Pregnancy can be exciting and scary at the same time. Pregnancy also comes with some pretty common discomforts. Your pregnancy doesn’t have to be a dreadful experience, full of morning sickness, body aches, or lack of sleep. I also know when you get pregnant, most options go out the window and you can feel a bit helpless.

Get ready to learn how to support your emotions and body along while you find comfort in your new growing baby.

“A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” – Unknown

Before you had a living, growing being inside you, you may not have been so concerned about what you were putting in and on your body. Now that you are pregnant, you may have a heightened sense of awareness that makes you question everything and whether it is safe for your unborn baby.

First of all, congratulations! Growing your family is a BIG DEAL! I am here to help you find ways to feel good throughout the entire pregnancy and have a beautiful delivery. 

Just because something is very common doesn’t mean it is normal. Things like body aches and difficulty sleeping seem “normal” because they are very common but these things actually aren’t “NORMAL” and don’t have to be your experience.  I truly believe that when you give the body the support it needs, the body will react positively and you will feel amazing.

Disclaimer: 

 *I am not a doctor. I am not here to diagnose, treat, or cure any of your illnesses. The content I cover is for informational purposes only.

As mothers, we all want the very best for our kids. That means we want high-quality products that are safe and effective. With Young Living, you can rest assured that you’re getting a quality product made with the highest quality essentials oils and other naturally-derived ingredients.

Check out some of the strict guidelines they abide by to fulfill their promise in sending only the best products to your home. 

• plant material that is grown on corporately-owned farms or carefully vetted partner farms (that you CAN visit!)
• sustainable farming and sourcing practices, providing the purest oil
• great care taken to preserve and protect natural resources
• hand-weeded fields and ZERO use of pesticides
• oils that retain all their natural constituents and therapeutic properties
• use of food-grade distillers with state-of-the-art design and distillation methods
• low pressure and low temperature distillation, without the use of solvents or synthetic chemicals
• rigorous testing on each batch by internal labs and third-party facilities
• oils that are carefully reviewed through every step of production in order to meet or exceed industry safety and purity standards (beyond organic!)

And the best part… if the oils do not meet these high standards they are rejected and will not be bottled as a Young Living product. Check out more info on their Seed to Seal promise at www.seedtoseal.com.

Before we dive into the specifics, I want to explain how to use essential oils and give you some safety tips. 

Topically

You can apply them to your wrists, neck, back, feet, etc. If you get oil in your eyes, don’t rinse it with water. Instead, apply a fatty carrier oil around the area. Some oils are gentle enough to put directly on your skin without diluting. If you notice it getting hot or making your skin a little red, just throw some carrier oil on (coconut oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, etc.). 

Aromatically

Another way to use them is aromatically. Crack open a bottle, and breathe it in. Add your oils to a diffuser and enjoy the therapeutic benefits from diffusing. Put a drop in your palm, rub your hands together, and cup your hands over your nose. Breathe deeply and enjoy! 

Internally

Add a drop (or more) of a Vitality oil into an empty vegetable capsule, a cup of tea, or a glass of water. You can even cook and bake with them! One thing to note: citrus oils can break down the petrochemicals in plastic so it’s safer to use stainless steel, glass, or ceramic when adding oils to your dishes and drinks.

Now, before we go any further… I want to make sure you know the difference between a Vitality oil (white label) and the “regular” oils (solid-color label). The Vitality oils are labeled for internal/dietary use so they can be ingested. The solid-color bottles are labeled for aromatic/topical use. However, they are the SAME oil. The ONLY difference is the color of the label. It just makes it easier for us to know which oils can be safely ingested. 

Oils & Kids

According to some schools of thought, oils shouldn’t be used on children. Do yourself a favor and do NOT go looking online for advice on this topic. You will scare yourself into not using them. Remember, not all essential oils are created equally. Young Living takes GREAT care to ensure you are getting the best of the best, oils that are safe to use on and around your kiddos! We just have to take into account their smaller bodies and learning immune systems. Here are a few safety tips….

