Pregnancy and motherhood are the most eulogized concepts of all times, and in all cultures universally. Women have always been looked up to with awe because of this wonder of being able to bring another being into this world.

But is pregnancy all that Utopian as it appears to be ? Ask any pregnant woman and she will tell you, with reverence and at the same time with trepidation, of all the changes, both physical and emotional, that keep racing within her.

On the one hand, there is great joy and expectation about the newborn. The mother revels at the bodily changes that occur, both visibly and invisibly. On the other hand, there are the everyday discomforts of having to adjust to a new body, the body's reaction to these changes by way of nausea, back pain

 and in some cases as the pregnancy progresses, blood pressure, diabetes etc. Inconvenience, discomfort, breathlessness, sleeplessness....the list is endless. In addition to this, is the growing anxiety about childbirth, fear of pain and even death, mood swings, temper tantrums, depression, low self worth about the way one looks etc. Yes, a pregnant woman has a lot to cope with

Antenatal care involves preparing a woman both physically and psychologically during the gestation period and also for childbirth, so as to reduce the duration of labor and the discomfort involved.

For this, aside from the regular medical care, a woman needs to learn to cope in a confident and relaxed manner, with the changes that take place during a very short time. The need for yoga for pregnant women has been mentioned in many texts, like Gargi, one of the first women known to have mastered this, has been mentioned some ideal asana for pregnancy.

Experts always stressed the importance of Yoga for women. Besides the physical preparation, Yoga also prepares the women to make adjustments graciously for the arrival of the new body. This does not mean yoga is an answer for all complications associated with childbirth. But it prepares the woman to handle and accept the situation, if complications do arise.

Yoga also does not stop at childbirth. It also addresses postnatal issues, such as preventing the prolapse of uterus and strengthening pelvic and abdominal muscles, regaining health and above all, preparing the women for the psychological upheaval that goes with the arrival of a new life.