Transition

The Transition Stage in child birth is so perfectly named.  A passage from one state to another.  The welcoming into motherhood, the entrance into the secret society of being a parent.

During transition I lost it.  It was the first time I laid down during labor.  I had been counting by three’s during each contraction and I was working through them.  Walking around the room in between each one, leaning over the counter and counting during them.

After a few minutes of lying down I started to feel like I was going crazy.  I couldn’t remember what I needed to do.  I lost my focus which was so important to me.  I needed someone to guide me back to my special place.  I told my partner that my hair hurt.  My attendants told me that I was in Transition and that I was doing great.   I told them that my thighs were on fire.  Someones soft hands covered my feet in cooling lotion and finally someone asked “this may be an awful idea but a shower might feel good.”  I don’t think I have ever moved as fast, almost leaping off the bed to the shower.

During Transition, essential oils may help with grounding or to bring a birthing woman back to herself.  Inhaling White Fir can be very powerful.  White Fir with its earthy scent connects me with nature, where I feel the most powerful.  One of the citrus oils, Wild Orange, Lemon, or the blend Citrus Bliss can also be very powerful.  The crisp fragrance of refreshing oranges may uplift the anxiety and mental stress going through a woman during this shot period.  The blend Balance may also help a women through this intense moment of her labor.

Other oils to diffuse would be Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile and Frankincense.

Some women during transition feel nauseous.  Breathing Peppermint may help.

Basil or Black Pepper with Frankincense may help with the pain.  Applying to the abdomen, lower back or thighs.

This is a wonderful site for more information on using essential oils for labor.

 

 

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Please consult qualified healthcare providers for your own personal advice.

Around the House With Kids

I was at a mama’s group the other day and a mother asked what oils she should have on hand for every day stuff with her baby.

Here is my list!

Lavender- Relaxation and sleep.  Bumps, bruises and scraps.  Diaper rashes, cradle cap, scaring, sunburns and most other skin issue.  BURNS!!! Allergies and hay fever.  Bug bites. Nausea. Earaches and other body pain.  Anxiety and depression.  House cleaning… Really, Just put Lavender on it.

Balance- This blend brings a feeling of calmness, peace and relaxation.  Use for relaxing and stress relief for baby and mom.  Use at crazy play dates, before bed, and before stressful situations. I used this every time I would nurse my daughter to sleep.  Also when she is taking a very long time to go to sleep and I am starting to become frustrated.

On Guard-This blend of essential oils have been studied for their strong abilities to kill harmful bacteria, mold, and viruses.

All Purpose Kid Spray

1  2 oz mister spray bottle, filled with distilled water

3-5 drops On Guard

Test the spray in your mouth before applying in a child or babies mouth.  I would start with less drops and add more if needed.  The oils in On Guard are on the hotter side, so just test it on first.

My daughter loves this spray for teething pain and I know plenty of other babies who also love it!  It works great at numbing those sore gums.  Just spray into their mouth as needed.  Like I said, kids love this spray and it won’t be hard.

This spray is also important for killing those germs that kids seem to find.  I spray this into my daughters mouth whenever we are heading to a play date, museum, or the park.  I also spray this on her hands as an anti-bacterial soap alternative.  I also use this to spray off communal toys and picnic tables.

Like I said  All Purpose Kid Spray!

Wild Orange- Uplifting to the spirit!  Great for postpartum hormones. Diarrhea and other tummy issues, apply 2 drops to belly and feet.  Wild Orange helps to increase energy for tired parents.  Add 2 drops to water, makes me smile every time I take a sip.  Anxiety.  Bronchitis and colds.  Colic. Fever.

Breathe- I always have this blend on hand!  It is so soothing to stuffy noses!  Diffuse anytime your child has congestion.  Add 1 drop to 1 teaspoon carrier oil and apply to chest and back.

So that’s my fast and easy list!

NOTE: The advice shared in this document has not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and methods recommended are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease, nor is it intended to replace proper medical help. Kindly understand that essential oils work to help to bring the body into balance – thus helping the body’s natural defenses to restore homeostasis. Essential oils are not used to “treat” medical problems. Thank you for your sharing with others.

Pregnancy, Birthing, and New Baby! Stephanie Fritz LM, CPM

Certified Midwife Stephanie Fritz LM, CPM says this for Pregnancy.  Thought I would pass it along!!

EVERYDAY Routine for the Pregnant Women

Morning:

The Life Long Vitality Pack – The very BEST prenatal vitamin

PB Assist+ Balance and On Guard on bottom of feet every morning

Lemon in ALL your water (may use ANY citrus oil)

3-5 drops Frankincense under tongue

10 drops Grapefruit under tongue or in a capsule

Slim and Sassy 3-5 drops 3-5 times a day

Zendocrine oil blend 3-5 drops in a capsule or on liver area

Evening:

Serenity, Lavender, or other oils to help reduce stress 5 drops on bottom of feet before bedtime

As Needed During Pregnancy:

AromaTouch, Cypress, or citrus oils for occasional swelling

DigestZen, Ginger, Peppermint, Fennel for nausea, heartburn, gas or bloating

Deep Blue or Past Tense for headaches

Birth

Helichrysum with Fractionated Coconut Oil on the perineum during crowning and birth of baby’s head for bruising, swelling, and bleeding.

White Fir and Lavender on mom’s tummy for after pains

Frankincense on baby’s crown/head, and back

Myrrh on baby’s umbilicus to help cord dry quicker and seal the opening to prevent any infection going into that main entrance to the body.

