Pregnancy
Care and Essential Oils
Pregnancy
Care
Your pregnancy is a
very important phase of your life and is a special time to look after
yourself. Not only for your own sake but for the baby’s too. It is often
said “pamper yourself now because you’ll never have the chance once the
baby comes!” How true!
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Though
most essential oils should be avoided altogether during pregnancy,
there are some that are wonderfully appropriate.
It
is recommended that the use of essential oils be minimised for the
duration of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. During
pregnancy use only 1/2 dose of essential oils ie 2-3 drops essential
oil to 10mL carrier oil.
The
following essential oils are most suitable as gentle relaxants for
the expecting mother and also to assist with the prevention of stretch
marks.
It
is advisable to consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist.
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MANDARIN
NEROLI ORANGE PETITGRAIN
The following essential oils may also be used in the later stages of pregnancy
to assist where morale is perhaps a little low, or where physical discomforts
occur such as backache, nausea or heartburn
BERGAMOT LAVENDER GERANIUM SPEARMINT
For use in labour during childbirth the following oils are of particular
assistance. Clary Sage and Jasmine are only to be used in the final stages
of pregnancy for pain relief and as an aid to childbirth when effective
uterine contractions are to be encouraged.
CLARY SAGE JASMINE LAVENDER
Essential
Oil Recipes for...Pregnancy
and Childbirth
MORNING
SICKNESS
2 drops Ginger
3 drops Spearmint
Vapourise in an oil burner or place on a tissue and sniff as required
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STRETCH
MARK PREVENTATIVE
5 drops Lavender
10 drops Mandarin
10mL Wheat Germ oil
40mL Apricot Kernel oil
Massage over abdomen, breasts and thighs throughout pregnancy |
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HAEMORRHOIDS
Witch Hazel ointment
or
4 drops Cypress
4 drops Geranium
25mL Hypericum infused oil
Apply to affected area |
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VARICOSE
VEINS
Sunspirit Lively Legs
dilute by half with any Sunspirit carrier oil
(eg. 10mL Sunspirit Lively Legs with 10mL Apricot Kernel oil
or
5 drops Cypress
5 drops Geranium
5 drops Lavender
50mL Apricot Kernel oil
Apply to legs with gentle upward strokes
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CONSTIPATION
6 drops Chamomile 3%
3 drops Patchouli
6 drops Rose 3%
25mL Apricot Kernel oil
Massage over abdomen and lower back |
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DELIVERY
VAPOURISING BLEND
3 drops Bergamot
1 drop Clary Sage
2 drops Lavender
Vapourise in electric oil burner in delivery room to help relieve
stress |
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LABOUR
& CHILDBIRTH
10 drops Jasmine 3%
5 drops Clary Sage
25mL Apricot Kernel oil
Massage over abdomen and lower back only when labour has started or
if baby is overdue |
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POST
NATAL STRESS
2 drops Jasmine 3%
Rub onto temples and wrists 2-3 times a day |
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MASTITIS
Poke Root ointment
Massage onto
breasts and under arm. May be diluted with a carrier oil for a smoother
consistency
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SORE
NIPPLES
1 drop Lavender
5mL Apricot Kernel oil
or
Calendula infused oil
or
ointment
Massage immediately into nipple after feed and wash carefully right
before next feed
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Please
refer to page 61 of the Sunspirit booklet for Pregnancy Precautions
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