Chapter 65

Pregnancy and Childbirth

The duration of pregnancy is a very sensitive and fateful period in a
baby's life. The mother's nutritional habits together with her physical
movementsandpsychologicalbehaviourarevitalbothtoherselfandthe
life oft he baby in her womb.

The baby's health or illness, strength or weakness, ugliness and
beauty, and its good or bad behaviour and a part of intellect and
prudence, are established in the mother's womb. One of the experts
writes:"Thebaby'sparentsareabletoeithergrowinafortressofhealth
orin the ruinsof sickness.It isobvious thatthe latter isnot asuitable
placeinwhichtheeternalsoulorahumanbeingshouldlive.Thisisthe
reasonthat parents are believed to shoulderthe greatest responsibility
compared to the whole of creations.

Therefore,theperiodofpregnancycannotberegardedorbetreatedas
anordinaryone,Oncethepregnancystarts,theparentsaregivenagreat
responsibility, parents may unwittingly createa varietyof difficulties,
many ofwhich may beextremely difficultto remedybecauseof slight
carelessness when performing their duties.

Below are a few points that should be noted:
Food:Afoetusinitsmother'swombfeedsandgrowsonthenourish-
ment in her blood. Therefore the mother's food should be nutritive
enoughto providethe elements neededbythe baby aswellas forthe
welfareofthemother.Thereforeanylackofvitamins,proteins,fat,sugar
orcarbohydrates inthe mother'sintake offoodwouldinflictharm on
the baby's health. Imam Sadiq (AS) stated: The food of a foetus is
provided by the nourishment that the mother receives'.''