1. When in doubt, dilute. There are no hard and fast rules about dilution so don’t stress over it. You just want to start slow since their systems are more sensitive than adults’. A good place to test out oils is on the feet. The recommended application is for children ages 2-12 but I’ve known many mothers to use them on children younger than that. Be particularly careful of “hot” oils such as Clove, Oregano, and Thieves. They will need to be diluted more heavily. Oils such as Eucalyptus, Basil, Juniper, Peppermint, Hyssop, and Wintergreen should be used with caution on babies or avoided altogether. 
   
2. Never drop oils directly into the eyes or ears.
   
3. Be aware of any blends that contain citrus oils as these are photosensitive and should be avoided if being exposed to direct sunlight – or applied 12+ hours before exposure.
   
4. Start with just a few drops or less when diffusing around kids. As you see how they respond to the oils, you can increase the amount as you see fit. Everyone’s body has different needs and responds to oils in his/her own unique way so start slow.
   
5. Some oils should be used with caution during pregnancy – Basil, Birch, Calamus, Cassia, Cinnamon bark, Hyssop, Idaho tansy, Lavindin (this is different than Lavender), Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, and Wintergreen.       

During pregnancy, whether it’s your first, second, 5th or 8th, we experience a lot of different emotions: fear, anxiety, worry, love, joy, and so many others.

Breathing in essential oils is an effective and safe way to help change unwanted emotions, either turning negative emotions into positive, uplifting ones or enhancing positive emotions!  

The other HUGE benefit to diffusing is that you can also throw out all those air fresheners and candles you have hanging around the house that are filled with harmful chemicals.

Besides diffusing your oils to aid with your mood, you can also consider making a perfume. This could be either a spray or a roll-on and the best part is you can take it with you and use it on the go, unlike your diffuser

Mix the following ingredients together in a glass spray bottle.

• 4 oz. glass spray bottle.
• 4 oz. 100 proof vodka* or Witch Hazel to emulsify the essential oils.
• 40-60 drops of your favorite essential oil combination.
• Shake well and spritz.

*Most vodkas are 80 proof. If you cannot find 100 proof and use 80 proof, you will need to shake your perfume before each use.

Here are some oils that may help you overcome or enhance certain emotions.

– Fear – Valor, Bergamot, Geranium, Present Time
– Occasional Stress – Lavender, Stress Away, Frankincense, Peace & Calming, Bergamot.
– Occasional Anxiety – Lavender, Lemon, Copaiba, Orange
– Occasional sadness – Joy, Orange
– Worry – Bergamot
– Love – Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Joy

TIP: During pregnancy, your sense of smell may be different than before. Take off the cap to a few oils and smell them before you put them in the diffuser or create a perfume. Diffuse one that you love smelling in order to uplift your spirits.

Know your body

Our next few posts are going to explore some tips and health practices for you to use during pregnancy to help you feel amazing all the way to D-day. You can start at any time, but I say the earlier, the better.  

Alignment

Your body goes through so many changes while pregnant. Your growing baby is pushing on all kinds of organs. Your round ligaments stretch and thicken, and your hormones are causing your cartilage to loosen up as it prepares your body to stretch and open up for delivery.

Although aches and pains may be described as “normal,” they are more accurately described as “common.” You can help avoid discomfort by taking care of yourself and listening to your body so you can stay physically comfortable all the way to delivery!  

Here are some things you can do during pregnancy to help with alignment.

– Rub Valor essential oil daily on hips and spine along the inside of each foot. This oil is known as a “chiropractor in a bottle.”

– Make weekly chiropractor visits. (Apply Valor before visits.)

– Sleep with a wedge pillow or a pregnancy pillow between your knees and under your belly. You can even use these pillows postpartum!

When you’re pregnant, you’re eating for two. Go for quality, not quantity. 

Did you know that if you’re a healthy weight, you don’t need any additional calories in the first trimester? In your second trimester, you only need 340 extra calories a day. By your third trimester, you need 450 extra calories a day. 

During pregnancy, your body is pulling vitamins and minerals from you to give to your baby. That’s why it is important that you replenish the vitamins and minerals in your body with healthy food and supplements. Whole food supplements (nothing synthetic) are a great way to help your body and therefore your baby gets the nutrients you both need.

Here are some nutritional supplements that Young Living has to offer:

NingXia Red (NR)

NingXia Red helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels, provides extra nutrients your body needs and helps keep energy levels up! Did you know morning sickness can often happen because of irregular blood sugar levels? Don’t skip your NingXia!

