doTERRA Essential Oils For Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery, And Postpartum

During pregnancy there can be so many joys but also much discomfort.  Not only during pregnancy, but also with labor and delivery, even postpartum.  As I wrote about yesterday, there is a wonderful company called doTERRA which has some natural remedies for the discomforts you may experience through the miracle of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and once your beautiful baby arrives.  There are so many essential oils that doTERRA offers and they have a concoction for most pregnancy aches and pains, labor discomfort and postpartum healing.

Pregnancy:

As beautiful as pregnancy is, let’s face it...there can be so many things that cause you to be incredibly uncomfortable, especially towards the end.  There are 8 essential oils from doTERRA that will become your best friends during pregnancy; Bergamot, Geranium, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Sandalwood, Wild Orange, and Ylang Ylang.  Each oil or a combination of oils help specific discomforts during pregnancy.

• Acid Reflux/Heartburn -- Add 2 drops of Lemon to drinking water.  Apply Frankincense on throat and chest.
• Anxiety -- Diffuse or inhale Wild Orange or Lavender.  Add Lavender, Ylang Ylang, or Geranium to a warm bath.  This will also be great to have in the delivery room to help stay relaxed.
• Breast Tenderness -- Apply Lavender to the top of each breast.
• Cold Sore -- Apply Melissa or Bergamot at the first tingle; repeat hourly.
• Congestion -- Apply Lemon under nose, on chest, or to the bottoms of feet.
• Constipation -- Apply Lemon or Ginger to stomach or add to drinking water.
• Depression -- Use Lavender, Frankincense, Bergamot, Wild Orange, or Geranium.  Diffuse add to bath or massage, or apply to bottoms of feet.
• Edema/Swelling -- Massage diluted Geranium, Ginger, Lemon, or Lavender into legs, starting at the feet.  Work toward the heart, stopping at the thighs.  Cypress may be used in the third trimester.  Drink plenty of water.
• Fatigue -- Inhale Wild Orange.
• Headache -- Apply Lavender to the back of the neck and temples.
• Hemorrhoids -- Apply Geranium or Cypress to affected area or add to sitz bath.
• High Blood Pressure -- Add Lavender or Ylang Ylang to a nightly bath or diffuse.  Avoid Peppermint oil.
• Insomnia -- Use Lavender, Sandalwood or Ylang Ylang.  Before bed diffuse, apply to feet, or add to bath.
• Itchy Skin -- Apply diluted Lavender.  Use Belly Butter Recipe on the back of this sheet.
• Muscle Cramps -- Apply Lavender, Bergamot, or Sandalwood.
• Nausea -- Make a mist with 20 drops Peppermint or Ginger, 10 drops Wild Orange, 15 drops Lemon.  Add to a 4 ounce bottle and top it off with water.  Mist when nausea strikes.  Massage earlobes with Ginger; add to water to drink.
• Perineum Preparation -- Dilute Geranium and apply to perineum.  Massage daily from 37 weeks until delivery.
• Preterm Labor -- To help stop preterm labor; massage 1 to 3 drops of diluted Lavender from ankles to hips.  To prevent preterm labor; add to a relaxing bath each evening.
• Sciatica -- Massage Bergamot into painful area and down leg.
• Stretch Mark Prevention -- Use Belly Butter recipe.
• UTI/Kidney Infection -- Add Lemon to drinking water.  Apply Lemongrass over the bladder.  Apply Cypress over the kidneys.

Labor & Delivery:

The tricky part of labor and delivery is you never know what exactly will happen.  It is great to be prepared for anything.  There are some essential oils which are great to use during birth.

