Upadhyay's Text Book of Care of the Neonate (An Integrated Approach)

The life begins before the actual birth. The concept of care of life and prevention from diseases must be extended before conception i.e. before Union of Shukra. Shonita and Jeewatma. The Neonatology is the branch of pediatrics that deals with the care of health of healthy newborn as well as prevention/cure from disease fulfilling the principles of Ayurveda:

In Ayurveda the topics related with perinatology are described in detail, like Pumsawana samskaras, Masanumasika fetal development, Garbhini paricharya, Seemantonayana samskaras as well as Balochita samskaras.

The idea to write a book on 'Navjata Shishu Paricharya' originated in mind by inspiration of my mentor Prof. P.V. Tewari, Former Dean Faculty of Ayurveda and my teacher Prof. B.M. Singh, Head, Department of Kaumarbhritya. Also I feel that the need of present era to organize the opinion of Acharya's of Ayurveda system of medicine and opinion of present neonatologist as well as perinatologist in book, which will help the neonatologist and perinatologist of both the system, in the management as well as care of newborn and reduce the fetal death and neonatal mortality rate (NMR). Ayurveda flowrished through Guru-shishya tradition in Gurukula system and it is based on Adhyayan (self study), Adhyapana (teaching) and Tadvid sambhasa (healthy discussion).

In this book entitled 'Care of the Neonate' I have tried to incorporate the topics related with 'Navjat Shishu Paricharya' is a part of syllabus of Kaumarbhritya/Balroga, based on revised syllabus of Central Council of Indian Medicine, New Delhi. I have tried to present correlation of opinion on each topics of Ayurveda and Modern System of Medicine.

In this book I have covered the topics such as: Prepregnency care, Common maternal disorders and Fetal outcome, Care of the Normal newborns, Care of the Low birthweight babies, Examination of the Newborn, Navjat Shishu Paricharya, Perinatal injuries, Temperature regulation. Feeding and Nutrition, Assessment of Fetal distress, Post resuscitation care, Childhood samskaras, Neonatal jaundice, Neonatal sepsis and Neonatal anemia etc.

This book will be helpful in care and management of Newborns to the Pediatricians of Ayurveda system of Medicine, MD (Ay) scholars in Kaumarbhritya, Students of PG Diploma D.Ch. (Ay), PGDNC (Ay), Practitioners in field of Kaumarbhritya and Students of BAMS in increasing their knowledge. Any suggestions and constructive criticism to improve this book will be greatefully acknowledged and is always welcome for improving the future editions.

Acknowledgements

Though the ocean of words is not sufficient to express the internal feeling. I am trying to express my feeling in words. First of all, pray to Lord Baba Vishwanath Ji, Maa Annapurna Ji and Sri Ganesh Ji to providing knowledge, health and strength for successful completion of my effort. I offer my sincere regards to Pujyaniya Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Ji, A man of great vision for creating such a wonderful, great Banaras Hindu University, Sarva Vidya ki Rajadhani. The words are inadequate to express my loyal regards to our honourable Vice Chancellor Prof. V.K. Shukla Sir, a visionary and great scientist. I am thankful to our eminent and innovative Honourable Registrar, Dr. N. Tripathi Sir, for their constant encouragement. I am thankful to our dynamic Director, Prof. B.R. Mittal Sir, for his guidance. I am indebted to our energetic Dean, Prof. K.N. Dwivedi Sir, for their regular guidance and encouragement. I express my extremely heartful thank to Dr. Pushyamitra Trivedi Sir their constant support and encouragements. I am extremely indebted to my teacher, Prof. B.M. Singh Sir and Prof. Sangeeta Gehlot Mam. I am thankful to Matri-Swarupa, Prof. P.V. Tewari Mam for their constant encouragement and moral support. I express my extremely heartful thanks to Dr. A.K. Rai, Director Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy, who always inspire me. The blessing of my teachers and paediatricians of Ayurvedic field Prof. Abhimanyu Kumar Sir, Prof. B.K. Jaising Sir, Prof. D.N. Misra Sir, Prof. K.S. Patel Mam, Prof. Rakesh Sharma Sir, Dr. Raja S. Gopal, Prof. R.D. Sharma Sir and Prof. Chanchal Sharma Sir. Also thankful to my colleagues Dr. Jewti Baro, Dr. Kalpana Patni, Dr. R.S. Khatri and Dr. Vaibhav Jaiswal for their kind support. I am also thankful to Senior Resident and Junior residents who help me. I convey my heartful thank to my wife Smt. Mamta Upadhyay, Daughter Srishti and son Srijan for their kind support. Also thankful to my mother Smt. Dropati Devi and my father Late Pandit Ram Tej Upadhyay for his sacred blessing. I am also thankful to lovely New-borns of Kashyap ward who inspire me for writing this book.

I am extremely thankful to Mr. Sunil Ji, Mr. Ashok Ji and all the members of Chaukhambha Vishvabharti Varanasi, who have published this book.

In current scenario of Various health plannings mother and her child are at the top, due to two main reasons first is importance of child the next generation of the society responsible for future and also the mother who is the receptacle of embroy and in whose belly the fetus develops and grows and second reason is past socio-economic and cultural status of society in which health of woman was neglected resulting in health problems of child also.

In ancient Indian medicine i.e. ayurveda specialized branch i.e. Kaumarabhṛtya exhisted specifically to take care of mother and child. Probably in that era books on every specialities were written Kaśyapa Samhitã is considered as source book of this branch.

Though in all the classics of ayurveda subjects pertaining to all branches are mentioned, yet approach of specialist in his subject differs than others. Just for example.

Attributes of breast milk are described in almost all the classics mentioning colour, smell etc. of breast milk with few words at the end that it also provides growth and development of child (CS.Sa. 8:54; S.S.Sã. 10:31; A.S.U. 1:21; A.H.U. 1:21). Maharsi Kaśyapa has mentioned:

Uninterrupted comfortable or pleasurable growth and development of strength or energy, various body parts, longevity and disease free state of child with absence of any discomfort to mother or wet nurse and child are described as features of pure breast milk.

Specific colours and smell etc. in breast milk manifest due to status of its pañchamahābhautika constituents, which may or may not be suitable to particular child, thus in Kä.S. these are not mentioned, as the aim of author is to describe attributes of breast milk suitable to her child and it is already prescribed that sattva and prakṛti (psychosomatic constitution of wet nurse and child) should be similar, so that her milk becomes most suitable.

Emphasis given by a specialist of K.B. lacks in others. Had the book been available it its complete form probably the face of kaumärabhṛtya would have been entirely different.

Today to impart proper knowledge both theoretical and practical it is imperative to go through all important books on ayurveda to understand the subject and also to take help of books on modern medical sciences to decide various points described in brevity in äyurvedic classics.

The book 'Care of the Neonate' is written on this very line with very simple and intelligible language, incorporting almost all a spects of care of newborn available in books of ayurveda vis-a-vis books of modern neonatology are collected step wise; elaborated or explained and presented in twentynine chapters. The book starts with various terminologies, prenatal care of fetus, common maternal disorders influencing fetal outcome and goes on further for care of all types of new borns, their disorders with management. The book is very useful not only to students and teachers of subjects but others who also want to know the subject for research purposes or just to aquire knowledge for satiating their own thirst.

I congratulate Dr. P.S. Upadhyay for this endeavour and hope that he would continue to serve goddess Saraswati in future also.

**Contents and Sample Pages**