Life 9 probiotic

This high-potency probiotic combines 17 billion live cultures from 9 beneficial bacteria strains to promote healthy digestion, support gut health, and help maintain normal intestinal function.

A healthy gut helps keep our immune systems strong, allows us to absorb the proper nutrients, and keeps things flowing regularly when we have that little one growing and pushing everything around.  

Daily Oils*

Young Living also has its dietary line of oils called The Vitality Line. Ingesting a drop or two of both Thieves vitality and Lemon vitality with NingXia Red, with your favorite tea, or with just plain water can help support your immune system throughout pregnancy. This can be especially helpful if you struggle with your daily water intake. Adding a drop of Lemon or Peppermint Vitality into your water to give it a little flavor may be the extra incentive you need to get the quantity of water you need.

Daily supplements: Take whatever supplements your doctor, midwife, or chiropractor suggest to support your immune system and keep you energized and healthy. This is likely to include a prenatal vitamin, vitamin D, and natural folate, like the Orgen-FA® found in Young Living’s Super B! Making sure you’re getting enough calcium and magnesium can also be very helpful.

*Please feel empowered to make your own health choices.

**If you plan to breastfeed and are nervous about milk production, discontinue regular use of Peppermint a month or two before your due date. Some people are sensitive to mint and have reported decreased milk production when using it regularly while nursing.

We’ve discussed how important what goes IN your body is. But what about what you put ON your body or what you expose your body to in your own home!

Young Living makes it easy to swap out harmful products for clean, safe, and effective products.

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Start with your skin care. 

Many skin care and makeup products contain harmful ingredients that can affect your reproductive system, human development, organs, and much more. Some even contain carcinogens that are linked to cancer. These harmful chemicals get absorbed into your skin as you wear them.

These harmful ingredients are NOT found in any Young Living products.

In Young Living products, you will find NO PETROCHEMICALS, NO TALC, NO PARABENS, and especially NO PHTHALATES, which are toxic to the reproductive system and can affect development.

Young Living skincare products are here to empower you to be the healthy woman and mother you WANT and DESERVE to be.

Next, swap out some home care products.

Use the Thieves line to swap out every cleaner you own, including laundry detergent, hand and dishwasher soap, hand purifier, toothpaste, mouthwash and more. The Thieves line is formulated with natural plant-based ingredients for the safest way to clean your house, your mouth, and your clothes!

As soon as that baby arrives, your world is about to get a lot more hectic and busy!

I know you’re excited and anxious for your baby to arrive but TRUST ME, soak in some quiet time and pamper yourself a little. Go see a movie, get a pedicure, have a date night, or take a warm bath with your essential oils to relax. Do something that you really enjoy, something that is peaceful, life-giving and recharging, because as soon as that baby arrives, it’s a whole new world. Beautiful, but busy.

Use your oils to maximize these moments of relaxation. 

Ok, so maybe you don’t have time to take a bath in lace, milk, and flowers but PLEASE add your oils! Doing this is a GAME. CHANGER. Try this simple bath salts recipe and recite a few positive calming affirmations.

Bath Salts

– 1-2 cups Epsom salt
– 10 drops Lavender or any other calming oil of choice

Add the Essential Oil to the bath salts; shake or stir; then, add the mixture to a warm bath.

Affirmations:

“I am relaxed.”
“I am letting go of all my worries.”
“I release my concerns for the time being.”
“My body is relaxed and at peace.”
“My mind is calm.”

Doctors used to give episiotomies to almost everyone. WHAT?! PASS…

However, doctors are now moving away from that practice. THANK GOODNESS. They have found that most women tear less severely and heal just as well without making a “clean” cut with an episiotomy.

Start massaging the perineum with this oil blend for soft expandable skin at least three weeks before your due date. Start earlier if you think you will deliver early.

Mix 8 drops Geranium and 5 drops Lavender with 1 oz V6 carrier oil; massage your perineum with this blend along with a spray or two of ClaraDerm three times a day*.

*One week before delivery add 5 drops Fennel to above recipe and apply to and massage your perineum with this oil blend and ClaraDerm spray three times a day.

Non-oily recommendations to avoid vaginal tearing during delivery.

