Along with batch cooking & constant cleaning, here’s what I had been doing in preparation for labour & birth:

?Pelvic floor exercises.. Something all of us women can do throughout our lives to keep our pelvic floor strong and hold our organs in place!

?Reflexology.. I was at a slight advantage, I know! Because of lock down, I had to work on myself throughout my pregnancy, something you can do for yourself too. Reflexology gives countless benefits to you & your baby’s wellbeing! Book yourself in for some treatments if you can, you won’t regret it, or contact me & I’ll happily send you on some reflex points to help alleviate your symptoms!

?Birthing ball.. I was constantly bouncing and moving around on this, from about week 32 onward. It’s to help the baby get into position for birth.

?Raspberry leaf tea.. This apparently helps to tone the uterus – worth a go drinking 2 cups a day from week 34, and it tastes lovely too if you ask me!

?Resting & Napping.. absolutely guilt free!!

(One of the advantages of being off work is napping when ever you feel like!)

?Walking.. I tried to get out for a walk everyday, my energy levels dipped a bit towards the end, so a short walk was plenty for me some days. It’s important to stay fit for labour! When I’d get home from my walk, I’d usually have a nap/rest!

?Hypnobirthing.. I’d been listening to the GentleBirth app a lot, where there are meditations, affirmations & hypnosis to listen to in preparation for labour. I have been listening to it postpartum too! It’s just great for getting you into the best headspace & we all know how important mindset is!

?Stretching.. & a little Yoga and Pilates. I wasn’t very consistent with the latter two, but I listened to my body and took to the mat when I felt like it.

?Bathing.. I love having baths. They help me to relax, wind down & soothe aching muscles. Add Epsom Salts and bubbles… blissful.

?Essential oils.. all depending on how I feel, they’re excellent for emotional support. I always diffuse oils to uplift my mood or to help me to relax & feel grounded. Check out previous posts on what dōTERRA essential oils can help relieve symptoms of pregnancy.

?Perineal massage.. recommended from week 34ish to help reduce your chances of tearing during childbirth.

?Massaging my bump.. I’d been using mainly oils or oil based products on my tummy after my shower each day to help keep the skin supple and ultimately keep stretch marks to a minimum. The baby loves this little massage too, it’s a fab way to connect!

Let me know of any other suggestions/recommendations that you have tried & tested – I’d love to hear about them!!

Don’t forget to share with your pregnant friends!!

info@enhancewellness.ie

Neasa x

The post Pregnancy: Preparation for labour & birth appeared first on Enhance Wellness.

MORNING SICKNESS & NAUSEA:

A drop or two of Peppermint oil in your water or massaged into your tummy area can help to alleviate occasional stomach upset. Sometimes even inhaling it from the bottle is enough to make a difference. Peppermint oil is excellent for relieving headaches – just rub a drop onto your temples, behind your ears or back or your neck to find relief.

Ginger, as we all know, has incredible benefits for your digestive system & especially helps to reduce occasional nausea during pregnancy.

Spearmint has similar benefits to Peppermint, but a milder option, depending on your taste preferences.

ZenGest Oil Blend is a blend of Anise, Peppermint, Ginger, Caraway, Coriander, Tarragon & Fennel seed oils to aid general digestive issues including heartburn & indigestion. This oil is an all rounder for the whole family’s digestive health.

BACK ACHES & LEG CRAMPS:

Firstly, staying hydrated can definitely help the situation – so, lots of fluids, and a little stretch (I personally found yoga to be great)!

DeepBlue Rub is similar to other creams that you may rub into sore muscles, made using dōTERRA’s proprietary blend Deep Blue. It’s a very powerful, soothing & comforting blend of oils that provide intense relief to muscular aches & pains! I’d recommend the DeepBlue Rub – it’s what I’ve been using all along!

Then we have the AromaTouch Blend which is a relaxing & relieving blend of oils to help soothe tired muscles. Get your partner involved as makes for an excellent massage, especially into those cramping calves!

SLEEP:

Good sleep and rest are paramount during pregnancy. In addition to diffusion and aromatic use, these oils can also be applied topically.

Lavender has amazing soothing & calming properties and can help with quietening a busy mind & settle down before bed.

Serenity Blend is a gorgeous blend of grounding & soothing oils that promote a restful night’s sleep. Combine with dōTERRA’s Balance Blend and you have “liquid Xanax”.

Designed to support your respiratory system, dōTERRA’s Air Blend can be a game changer during the night. Helping to open up your airways & relieve congestion, applying this oil to your chest or feet, or diffusing throughout the night can help you get a good undisturbed night’s sleep.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT:

In addition to all of the changes occurring in the body during pregnancy, the changes in a woman’s hormones can cause heightened emotions. To manage mood during pregnancy, consider using oils such as: 

Citrus oils such as Wild Orange, Lemon or Grapefruit are very energising & uplifting to the mood.

DōTERRA’s Balance Blend is a combination of oils that encourage you to feel grounded & centred. (Balance & citrus oils are a great combination in the diffuser.)

Again, Lavender is an absolute staple oil to have on hand. With countless uses, it is well known for its soothing & calming properties – excellent for reducing anxious feelings.

Adaptiv Blend helps you to “adapt to stressful situations”. Uplifting, calming and soothes heightened feelings. Whether you’re feeling fatigued, restless, indecisive or irritable, this beautiful oil is for you.

If you’ve interest in using any of these oils, please get in touch and I can order it for you!

info@enhancewellness.ie

Neasa x

The post Pregnancy: Essential Oils during pregnancy appeared first on Enhance Wellness.