• Back Labor -- Apply 1 to 3 drops of Black Pepper to lower back.  Bilute and massage if that is comforting.
• Prevention of Hemorrhage -- Apply 1 to 3 drops of Helichrysum on lower back during labor to help prevent.
• Labor Progression -- Apply Clary Sage to the lower abdomen.  Massage gently.
• Relaxation -- Spray Mist; 20 drops Lavender, 15 drops Wild Orange, 15 drops Peppermint.  Top off with a bit of water in a 4 ounce bottle.
• Energy -- Spray Mist; 15 drops Wild Orange, 10 drops Bergamot, 10 drops Lavender, 10 drops Clary Sage.  Top off with a bit of water in a 4 ounce bottle.

Postpartum:

After you deliver, whether vaginal or c-section, doTERRA has some oils which are great for helping the healing.

• Cramping -- Massage diluted Lavender onto lower abdomen.  Apply a hot compress or heating pad.
• Anxiety -- Inhale Wild Orange or Lavender.  Diffusing these oils will benefit the whole family.
• C-section Incision Care -- Apply Lavender, Frankincense, and Helichrysum to promote healing.  Add Melaleuca if infection is a concern.
• Postpartum Depression -- Use a combination of Lavender, Patchouli, Frankincense, and Clary Sage in a diffuser, in a bath, or use with carrier oil for a massage.  Apply to the bottoms of feet several times a day.  
• Perineum Care -- There are 3 possible remedies you should prepare in advance.

-- Spray Mist: Add Geranium, Lavender, and Helichrysum to a small spray bottle.  Mist onto the tender area frequently,  Add a little carrier oil to dilute if needed.

-- Soothing Pads: Add 20 to 30 drops of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, or Geranium to a bottle of witch hazel.  Shake mixture well and apply to large maxi pads.  Place pads in the freezer until needed.  Use after vaginal delivery to ease perineum pain.

-- Perineum Rinse:  Combine 5 to 10 drops of Lavender or Geranium to water in a Peri bottle for a soothing rinse.  Use this rinse after using the bathroom.

Breastfeeding:

• Cracked Nipples -- Apply Lavender and olive oil to nipples after each feeding. Myrrh can also be soothing.  Make sure the baby is latching properly.  Pain can be an indication that the baby is not latching proper.
• Fussiness -- Diffuse Lavender and Wild Orange to help keep Mommy and Baby calm.  This is especially great when struggling with breastfeeding to help keep a calm atmosphere.
• Mastitis -- Don’t stop nursing or pumping.  Use Lavender on top of each infected breast throughout the day.  Massage the following blend over the entire breast.  10 drops each Melaleuca, Lavender, Roman Chamomile in 2 tablespoons carrier oil.  Massage from armpits toward the nipple.
• Supply Issues -- To help start production, massage 1 to 2 drops of Clary Sage to top of breasts.

              -- To help increase supply, massage 1 to 2 drops of Basil or Fennel to the top of breasts.

              -- To help decrease supply, massage 1 to 2 drops of Peppermint to the top of breasts.

I have had a friend who is due in the summer use these products during pregnancy and she loves them.  I used the Perineum Care myself.  During delivery I had a 4th degree tear.  Not pretty. It took incredibly long to heal, and still is.  We could not seem to get things healing properly, I started using each method of Perineum Care and I am about 90% back to normal... as normal as one can be after birth.  I am in love with these products and recommend them to anyone struggling with their pregnancy.

I must urge you to speak to your doctor or midwife before using anything during pregnancy.  For the information I have listed, this has come from doTERRA and the rest is my opinion. I was not compensated in any way by doTERRA.

doTERRA Essential Oils

In the world today, I am finding that for every ache, pain, ailment, or just because, people take medications and that solves the problem.  I am one for looking to natural remedies as much as possible.  That is not to say that medications are not beneficial, because at times they certainly are necessary; but, I feel you should look to the natural first.  Especially during pregnancy, when medications could not only harm you, but your child too.  Overall, my belief is to look at the natural first.

This past week I have had the pleasure of testing out some products for a company called, doTERRA.  doTERRA is a wonderful company that created quality therapeutic-grade essential oils.  doTERRA truly has a product for everything!  