Deliver your baby while in a hands and knees (tabletop) position. This takes the pressure of baby off the rectum and makes it less likely for you to tear.

Delivery in the water. More hospitals are warming up to the idea of water births. If you have a tub in your room and are not allowed to deliver in the water, stay in that tub as long as possible. Many women report that water helps decrease pain during labor as well. 

Both of these techniques can only be done if you are not receiving an epidural.  If you chose to receive an epidural you will deliver your baby on your back so definitely be doing your perineum massage prior to delivery!

Labor is a beautiful time, but it can also be filled with so much anxiety and fear. It’s also a lot of work. Hard work! After all, it is called LABOR for a reason. Remember, you were MADE to do this! And once it’s over, you will meet your new baby! 

As you have learned, Young Living’s oils have so many uses and they have the potential to help ease your body and mind during this process.

Think about the oils you have gotten to know so well throughout your pregnancy. Continue to use the ones that have become your favorites – the ones that made you feel the most positive, empowered, and open.

Make a few roll-ons for delivery. This makes using your oils VERY EASY! Instruct your partner or doula to use the oils with you at different times.

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Oils to consider during early labor.
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Use V6 and Gentle Baby & ClaraDerm for perineal massage.

Apply Gentle Baby to your ankles and hands when labor starts.

Diffuse Present Time or apply it to your wrists to focus on giving birth. (Focus roll-on.)

Diffuse Valor and apply it along the spine and inside of each foot. (Courage roll-on.)

Rub Lavender on hips, the bottoms of your feet, or on your abdomen. 

Rub Nutmeg on hips, the bottoms of your feet, or on your abdomen. (Calming to the nervous system.).

Take NingXia Red, NingXia Nitro, NingXia Zyng, Mind Wise, En-R-Gee essential oil as needed for energy and focus!

As soon as you realize you’re in labor, take some NR for nutrition and energy and Mindwise to support your heart and brain.

If you are in a hospital and can’t drink during delivery, have the Nitro and Zyng on hand for your partner and maybe even staff. It could be a long one. =)

Add 1 drop of Peppermint in the toilet and sit above it, or smell peppermint while on the toilet. It’s also great to inhale in between contractions for focus.

Use DiGize (on feet), Spearmint, or Peppermint for nausea if needed. (Tummy roll-on.)

Put 1-3 drops Clary Sage around the ankles to kick labor into gear. You can also add Dragon time, Fennel, and Gathering.

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Oils to consider during transition.
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As you enter active labor, your cervix begins to dilate more rapidly, and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. People often refer to the last part of active labor as transition. This is often when women feel like they just can’t do it anymore. Don’t be afraid! That means you’re soooo close to meeting your baby!

Try these oily tips to help you get through!

– Dilute Basil and add 1-2 drops on temples and abdomen or vita flex points on feet.

– Use Peppermint and/or RC in between contractions to help with breathing.

– Use more Valor/ Courage Roll on. Also, try speaking positive thoughts to yourself or have your partner or support person speak them to you. Say things like, “I was made to do this,” “I am a strong powerful woman,” “I am more than capable,” and “I am a good mother.”

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Oils to consider any time.
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Massage Panaway*, Deep Relief*, OrthoEase* on lower back for discomfort.
*Contains Wintergreen, so use with caution.

Use Marjoram, Lemongrass, or Lavender on muscles and joints for aches.

Other options are to rub Harmony, Peace & Calming, or Clary Sage over the uterus area to minimize discomfort during contractions.

*Please make decisions based on your personal health. Feel empowered to do your own research and decide what you are comfortable with using or doing for you and your family. 

Labor Favorites 

Here are some fun, effective roll-on recipes that are perfect for the big day. Note that if you plan to use any of these blends before labor – omit Clary Sage.

Combine the following oils in a 10 mL container, top off with Young Living V6 Carrier Oil, and put on your roller top! Keep this handy or in your labor bag. 

NOTE: You can adjust the amount of each essential oil based on smell if you are extra sensitive to scent! Pick the oils you LOVE the smell of!

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CALM:

You may omit any of these if you don’t enjoy the scent. I highly recommend Clary Sage and Frankincense in this roller.

