The art of being pregnant can sometimes leave your body feeling fatigued, stressed out, and downright painful at times. Keeping your stress levels low, and relaxing is an age old suggestion, but sometimes, it’s not that easy. We are here to help you with some easy ways to relax and soothe your expanding body – and best yet, they are all natural!
Essential Oils:
If you don’t know about essential oils, pregnancy is a great time to learn about their many benefits, because most of them are very safe to use during pregnancy. There are many different oils available on the market these days, however, like many items, do not be fooled by all store bought oils. Some are synthetic, overly-diluted, or chemically-extracted. (If you are in the market for a great brand, we suggest checking doTerra Oils.)
Essential oils have been used for pregnancy and childbirth for centuries, both for therapeutic and religious ceremonial reasons. With proper knowledge and dilution, certain oils are very safe to use throughout your pregnancy. You may learn to love them so much, you will be eager to learn of their many effective uses on newborns as well.
We suggest checking out this book on Essential Oils for Maternity. It is filled with myriad additional information related to oils and pregnancy.
Massage
Lavender Oil:
There are many uses for lavender oil, as it is basically a “pregnancy cure-all.” It is safe to use in all three trimesters, as long as it is properly diluted. Below are some common ailments that it can possibly help remedy or prevent.
- Congestion
- Depression
- Fluid Retention
- Exhaustion and Fatigue
- Headache
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Indigestion
- Insomnia
- Leg Cramps
- Sore Breasts
- Stretch Mark (Prevention) and/or Skin Care
- Toxemia (Pre-eclampsia)
- Varicose Veins
Recipe:
Mix 1 drop of lavender essential oil with 1 tablespoon of organic, cold pressed coconut oil. Gently massage areas in gentle circular motions.
Homemade Facial Treatments
Pregnancy can do downright weird things to your body, the most noticeable of which may be your complexion. Treat yourself to an at-home facial that is pregnancy safe, and will also serve as a gentle exfoliant. Many women have reported their skin ailments lessening with proper moisturization, and, most importantly, regular exfoliation.
Recipe:
- 1/2 cup finely ground salt, such as Celtic Sea Salt
- 1 ounce jojoba oil (or “melted” coconut oil)
- 5 drops of either lavender or peppermint essential oil
- 5-8 drops vitamin E oil
Place salt in a bowl, and mix all oils into it gently, making sure that by the end, all grains of salt are completely covered. If mixture is still dry, add more jojoba or coconut oil to saturate. Store this mixture in an airtight container, and use in the shower 1-2 times a week.
Soaking and Bathing
Chances are, you spend a bunch of time on your feet, causing them to ache, and/or swell by the end of the day. Peppermint oil is a great way to soothe and cool your tired feet, while also reducing possible swelling.
How To:
Place 1-2 drops of peppermint essential oil in a large bowl. Fill bowl with cool water and soak your feet. After your soak, use the massage oil recipe with either lavender or peppermint oil to further relax.
Bathing in Epsom Salt:
Here’s a little known fact – did you know that epsom salt is not actually salt at all? It’s actually a naturally occurring mineral combination of magnesium, and sulfate, which absorb into the skin easily. Magnesium has been shown to reduce inflammation, whereas the sulfates are known to flush toxins from your body. Soaking your body in a mixture of epsom salt, and a few drops of lavender essential oil will do your pregnant body a host of good!
Photo Credits: The Art of Making a Baby, The Memoirs of Megan