I received an email from doTERRA as what package I would like based on my family’s needs and goals.  I wasn’t too sure about the products and I didn’t know what to expect so I asked her to just send me what she though would be best.  doTERRA sent me an introductory kit consisting of an audio presentation of what the products are capable of, a beginner’s guide, a magazine, and the most important part, 3 essential oils, Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint.

Each product has it’s own purpose and will target different things.

Lavender:

• Apply to the bottom of feet or on a pillow before sleeping
• Use to calm reaction to a bee sting or s bite
• Use with bath salts for a relaxing spa bathing experience
• Apply to wrists or inhale when traveling to ease motion upset
• Apply to soothe sunburned or scalded skin
• Apply to hands, feet, or back of a restless child
• Use to soothe diaper rash
• Calm sensitive skin and soothe pores after hair removal
• Apply to dry, chapped lips before applying lip balm
• Use with peppermint for a healthy scalp massage
• Add to lotion for a stress-relieving hand massage

Personal Use:

Sleep- I apply to my son’s feet every night and he falls asleep within 10 minutes! The scent even makes me sleepy!!

Post Shaving- I use it right after the shower after I have shaved to avoid and razor burn.

Cracked hands- My husband has dermatitis on his hands so they get cracked and cause him pain.  He uses about 2 drops on his hands and he has had such an improvement!

Massage- After a long day, when the baby is put in the crib, my husband will give me a massage every once in a while, he used this oil and it was so relaxing.  Much better than using thick, smelly, lotions.

Lemon:

• Add a drop to your water
• Diffuse aromatically or apply topically for mood elevation
• Add a drop to honey to soothe a cough or sore throat
• Dilute with coconut oil for daily fingernail massage
• Apply to directly to cold sores
• Add a drop of lemon and peppermint to your toothbrush after use
• Diffuse in a room to neutralize odor
• Remove gum, label, adhesives, and greasy substances from fabric
• Use to clean kitchen counters and stainless steel appliances
• Add to olive oil for a non-toxic furniture polish

Personal Use:

Pick-me-up- We just leave the bottle open in the room and it is strong enough to lift the exhaustion and up the mood.

Sore throat- I add a drop to water or tea when I have allergies or a sore throat.  I am actually using this as we speak.  I woke up with a sore throat and added some to my tea.  Instantly soothes.

Ease nausea- This past week my husband and I have been driving out of the state and we both have motion sickness.  Just inhaling this helped ease the nausea. 

Peppermint:

• Rub on stomach or feet, or take a drop internally to calm indigestion or upset stomach
• Use with lemon in water for a healthy, refreshing mouth rinse
• Diffuse aromatically or apply topically to open sinuses and airways
• Apply with lavender to sore, tired joints
• Breath during a meal to help you feel full
• Add to a cold water compress or foot bath to cool off when overheated
• Inhale as a non-stimulant, invigorating pick-me-up on long drives
• Add to shampoo and conditioner for a stimulating hair and scalp massage
• Use with lavender and lemon during allergy season
• Spread on child’d shirt before studying for alertness

Personal Use:

Diet- Always trying to eat right, adding a small dab to my feet before I eat helps me feel full so I don’t eat more for the sake of eating.

Feeling full- I put a dab on my stomach after eating to avoid that overly stuffed feeling.

Alert- Keeps my husband alert while driving extended periods of time.

Mouth wash- With lemon and water, it makes a great mouth wash and actually whitens teeth!

I have found some amazing relief from these oils, whether just to help sleep, or heal my husband’s cracked hands!  I can not wait to try some other products that they offer.  I would recommend this as a start before trying anything else.

In my line of work, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and babies, I am constantly looking for new ways to help mommas!  doTERRA also have a line of essential oils for pregnancy, birth and baby.  Of course before using anything at all you should consult your doctor or midwife.  I will have more for all of you on their essential oils for pregnancy, birth and baby coming up.