Natural Pregnancy Tips (Guest Post)

Being pregnant is such a beautiful time and season in a woman’s life. Regardless of the symptoms and how you feel, there is nothing like knowing you are nurturing and growing a child within you. Not only are you taking care of yourself, you are now taking care of another human being inside of you. You are responsible for someone besides yourself. 
Going ‘natural’ is very important for the health and well being of you and your growing baby. When I say the word ‘natural’, I am referring to what you eat, drink, and what you put in and on your body, as well as products that you use to clean your home. Your cleaning products are just as important as your toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, food and drink choices. Know that what you put ON your body goes IN your body! This not only affects you, but it affects your growing child inside of you.
A common complaint pregnant women experience is swelling. Your legs, feet, and low back hurt as your belly grows. Being able to massage your belly, low back, legs and feet are very beneficial. The following are recipes for blends you can make yourself. If you use pure therapeutic grade essential oils, as in Young Living, they’re very safe; but if the oils contain chemical adulterations, or are incomplete in their chemical profile, they should not be used at all. Health food stores carry essential oils, but they are NOT therapeutic grade! They are filled with chemicals, fillers, and so forth. The FDA only requires 2-3% of the bottle to have pure oil in it, to be labeled 100% pure, organic, or whatever label they want to give it. DO NOT USE THESE!!
(All of the recipes are for Young Living Essential Oils… I do not use or recommend any other essential oil, period! )
Water Retention Massage Oil:

• 2½ tablespoons almond or coconut oil
  
• ½ tablespoon jojoba oil
• 1 Evening Primrose oil capsule (approx. 10 drops)
• 2 drops tangerine oil
• 1 drop lemon oil
• 4 drops cypress oil
• 4 drops lavender oil
• 3 drops geranium oil

This can be used throughout the pregnancy. Just relax on the sofa, with your legs raised on pillows. Apply this aromatic massage oil to your feet, ankles and legs, massaging toward your heart to help circulation. (The help of your partner would certainly be appreciated.)
Favorite oils to have on hand while pregnant:

Your Diet and Other Tips to Help Reduce Swelling

• Water. Keep a glass of water with you at all times! This will help flush out your system, get rid of toxins and help with swelling and bloating. It will also help you not to binge. Many times when we eat, we are not hungry, we are dehydrated, but our brain/emotions send us the single that we are hungry because our body is deprived of the nutrients it needs. Grab a glass of water and then see if the hunger goes away. Suggestion: drink half your body weight of water everyday will help with swelling. Adding lemon or tangerine essential oil to your water will give added benefits to your health and will help with swelling and alleviate water retention (edema).

• Eating a diet rich in whole foods and complex carbohydrates is vital to you and your growing baby. Avoid fried foods, sugar, soda, and caffeine as much as possible.

• Do you have enough protein in your diet? Make out a daily food log to track what you are eating and drinking.
  

• Exercise. Taking a daily walk will help with fluid retention. It will get the heart pumping, which will get the blood pumping and push out the fluid/edema in the body.

• Salt. Watch your sodium intake. Do not add salt to your food (unless you have been told to do so).

• Get plenty of rest. Are you plopping your feet up and giving your body a rest during the day? Take a nap. Allow yourself the liberty of resting when you can.

• Take a bath. Add lavender or another favorite essential oil and epsom salt to your bath.
  

What do you do when your feet, hands and legs swell? Do you have a natural remedy you can share with us? We’d love to hear your stories.

About Carrie- Young Living Oil Lady
Carrie, owner of Young Living Oil Lady, loves people and desires to listen and help them whether it is a spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional need. Because of her love for people, sports, fitness, health and overall wellness, she decided to go back to school, after she received her degree in Psychology, to become a Physical Therapist. Upon completion of her degree, she worked at a Sports Medicine Clinic, mainly treating athletes. She worked until the Lord blessed her and her husband with their first child. She left her role as a career woman to stay home with her newborn son. She has been a stay at home mom ever since! This “stay at home” path led her down the road of homeschooling her now two adorable sons. She uses the word of God as her plumb line and is very passionate about her Lord and Savior. She believes God created everything in the garden for our good. She uses all natural products, loves raw whole foods, and prefers Young Living essential oils versus popping pills. She shares her passion for healthy living on her blog.

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