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PREGNANCY & ESSENTIAL OILS - General Information Pregnancy is a time of dramatic change and, despite the myth that all women look and feel marvelous during pregnancy, the body often experiences great strains both physically and emotionally. However, as long as the mother-to-be takes care of herself, it is possible to go through a happy and healthy pregnancy. An important point to remember is that your baby will not go without; the baby will take what it needs to grow and develop so it is easy for the mother-to-be to become run down and depleted of essential nutrients. Ensuring you eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water is vital to an enjoyable journey through pregnancy. Another aspect which is often neglected but vital to the well being of the mother and baby is the emotional/psychological environment in which you live. It is important to reduce aggravation as much as possible and nurture yourself as often and as regularly as possible. There are many ways to do this; cut back on work projects, join a yoga class designed for pregnancy, treat yourself to a regular massage or healing, get fresh air by walking outside and by asking for help and support. It is possible and often beneficial to use essential oils throughout the pregnancy, if you have any health concerns, please consult with your health care provider before using any of the treatments suggested below. All of the oils mentioned below can be found at our Shopping Cart.
Cautions and Safety Concerns Not all essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy. It is necessary to avoid certain oils because they are toxic and will possibly harm the mother and baby, or because they may involve some risk of miscarriage. There are certain oils that are very easy and safe to use throughout the pregnancy and these include tangerine, mandarin, grapefruit, geranium, Roman chamomile, and ylang-ylang. DO NOT USE the following oils during your pregnancy: aniseed, basil, clary sage, atlas and Virginian cedarwood, sweet and bitter fennel, jasmine, juniper, sweet marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, peppermint, rose and rosemary. USE THE FOLLOWING OILS AFTER THE FOURTH MONTH ONLY: Lavender, Rose otto
Treating Common Ailments Morning Sickness: Some suggestions: eat small, frequent meals; drink (fresh)ginger tea; avoid fats, sugars, alcohol, caffeine and processed orange juice; up your intake of vitamin B6 and magnesium, either in supplements or with brown rice, bananas, walnuts, salmon and wheatgerm. The essential oils to use are spearmint and ginger oils, used as an inhalation. Check out our Morning Sickness blend; A gentle, safe way to ease morning sickness and allow you to get on with your life. Heartburn: Avoid spicy and greasy foods; drink 1 tablespoon of milk before eating to coat the stomach; eat small, frequent meals. Heartburn can be relieved by a gentle massage over the abdomen and stomach using Chamomile Roman, or tangerine oil. Leg cramps: Be sure to get in short regular walks; elevate the legs whenever possible; avoid standing for too long. Try a foot bath using a blend of geranium, lavender and cypress essential oils.Exhaustion: Pregnancy is a time to listen to your body and honor what is being said. When you feel tired, take a rest or a bath. Essential oils that will help to revive you are lavender, grapefruit, coriander, bergamot, tangerine and geranium. Varicose Veins: Pregnancy is often the time when you experience varicose veins or hemorrhoids for the first time. You may be worried about the physical appearance but they can also be rather painful. It is easy to treat your varicose veins with our Varicose Vein Massage Blend. Use the oil directly on the areas affected by varicose veins and always massage with strokes moving towards the heart. For piles or hemorrhoids, use our HEMORRHOID TREATMENT
Preparing for Labor and Delivery During the last 4-6 weeks of your pregnancy, it can be very helpful to massage the perineum with a blend of almond oil infused with rose (otto) During labor, massage can bring great relief to the mother and allow the partner to actively participate in the birth. Use a blend of rose (otto) with geranium or jasmine Use a few drops of bergamot, neroli or lavender added to a bowl of warm water to refresh and disinfect the atmosphere.If the mother feels nausea during the later stages of labor, use 1 drop of spearmint oil on a tissue and allow her to inhale several times. If labor stalls and your midwife or birthing physicians agree you can use clary sage to increase contractions and get labor restarted.The delivery of your baby is a most wonderful experience and essential oils can help the mother to feel more present and relaxed and therefore able to enjoy it more fully.
What About the Stretch Marks? It is much better to prevent stretch marks than to try and ease them after the pregnancy. Why not use a synergistic blend of essential oils throughout the pregnancy to reduce the chance of stretch marks? Please see our Stretch Mark Massage Blend.
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