• 10 drops Clary Sage
• 3 drops Peace & Calming
• 5-10 drops Frankincense
• 2 drops Stress Away
• 2 drops Lavender

FOCUS:

• 5 drops Highest Potential
• 5 drops Present Time
• 5 drops Brain Power
• 5 drops Clary Sage

LABOR:

• 10 drops Clary Sage
• 10 drops Gentle Baby
• 5 drops Geranium

NOTE:  You can consider adding Dragon Time but it will smell strongly of Fennel.

TUMMY:

• 8 drops Peppermint*
• 15 drops Spearmint
• 5 drops DiGize (and more if you enjoy the smell.)

*Peppermint can cause a decrease in milk supply for some. If you have concerns about milk production, please omit Peppermint from your roller.

COURAGE:

• 25 drops Valor 

The postpartum time is just as important as your prenatal time and there’s so much that you can do to help your body and mind heal from all the hard work you just did.

In the perfect world of social media, there’s such a temptation to feel the need to pop back from birth as if nothing happened, to get that pre-baby-body back, the house clean, your baby sleep-trained, and all of your ducks in a row, right away.

I’d like to remind you that your body just did something major and amazing and it needs time to heal and you need time to recover. Be gentle with yourself and ask for help.

 These oils can help too!

Oils to use Postpartum

Comfort during postpartum uterine contractions – Geranium & Lavender: dilute and apply over uterus, ankles, or bottoms of feet.

Milk Supply – Clary Sage diluted – apply above breasts and lymph area to bring in milk supply.
– To increase supply, use Fennel or Basil over breasts.
– To decrease supply, use Peppermint or Jasmine over breasts.

Soothing and cooling your hoo-ha =) Claraderm Spray.

Rectal pads – in case the pressure of your baby gave your bottom a nice little present, try this:

Combine 3 drops of each of these oils into 1 oz. witch hazel: Cypress, Clary Sage, Patchouli, Peppermint, Sandalwood, Basil, Frankincense, Helichrysum, Myrrh. Soak up with cotton pads. Place one pad on rectum as needed a few times a day for several days. If you don’t have all of the above oils, use what you have.

C-section – Use Lavender and Frankincense (Rose, too, if you feel like splurging) to keep your incision healthy. Mix 5 drops each in 1 oz. carrier oil. At one week postpartum, start to massage the incision with your mixture for five minutes three times a day. 

Tummy roller to help with easy bowel movements. Use this daily for a few weeks postpartum to stay regular: DiGize, Spearmint, Peppermint*. See recipe in the previous post. 
*Do not use Peppermint if you are breastfeeding and are concerned about milk supply. 

Postpartum Belly Balm* – Add 20 drops of Clarity, Dragon Time, Geranium, Gentle Baby to a bottle of Lavender lotion; apply to belly 24 hours postpartum and thereafter daily for skin elasticity. 
*Do not use until after delivery.

Tender Breasts – Apply one drop of Lavender and Citrus Fresh to any tender or hot areas on breasts after milk comes in. Couple with frequent nursing or pumping.

Baby Blues** – Diffuse or apply any of the following oils or blends: Joy, Lavender, Lemon, Peace & Calming, Valor, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Frankincense, Gentle Baby, Geranium, Basil.

**If the oils don’t bring you to your normal state, please seek help. Tell a friend or family member. Postpartum sadness is real and can be serious. Ask for help. There is no need to be ashamed. It is not your fault. Hormones are amazing but big fluxes in them can cause you to not feel like yourself.

Night Sweats – Restart your Progessence Plus regimen.

Continue with good nutrition – Eat healthy foods and take your NingXia Red, Life 9, and any other nutritional supplements you have been taking.  
FUN FACT: Women burn around 20 calories to make 1 ounce of breast milk. So, if your baby drinks 19-30 ounces a day, that’s anywhere between 380-600 calories. Please make sure you’re taking in enough calories to keep you and your baby fed and healthy!

Thank you for taking the time to read through this. Let us know if you have any questions or need help making a selection.

Warmly,

Viviane & your Aroma Nest friends

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New? Find your Aroma Nest friend who’s sent you here to use their referral link.

Can’t find her/him? Send me a text and I’ll help you: (248) 587-7292 or

email: Viviane@VivianeNiemann.com