What will help improve elasticity of the skin?

Everyone knows about cocoa butter and vitamin E and how great they are for the skin. But what if I told you there are some oils that work crazy well, if not better to try and ensure that those nasty stretch marks don’t show up? Oils like Lavender, Myrrh and Gentle Baby are great for this. They can even help after you’ve had a baby and want the stretch marks to go away. (Gentle Baby is a blend of oils that can only be found from Young Living Essential Oils. If you want to learn more, go here).

How to prevent tearing while giving birth?

Ok, this may sound a little weird and it’s weird for me to type but I’m going to do it for your benefit even though I’m feeling awkward right now. This has been a topic that I have discussed with numerous people and have had mixed emotions about. Some say, schedule an episiotomy to make sure that if you do tear, that it will be a straight cut. Others say, why do that! Prepare the area between (yes I’m saying this ahhh) the vagina and rectum with oils months before hand to help lower the risk of tearing. The oils great for this are Geranium and Gentle Baby. It’s really as simple as it sounds. Put the oils on your hands and rub on every single day a a few months prior to giving birth.

Which oils can I use during pregnancy?

Since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve worried about which oils should I use, and which ones shouldn’t I use. Are they all safe, are they not safe? I have to add this caveat here in that seeking a doctor’s advice is always good before using/trying them if you never have been and don’t know too much about them. I’d like to think that I’m a smidgeon of a guru about them and love and use each and every single one. BUT STILL, it’s important to talk with a doctor about them if you’re uncomfortable since during pregnancy everything is changing and sensitivities can be heightened.  Here’s a list that I’ve used and have researched that I feel are safe:

Singles

• Lavender
• Rose
• Myrrh
• Geranium
• Helichrysum
• German Chamomile
• Neroli
• Sandlewood
• Peppermint
• Clary Sage
• Fennel

Is there anything I can use to help the labor move along?

Yep, there is and here’s a recipe to use when the labor has started but it’s not moving along as much as you’d like:

• 4 drops of Helichrysum
• 2 drops of Fennel
• 2 drops of Peppermint
• 5 drops of Ylang Ylang
• 2 drops of Clary Sage
• .5 ounce of V-6 carrier oil

Place all in a glass bottle and use 2-4 drops in your hand and place half on the insides of each ankle (the reproductive Vita Flex points in women). Also rub some on the lower stomach and lower back.

Is there anything that can help with relaxing me during contractions?

Mix together 50/50 of Vetiver and Valerian with 1 Tbsp of v-6 vegetable oil (can be found here) and place on the lower back during those contractions.

I hope this has helped you and that you begin to get equipped with the things you need to be prepared for all this. I know I am getting everything together so when the time comes (I have 6 months), I know I have done everything I can to make this an easy experience.

Yes, this is my first child and no, I don’t know exactly how things will go. What I do know is that I feel better being as prepared as humanly possible with all the natural things I can so when the day comes to have my little guy, I feel calm and relaxed. I hope you can feel this way too when your day comes.

Much love,

PS All formulas described above come from Essential Oils Desk Reference 5th Edition