essential oils // natural birth kit & gentle baby body balm recipe

while beautiful and miraculous, plainly put, giving birth is very hard work.  from both of my experiences, having a baby it is not only physically taxing but very emotionally challenging too.  i think many of us assume, and correctly so, that it will hurt hurt hurt.  while true, i feel that pregnant moms, myself especially included, are unable (undoubtably for good reason) to grasp the toll that labor and delivery will take on their hearts emotionally speaking.  i feel those expecting have a perfect package wrapped up in our minds and when that doesn't unfold the way we've been hoping, everything within our reach, or so it seems, is susceptible to crumble like a dried out sand castle.  or at least that's how i felt in those immediate hours after having given birth.  as excited and overjoyed i was to meet both of our babies, each experience was rather overwhelming.  when a precious life is involved, the stakes are high, and possibly as high as a one can go.  when i think back to how i felt when i had both stella and theodore, the physical pain i had in those intense moments of labor and delivery was fervent, coupled with the raw emotional pendulum we felt chained to as our babies were whisked away from our teary eyes and into the nicu where all was uncertain for far too long.  

let me boldy say, birth is amazing.  it is most definitely beyond and above stringing together words and it is thee most beautiful gift.  but, is also so hard.  growing, having, and meeting our babies was undoubtedly one of the most humble seasons of my life, and if i am being honest, the entire journey was and still is very difficult to emotionally navigate.  i think about those times in the hospital quite a bit, reflecting on each moment as i know i'll be experiencing this all again very soon.  although i am well aware that things could be very different this time around, and i pray every day that they will be, we are taking a few extra steps to help both my physical and emotional healing while i stay in the hospital.  for our third labor and delivery i am taking with me my oils birth kit.  it is packed with simple and natural forms of comfort and healing to aid throughout the whole process.  i have already started using some of these oils to help prepare my body for giving birth, and use certain oils to help calm me down throughout the day when feeling anxious or sensing unease.  i feel so blessed to have these little bottles to help me when i need it, and love even more that they are pure, safe, and made by god.  knowing that i'll have this tool kit gives me a tremendous amount of contentment and i am happy to share it with you. 

gentle baby blend: i'll be diffusing this blend during labor and delivery to help calm emotions and create a beautiful atmosphere as we welcome our little love into the world.  i adore the smell of this oil blend and have been wearing it and diffusing it regularly throughout my pregnancy.  it contains some of my favorite calming oils: lavender, geranium, roman chamomile, rosewood, jasmine, palmarosa, rose, bergamot, ylang ylang, and lemon.  it smells like the loveliest garden and it is what i want to smell during those times of discomfort.  in addition to diffusing, i made a gentle babies body balm with this oil that i've packed in our hospital bag to use after delivery to help my skin.  every oil in this blend is beneficial for skin regeneration and combined with carrier oils it is very soothing.  i will be applying this all over in the hospital, as i am currently, to my belly and legs and back to help my skin as it changes and stretches daily.  this oils blend is also safe for babes when used correctly and one we will be using once our little one is born.

my gentle baby body balm recipe: 

with a hand mixer, whip 1/2 cup of organic coconut oil and 1/4 cup of shea butter until smooth.  add 30 drops of gentle baby oil (you can add a few drops of lavender to this if you are wanting to help calm your uterus down) to the whipped oil mixture and blend in.  melt one teaspoon of organic bees wax pellets in a mason jar.  you can do this using a double boiler method on the stove.  once the bees wax is melted, and stir oils mixture into the wax until fully incorporated.  store in a cool place overnight to let set.  this mixture will harden a little bit creating a soothing yet very soft body balm.  

lavender: this versatile oil is one i have been using throughout my entire pregnancy.  not only does it promote relaxation and help relieve pain, but it may help calm the uterus if experiencing early contractions.  i keep this one nearby and use it neat on my lower abdomen if i cannot get my pre-labor contractions to settle down, which i have been having a lot of.  this oil, paired with a large glass of ice water and laying on my side have helped me and my baby relax. 

claraderm spray: i have heard amazing things about this oil blend spray.  it is a bit of a splurge, but after all i have heard and read i think it will be quite worth it since it contains so many oils that together, create the perfect healing blend for both pre and post delivery.  the oils in this spray are myrrh, tea tree, lavender, frankincense, roman chamomile, and helichrysum with a coconut oil base.  because it is diluted with a carrier, it is safe to spray on your lady bits and is suggested you do so not only after delivering, but also before labor as early as a few months out.  myrrh serves as a liquid bandaid helping avoid infection, lavender and frankincense sooth and heal, roman chamomile is good for skin regeneration and calming, tea tree is anti-bacterial, and helichrysum is known for its amazing restorative and healing properties.  

geranium: this oil is one that can help the perineum before delivering.  to one ounce of almond oil, add ten or so drops of geranium and massage.  this can help prevent tearing during delivery and make for a smoother recovery.  i plan on using this in a sitz bath after delivery as well as this oil is known to help with pain and inflammation.  in addition to helping pull together tissues after delivery, this oil may also help stimulate circulation which in turn can facilitate easier breathing during difficult bouts of labor.

peppermint: this oil may be helpful to relieve nausea before or during labor.  it's a good one to have on hand if you are in need of immediate relief.  i will put a drop of it on the roof of my mouth or simply smell from the bottle if i am feeling sick to my stomach.  note: this oil may hinder your milk supply so keep that in mind.

lemon: adding a drop to ice water may help with swelling and water retention.  i have been doing this once a day to act as a gentle detox to help keep things moving in my system.  it also peps up my water which is nice since i am strictly supposed to be drinking like a hundred glasses a day.

fennel: this oil can help boost your milk supply!  i am bring it along to help increase my lactation by swallowing a drop in a tablespoon of honey a few times before heading home.

peace and calming: i'll be diffusing this blend at night in the hospital and applying on my spine and feet to get a restful (as restful as one can in a hospital) sleep. 

clary sage: this oil is used to help speed along labor, but given that i am in need of the opposite i will not be adding this to my personal birth kit.  however, i do have friends who have used this to help induce labor and swear by it.

gentle babies book: this recourse is one that has helped our family tremendously.  we will be packing it along in our hospital bag as well. 

*if you are new to oils or are wanting more information regarding safety etc. please read below.  if you are wanting to order oils of your own or create your own birth kit, click this link and create a wholesale account.  feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email if you have further questions!

it's important to note that oils are a great tool to have when it comes to practicing wellness, no matter the season, but if used without knowledge they can be harmful, just like medicine that is used irresponsibly.  this by no means should deter you from using them because they are a great way to keep your family healthy naturally throughout the seasons, just do your homework and play it safe.  education, education, education friends!  also, the information contained on this website is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  the information represents what i, an independent distributer of young living essential oils, have chosen to do to take charge of my own personal health and that of my family.  statements on this website have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  products on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition please consult your physical before using these products.  furthermore, information found on this site is meant for educational and informational purposes only, and to motivate you to make your own health and dietary decisions based upon your own research and partnership with your healthcare provider. 

why young living oils you ask?  our family chose to use young living essential oils because they are a seed to seal company, meaning they plant, cultivate, distill, test, and seal the product resulting in a product that is genuine, free of synthetic chemicals, and unmatched in purity.  it is important to note: not all oils are safe to consume or to use even on small humans; furthermore, many oils you find in the supermarket are either diluted or are comprised of a variety of ingredients that will not give you the same health benefits as a product like young living.  i have learned you must check the labels on the oils and do your own research before ingesting any oils, no matter the brand.  likewise, is important to practice caution with any oil or natural remedy you are using at home to ensure the safety of you and your family.