, a woman should take a walk every day in a peaceful and lovely place of nature. If possible, two walks a day for one mile in the trees, in the woods, along a stream, in a place that is peaceful, harmonious and conducive to pleasant thoughts. It should be taken unless the woman is having some difficulty that makes her unable to do the walk. If she can do the walk it is good for her health. Even in the later stage she can even walk one block and it is good for her as long as the walk is not in the city noise or in dirty streets. It needs to be in a sweet and peaceful environment and to be a gentle walk, not a fast walk. This is very good for clearing the thoughts and balancing the disruptive emotions. And for physical health it is important to make sure there is plenty of fine food, not so oily, easily digestible, in small amounts, never a large meal but frequent small amounts to keep the digestion at ease. Particularly during the early stages of pregnancy it is important that small amounts of food are taken at regular intervals so that the digestive system is kept at ease.

Also the woman should get maximum rest. She should not strain herself if at all possible. She should not be overworked in the house or in the job. In both places, she should take her pace leisurely and avoid strenuous work and take small breaks at regular intervals so she takes care for herself and her baby, keep her thoughts high and subtle and rest whenever she is tired. These things are important for the pregnant woman.

There is one other thing that a woman may do when she is pregnant which will benefit both her and her unborn child. She should do kirtan at least once and up to four times daily singing the name of God, chanting the name of God and thinking only of the supreme, surrendering her all unto the divine. This kirtan should be followed by brief sadhana. This should be done on a regular basis from the early pregnancy throughout and it will bring many benefits both psychic and spiritual.

Let the woman who is pregnant have maximum support so that she need not stress and strain herself but feel that she is safe and secure cared for by her husband and those around her. Let her not have to take burdens and worry as much as possible. She should be alleviated from worries.

In pregnancy when food cravings come it means she is lacking in her diet and she should take the food that will help her but it is not eggs she needs. Let her take instead the milk of a cow. She is lacking in protein. She has the need for this food and must be accommodated but that does not mean tamasic foods are required. She should increase dairy and other protein sources. It will help her and she will gain in strength.

During pregnancy a woman who is not practicing Brahma sadhana may do relaxation techniques, simple breathing practices to relax the body as much as possible. During pregnancy all of the muscles in the pelvic region must expand a great deal and all of these organs will grow and develop. The uterus comes from the size of a very big toe and grows so large! So you can imagine how much these cellular structures are changing, growing and all the muscles that have supported this little uterus must grow and grow and grow. All of the organs must change. It requires a great deal of flexibility. So as much as possible the woman should learn relaxation, practice techniques for relaxation, deep breathing, different breathing techniques to relax the body, to allow the muscles to open, to expand, to breathe into the abdomen, to allow the tensions be released.

It is best if Brahma sadhana is done during pregnancy, so that both mother and child are caught in the sweet ideation upon the Great. It is a great benefit to the incoming foetus and to the body of the mother.

If there is no pressure applied to the abdomen and nothing that would be physically uncomfortable for the woman, then the arousal of sexual feelings is beneficial, because it will help to relax and open the pelvic regions. But if she is in any way fighting this experience, it will lock the muscles even more, then I would not advise it. But if she is able to surrender and there is no physical discomfort, and the male is sensitive to her condition, so that he does not hurt her in any way, then it may be helpful.

Q. When does the spirit of the child enter the womb?

When a child is conceived, there is a uniting of a physical structure to form a separate physical expression. That expression then grows, but the psycho-spiritual bond with the developing entity is made prior to the conception, in the samskaric patterning and the interplay of the psychic forces.

When conception occurs, that entity attaches itself to the psychophysical plane and remains near the developing structure. In other words, at conception the psychophysical bond is formed. Prior to conception, the psycho-spiritual patterning is established. So the spirit may enter the body at an early stage, it may enter at birth, or even may even then keep some distance until maturation comes.

So a developing entity acquiring a new physical structure may be reticent to fully enter that physical structure or they may enter early in the physical development. Either way they are attached to that structure by a psychophysical bond. Appropriate samskaric patterning is developed, appropriate physiology is found.

If a developing entity is inclined to physical expression, they may enter at an early stage. If they are less inclined to physical expression they may keep a cord but not enter, even for some years. As mind matures in a developing structure, then they must enter or eventually the structure will die. But when to enter is the choice of a particular developing entity. However, they are attached by a psychophysical cord to that physical structure which they have gotten.