This is a picture of me at around 35 weeks pregnant with my first child. I gained around 16 kgs by the time I gave birth, which was more than 1/3 of my original weight! I was so happy to be expecting and my husband was over the moon. As you do with your first pregnancy, I wanted to make sure I did the best I could for my body and my baby. My husband took time and effort to ensure I was comfortable and happily cooking away! : ) Which, by the way did not extend to my second pregnancy when he was too busy taking care of the first child to give me a break. Haha. I appreciated being taken care of while it lasted.
We downloaded apps like “My Pregnancy & Baby Today” by BabyCenter, Pregnancy+ and Ovia Pregnancy Baby Tracker. We loved getting the little daily and weekly information about our baby’s development. The BabyCenter app has community forum where you can ask and read questions from other parents. You can bounce things off each other when you have concerns. Pregnancy+ app was simple and easy to use. It’s the No.1 worldwide pregnancy app that has beautiful pictures and videos. It also has checklists that helps you prepare for what you need for baby or a hospital checklist to help you know what to pack. Ovia Pregnancy app has an extensive list of what types of food you can eat or should avoid eating. It’s very handy for foodies who want to watch what they eat during pregnancy. You can also get immediate feedback on your progress as you track your weight, sleep, symptoms and more.
I wanted my baby to be as healthy as possible. To me, that meant a lifestyle change. I ate clean food as much as I could, but was not hard on myself if I gave in to unhealthy food occasionally. I got rid of all chemicals in my house and only used doTERRA’s On Guard Cleaner concentrate or essential oils for everything. I threw away my facial products and makeup, to purchase only products with no nasties. My husband and I use doTERRA’s face cleansers and hydrating cream. I did this gradually of course, to slowly live a chemical-free life (as much as possible). This may seem extreme to a lot of people. I’ve had people look at me like I’m over the top, paranoid or pedantic. I don’t let that get to me, because there are people out there that feel safer just knowing what they are told and conform with the mainstream, than to face the ugly truth. And the ugly truth is, that most cleaning and personal products are laden with chemicals that are cancer-causing, endocrine (hormone) disruptors and are just plain bad for you and your family’s health in the long run. Everyone knows smoking cigarettes are cancer-causing and bad for your overall health, even if you can’t really see it. So the same can be said for inhaling toxic cleaning products or things like perfume/makeup which is absorbed into the skin (our largest organ).
Drugs are other synthetic chemicals with the highest possible side effects. If it can be avoided, avoid at all costs! Drugs are synthetically made and mass produced to fit every person and your body has a hard time eliminating it. Most drugs are not recommended for pregnancy use anyway! Essential oils are carbon-based, strong and natural, so our bodies will know what to do with it. This is the reason why I used essential oils throughout my pregnancies, births and beyond.
My Daily Support:
- Clarycalm (Monthly) Oil Blend– Balances hormones. Apply around ankles, bottoms of feet and lower abdomen.
- Grapefruit Oil or Lemon Oil– Provides energy and cleanses the body. Drink a few drops in water throughout the day.
- Terrazyme– Helps convert food into energy, Breaks down food in the stomach to process nutrients.
- Balance Oil Blend– For balance and tranquility. Lessens stress and eases anxious feelings. Apply under bottoms of your feet every morning.
- Lavender Peace (Serenity) Oil Blend– Relaxation and restful sleep. Apply to bottoms of feet.
- On Guard Protective Oil Blend– Supports the immune system. Apply to bottoms of feet every morning.
- Lifelong Vitality Vitamins– Boosts energy, provides emotional balance, supports healthy joint function and reduce feelings of tension. Take as directed on bottle or half in the morning and half in the afternoon.
As Needed During Pregnancy:
- Aches and pains– Ice Blue Oil/Rub (Deep Blue), Aromatouch Blend, Birch, Basil or Black Pepper. Rub onto affected area periodically. For back aches, ensure that your back is straight at all times without twisting.
- Heartburn- Digestzen Softgel (U.S), Digestzen oil, Peppermint Oil or DigestTab (U.S). Chew 1 DigestTab or take 1-2 Digestzen capsule. Apply Digestzen oil or Peppermint oil from the throat down to the stomach.
- Nausea/Vomiting- Ginger, Peppermint, Lemon. Take 1-2 drops of Ginger or Peppermint oil in water. Apply 1-3 drops of Ginger or Peppermint on ears. down jaw bone, and on bottoms of feet. Inhale oils to ease nausea.
- Constipation- Digestzen, Lemon, Peppermint and Fennel. Take 1-2 drops in water or in a capsule OR massage on abdomen.
- Depression- Lifelong Vitality Supplements, Citrus Bliss Invigorating blend, Elevation Joyful blend, Balance and Frankincense. Take supplements as directed OR diffuse any of the oils listed OR place 3-5 drops of Frankincense under tongue and chase with water.
- Fatigue- Citrus Bliss Invigorating blend, Elevation Joyful blend, Grapefruit, Wild Orange and Peppermint. Place 1-2 drops in palm of hands, rub together and inhale deeply OR massage onto back, shoulders, or back of neck. Caution: Citrus oils are photosensitive so do not go into direct sunlight after applying.
- Stretchmarks- Salubelle (Immortelle) anti-aging blend. Mix with Fractionated coconut oil and massage over stretch mark prone areas morning and night. This helped me prevent getting stretch marks!
- Swelling- Water, Citrus Bliss Invigorating Blend, Lemon, Aromatouch, Cypress, Lavender and Ginger. Drink a lot of water. Yes drinking water will help the swelling go away! In addition, mix 3-5 drops of oil mixed with fractionated coconut oil and massage into legs, ankles, and feet OR add 3-5 drops of lemon to all water.
Here’s my Labour Pain Blend in a 10ml Roller Bottle:
75 drops of Ice Blue/Deep Blue
30 drops of Black/Pink Pepper
15 drops of Helichrysum
10 drops of Peppermint
Basil oil optional. Dilute more if necessary.
Here is a useful handout for Fertility, Pregnancy and Beyond. Print out for an easy reference guide:
Please comment below if you have any questions or stories to share.
Throughout my pregnancy and labour, I often referred to “Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth and Babies” book by Stephanie Fritz. This book is a must-have for individuals and families that want concise, thorough, and heartfelt reference guide to the lifelong use of essential oils for health and well-being. This book helped empower me to take responsibility for my health and babies. I really recommend this book for anyone who wants to take control of their health and pregnancy. It is written very simply and is a very easy to read reference guide.
Buy "Essential Oils for Pregnancy Birth and Babies" from Booktopia
