Essential oils during pregnancy, breastfeeding and on the day of your delivery!

By Johanna Carl - dōTERRA wellness advisor

I can already imagine the big eyes of some people reading the title of this article and thinking - as I did until a few years ago - that essential oils were forbidden for children and pregnant women!

Essential oils are concentrated, powerful and very effective essences and if you are a mother-to-be or a young mother (breastfeeding or not) you may want to avoid taking synthetic drugs and molecules as much as possible - for your well-being and that of your baby.


If this is the case, you can turn to essential oils to manage your pregnancy ailments or other everyday problems.


There are several things to consider if you want to use essential oils safely and effectively. safe and effective way.



THE QUALITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL


When using a plant essence on yourself or your child, it is essential to ensure that it is of the highest quality.


Personally, all my fears were dispelled when I discovered dōTERRA essential oils and was able to test their effectiveness.


These essential oils meet an extremely strict label involving more than 60 tests for each batch of essential oil: this stringent control not only guarantees a truly pure essence (where many other labels - even organic ones - allow additives) but also excludes adulterated essential oils (in which some active components are replaced by synthetic molecules not detectable with "standard" quality tests) or contaminated ones.

THE CHOICE OF THE SPECIES USED


There are many essential oils suitable for expectant or new mothers that can accompany you and your baby during this important time in your life.

Here I share with you some suggestions on how to use them for common pregnancy ailments.

These tips are taken from the book "Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth and Babies" by midwife Stephanie Fritz.


★ In case of nausea, you can diffuse or inhale lemon or ginger essential oil directly from the bottle. Keep the bottle in your pocket, so that you can take it out as soon as necessary.


★If you are experiencing digestive discomfort, dōTERRA's digestive synergy (ginger,

peppermint, tarragon, fennel, caraway, coriander) after the first trimester of pregnancy will relieve cramps and digestive difficulties.


★ If you have high blood pressure, you can apply 3 drops of ylang-ylang diluted in vegetable oil to your bath water or apply a drop of lavender to the heart, soles of the feet and palms.


★ Are you having trouble sleeping? Apply a few drops of lavender under your feet before going to sleep or diffuse the calming dōTERRA synergy (lavender, sweet marjoram, Roman chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood alba and vanilla bean).


★ To prevent stretch marks or to promote their healing after pregnancy, you can massage dōTERRA's anti-aging synergy (frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, myrrh, helichrysum and rose) - after the first trimester of pregnancy - on the affected areas.

Dilute it so that you can massage a large area of skin.


★ If you tend to have swollen legs, water retention, you can massage yourself with dōTERRA's toning synergy: wild orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, bergamot, clementine and vanilla help decongest, refresh the legs. Also remember to drink plenty of water!


★ If you want to prepare your perineum, you can massage yourself or simply apply a drop of Roman chamomile and/or geranium essential oil diluted in a little vegetable oil in the palm of your hand.

The day of the birth:

★ If your contractions are not effective: apply clary sage essential oil to your little toe (at the base of the fingernail), inside your ankles and lower abdomen every 15 minutes until the strength of the contractions has increased.


If labour is interrupted, you can add myrrh. The sage will revive the contractions and the myrrh will make them more effective.

★ Are you choosing a physiological birth? The dōTERRA anchoring synergy

(black spruce, ravintsara, blue tansy, frankincense, German chamomile, osmanthus) will allow you to soothe yourself between contractions and ride the waves in an anchored way, connected to yourself and your baby.


★ When the baby's head passes through, you can massage the perineum with the following mixture

mixture:

- 20 drops of helichrysum

- 20 drops of frankincense

in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

This mixture will reduce bruising, swelling and possible bleeding.


★ Don't hesitate to diffuse an essential oil that you like during your childbirth!

Just like music or your partner's sweet words, this scent will contribute to your well-being, create your "bubble" and therefore produce oxytocin,

a hormone that is essential for giving birth to your baby.


And what a gift to welcome your little one with a soft and pleasant scent that will help make this moment a rich experience!

to make this moment an experience rich in sensations!

The smell of the essential oil you choose will be anchored in your limbic brain, the seat of your emotions.

Later on, smelling this scent can take you back to the memories of the first moments with your child and will become an integral part of your story!

Supporting the postpartum period and breastfeeding or not


★ In case of baby blues or post-partum depression, think of diffusing essential oils or citrus synergies: citrus fruits are reputed to cheer up the heart, improve the mood and bring sunshine. Nevertheless, get help to get through this difficult period!


★ After giving birth, you may have difficulty urinating. To relieve yourself, put a drop of peppermint in the toilet bowl before going to the bathroom.

The refreshing effect will relieve you!


★ you can make a soothing and softening spray for the perineum. In a 50ml glass bottle, mix 20 to 30 drops of the anti-ageing synergy (mentioned above for the prevention of stretch marks) and complete with vegetable oil.

This spray is also perfect to accompany the healing of a possible episiotomy or caesarean section.


★ you do not wish to breastfeed and/or you wish to reduce your milk production: add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil to a warm herbal tea, 3 to 5 times a day.

★ If your milk production is too low, you can apply a drop of fennel or basil essential oil on your chest - avoiding the nipple - 3 to 4 times a day after feeding to increase your lactation. Also ideal during your child's growth spurt.


★ In case of cracked nipples, you can apply myrrh or geranium essential oil (diluted or pure) directly on the nipple, just after feeding.

(There is no need to wash the breast before the next feeding).



Finally, we now know how important and beneficial it is to listen and support our emotions - especially during pregnancy and postpartum.


Essential oils are fantastic tools for our emotional health and vibrations!

Please contact me if you would like to know more about emotional synergies or those specially developed for the little ones!


I will be happy to help you.


I also offer online workshops with Claire Pelletier (https://www.instinctreflexes.fr/) in which we combine HypnoNatal and essential oils to support you, from preconception to postpartum!