Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
AIAPGET Points
Development of fetus in 7th month – Ayurveda
– Charaka – Garbha attains Sarva Bhava – all round development. Due to this, the pregnant woman becomes excessively exhausted (sarvakaraih klantatama bhavati).
– Sushruta – All major anga (major body parts) and pratyangas (minor body parts) become clearly developed (pravyaktataraha).
– Ashtanga Hridaya – the fetus is developed and well nourished in all parts.
– Ashtanga Sangraha – all parts of the foetus are completely developed.
– Kashyapa Samhita – all dhatus are completely formed and the foetus gets proper nourishment. All major body parts become conspicuous. Vata, Pitta and Kapha get completely associated with the whole body of the fetus. The pregnant woman feels extremely tired.
– Harita Samhita – No explanation about the fetal development in the 7th month of pregnancy.
– Garbhopanishat – jeevana samyukta i.e. life gets associated with the fetus.
Modern Embryology
– The fetus continues to mature, and reserves of body fat also develop. There is frequent change in the position of the fetus. Fetus responds to stimuli (sound, pain and light). Amniotic fluid begins to diminish.
– Week 25 – skin becomes less wrinkled and plumper due to more body fat and there is quick maturing of the nervous system.
– Week 26 – Fetus body makes melanin. Surfactant starts forming in the lungs and it helps the child to breathe after birth.
– Week 27 – the fetus opens its eyes and blinks and the eyes have eyelashes.
– Week 28 – the fetus gets ready to be born. It would begin to turn head-down in the uterus. The fetus is about 14-15 inches long and the weight will be between 2 and 3 pounds at the end of this month.
In this article we shall have a look at different opinions of different acharyas regarding the development of the fetus in the seventh month of pregnancy, in Ayurveda treatises.
Development of Fetus in the seventh month of pregnancy – Different Opinions of Different Acharyas in Different Treatises
Charaka Samhita
सप्तमे मासि गर्भः सर्वैर्भावैराप्याय्यते, तस्मात्तदा गर्भिणी सर्वाकारैः क्लान्ततमा भवति||२३|| (Cha.Sha.4/23)
Garbhah Sarvaih Bhavaih Apyayate – Fetus attains over-all fulfillment of all its features / elements (all round development of the fetus).
Garbhini Sarvakaraih Klantatama Bhavati – Due to the fetus attaining over-all fulfillment of all the features, the pregnant woman becomes excessively exhausted.
Sushruta Samhita
सप्तमे सर्वाङ्गप्रत्यङ्गविभागः प्रव्यक्ततरः|(Su.Sha.3/29)
Sarva Anga Pratyanga Vibhagah Pravyaktatarah – All the major and minor body parts are clearly differentiated i.e. markedly developed.
Ashtanga Hridaya
सर्वैः सर्वाङ्गसम्पूर्णो भावैः पुष्यति सप्तमे ।(A.Hr.Sha.1/57)
Sarvaih Sarva Anga Sampurno Bhavaih Pushyati – The foetus is developed in all its parts. It is well nourished.
Ashtanga Sangraha
सप्तमे सर्वाङ्गसम्पूर्णता ॥१३॥
Sarva Anga Sampurnata – The development of all the parts of the foetus will be complete.
Kashyapa Samhita
The below mentioned events take place in the seventh month of pregnancy –
– The fetus becomes complete in respect to all the dhatus.
– The fetus gets proper nourishment.
– All the major body parts are more conspicuous.
– The whole body of the fetus would completely get associated with Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
– The pregnant woman feels extremely tired.
Harita Samhita
No description of the fetal development in the 7th month of pregnancy has been given in Harita Samhita.
Garbhopanishad
Jeevana Samuukta – Life gets associated with the fetus.
According to Modern Embryology
Development of fetus in the seventh month of pregnancy
In the seventh month of pregnancy, i.e. from 25th to 28th week, the fetus continues to mature. Reserves of body fat also develop. The fetus frequently changes position and also responds to stimuli including sound, pain and light. There is the beginning of diminution of amniotic fluid.
Week 25
The skin of the fetus becomes less wrinkled and plumper due to more body fat.
There is quick maturing of the nervous system.
Week 26
Melanin is made in the body of the fetus. It is the substance that gives the colour to the skin and eyes.
Surfactant begins to form in the lungs of the fetus. It is the substance that helps the child to breathe after birth.
Week 27
The fetus this week can open its eyes and blink.
The eyes also have eyelashes.
Week 28
As the fetus gets ready to take birth, it may now begin turning head-down in the uterus.
At the end of this month, the fetus is about 14-15 inches long. The weight of the fetus will be between 2 and 3 pounds.
