Pregnancy Must Haves!
This pregnancy I tried my best to go the more “natural” route. We started getting into essential oils, and a more healthy lifestyle after Theo was born, so I was super excited to incorporate oils and other things with this pregnancy! Today, I wanted to share just a couple of my MUST HAVES with you guys! I hope that you learn something, feel empowered, and take something away!
Okay, pregnancy must have number one: A pregnancy “guide.” I picked up the Mama Natural Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth from Amazon. This book has been an amazing resource and I have learned so much just from a more “natural” perspective. For example, I didn’t know I had other options for the glucose tolerance test. This book talks about other options besides drinking that awful “glucola” drink that has tons of dyes and crazy ingredients in it. I chatted with my midwife and she gave me other options and I ended up drinking two organic juice boxes instead. As always, there are different cases and issues that may not allow you other options, but just talk with your OB or midwife and find what works best for YOU!
Another great resource I ordered was Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Ina May is like the birth unicorn that would have delivered baby Jesus in a winter forest surrounded by wild animals, she’s the MVP of midwives y’all. She is known as the nations leading midwife and in this book, she shares the benefits of natural childbirth and really just empowers women to trust their bodies to do what their supposed to do. Whatever birth is for YOU, whether at home, at a birth center, or in the hospital, this book has everything you need to know to have the best birth experience possible.
A couple other pregnancy must haves that I recommend are, Stress Away roll-on and Peppermint essential oil. I only use the highest quality, best essential oils — Young Living. I blogged more in depth about essential oils here, if you want to read why I chose Young Living. I love applying the Stress Away roll-on to my neck and wrists and even just inhaling it reminds me of a tropical vacation. With hints of lime and vanilla, it helps to keep mama nice and calm. Peppermint is amazing for inhaling and diffusing to help wake you up, and it’s also great to use for those uneasy feelings you seem to get during the first trimester. I have been keeping my energy and immunity up by drinking NingXia Red. NingXia Red is a super food drink made with wolf berries also known as goji berries, it has tons of health benefits including: supporting brain health, joint health, hormone health, natural energy, it’s chock full of antioxidants, and helps boost immunity too. The antioxidant value in one cup of NingXia Red is equal to approximately: 4 cups of purple grapes, 1 cup of wolfberries, 5 whole cherries, ½ cup blueberries, 75 pomegranate arils, ½ plum, and ¼ cup aronia berries. WOW! That’s a whole lot of goodness. And with all the food aversions and cravings, I will gladly drink all that every single day! I have used Young Living oils and products this entire pregnancy, and will continue to use them for birth and postpartum as well. A great resource I have been referring to is the book Gentle Babies by Debra Raybern. But, as always, this is my personal opinion and what works for me. I always recommend you doing your own research to find what works best for you, and always consult with your doctor or midwife as well. If you are curious to learn more about essential oils, shoot me a DM on my wellness IG account (@rosegoldwellness) or email me here and we can connect!
Some other must haves that have been helping me get through some of the preggo discomforts — I’m looking at you acid reflux and indigestion…are Zand Menthol Herbal Lozenges and MATY’S Acid Indigestion Relief. These two things have been great with easing some of these not so fun pregnancy annoyances. The Zand Menthol lozenges are also super helpful with nausea as well.
My second to last must have for this pregnancy, my prenatal vitamin: MegaFood Baby and Me 2. This vitamin is made with real food, wholesome nutritional yeast and added nutrients. These vitamins are certified gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, vegetarian safe, kosher, and Non-GMO. I also love that their concept is “farm to tablet,” meaning that all the vitamin and mineral sources comes from REAL food. Only the best for me and my babe!!
Another must have that I’ve been using religiously is my homemade belly butter. It smells like heaven and it makes my belly a smooth, silky dream. The oils are all fantastic for skin support, and work beautifully on growing, stretching skin.
Ingredients:
+ 5 drops Young Living Frankincense Essential Oil
+ 5 drops Young Living Geranium Essential Oil
+ 5 drops Young Living Lavender Essential Oil
+ 3 drops Young Living Rose Essential Oil
+ 1/2 cup cold-pressed, organic coconut oil — I use this one.
+ 1/4 cup shea butter — I use this one.
+ 1/4 cup cocoa butter — I use this one.
+ 1/2 cup sweet almond oil — I use this one.
+ 1 tsp vitamin e oil — I use this one.
+ 1/2 tsp jojoba oil — I use this one.
Directions:
Using a double boiler, or simply set a glass pyrex dish over a sauce pan filled with water, melt the shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil over medium heat. Once liquefied, remove from the heat and let cool. Add essential oils, sweet almond oil, vitamin e, and jojoba oils. Put the cream in the fridge to harden. Before mixing let it sit out at room temperature to slightly soften, making it easier to work with. Using an electric mixer, whip until nice and fluffy. Using a wooden spoon, transfer to a glass jar. Viola! The easiest, yummiest belly butter! I apply it every single night after my bath and this stuff not only smells so good, but it WORKS!
This is just a couple things that I have been loving this go round! I would love to hear if you guys have any faves for pregnancy!
Leave a Reply