Balance and Melissa on baby’s feet

Geranium and lemon on baby’s feet if jaundice to help support liver in breaking up bilrubin.

Fennel, Basil, or Clary Sage on mom’s breast to help increase milk supply.

Immortelle (20 drops) or Frankincense & Lavender 10 drops of each in 15ml empty essential bottle with a spray top (from aromatools.com) fill up to top with water. Use this to spay on perineum after birth to sooth and heal during postpartum time.

Moms that have their babes circumcised have used this same spray on the circumcised area; they know from personal experience how soothing it feels.

Note: These suggestions are for educational purposes only and are not meant to prescribe, diagnose, or treat any medical condition, disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. This information is not intended to be a substitute for medical counseling. Anyone with any medical condition, disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified health care professional.

Essential Wellness Series – The Essential Mother

The Essential Wellness Series explores doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils one subject at a time.

We are excited to announce the first in a monthly series of free classes on the effective and safe use of these powerful medicines.

December’s event brings us Portland area mothers Kelly Richins and Mariah Stroud. These amazing Essential Oil Educators are excited to share the joy and ease of using essential… oils to care for our families health. doTERRA CPTG essential oils represent the safest, purest and most beneficial oils available today, please join us December 15th, 2011 for an evening of exploration and education.

This class will give a basic overview of the world of therapeutic essential oil use, offer you a chance to experience the oils themselves, and the many ways you can be the Healer in your home.

For example, learn to use the oils to support:

Morning Sickness
Stretch Mark Prevention
Mood Management
Breast Health
Colic
Diaper Rash

…and how to keep mama and baby healthy through cold and flu season.

This event is wonderful for anyone interested in using doTERRA essential oils medicinally. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Mamas, Papas, Aunties, Midwives, Grandmas, Grandpas and all curious to learn natural remedies for health and wellness will leave inspired and in possession of valuable information.

*The information presented at this event is for informational uses only and should not be construed as medical advice. Consult with a qualified medical professional before you begin any nutritional supplement program. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Related articles

• Bun in the Oven and New Mamas! (naturallyhealthyfamilies.wordpress.com)
• Oil for Seasonal Affective Disorder (naturallyhealthyfamilies.wordpress.com)
• 3 Cool Things About Essential Oils (naturallyhealthyfamilies.wordpress.com)

My Sick Baby

My daughter hasn’t gotten sick very often in her 19 months; in fact today is her second running nose.  She has a fever and I know she is feeling a little slow today.

The first thing I did this morning when I realized that she wasn’t feeling well and that her sinuses were clogged was to turn our diffuser on with Breathe.  This is a blend of laurel leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, melaleuca, lemon, and ravensara.

• Laurel leaf helps with viral infections, bronchitis and asthma and for my little girl it is helping to open passageways so she can breathe more easily.
• Peppermint is a very soothing oil. It has a cooling effect and it is going to help dilate her system.  As an added bounce peppermint is also an anti-inflammatory.
• Eucalyptus is a powerful antiviral for the respiratory system.  It can also help reduce inflammation in the nasal mucous membrane.
• Melaleuca is antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral! It is great for sore throats, coughs, inflammation and helps to boost the immune system.
• Lemon helps promote health, healing, physical energy and purification.  Lemon also helps to break down mucous in our bodies, perfect when we are stuffed up!
• Ravensara is antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-infectious.  It helps to dilate and strengthen the respiratory system.

After starting the diffuser I put lemon and melaleuca on the bottoms of her feet.  I added 1 drop of lemon in my hands, rubbed them together and then applied to her feet, any left over I added to the bottoms of my own feet.  I did the same thing with the melaleuca.  Kids don’t need a lot of oils, neither do adults for that matter.

Later on this morning I added one drop of Breathe to 1 teaspoon carrier oil (I used fractionated coconut oil) and rubbed it all over her chest.  I did the same with On Guard on her back.  On Guard is an amazing blend that I wouldn’t go without.  It is one that I always remember to order before I run out because it is so amazing.  I give On Guard all the credit for my family rarely getting sick.  On Guard is a blend of wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and rosemary.

• Wild orange is very affective against cold and flus.  It is antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic, (it is also great for anxiety and depression)
• Clove bud is an immune stimulant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, antiviral and a strong antiseptic.
• Cinnamon bark has a very specific purposes in this blend.  Its job is to purify, help to oxygenate our cells and to enhance the action and activity of the other oils.  Cinnamon bark is also antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral and an immune stimulant.

For Lucy’s nap I brought the diffuser into her room adding some more Breathe to it.  I added 2 pillows under her crib mattress to lift her head up a bit and told her to sleep well and that I love her.  While my child is sleeping I am making her some homemade chicken soup because what is better then being slathered in essential oil and chicken soup when you are sick?

 

Folks I want to remind you all that I am not a doctor and that I am not giving medical advise.  I am not diagnosing or proscribing.  Always contact a qualified health care professional when you are suffering from any disease, illness or injury.

New Oil Babies

Image by paparutzi via Flickr

With new babies comes new surprises, isn’t that true! During this class we will be going over how to use oils for the new little one. With their delicate skin and little bodies they don’t need much! We will be discussing using frankincense or myrrh to anoint them, using oils to help with colic, and ways to ease them into this world from being in our bellies. We will also talk about how to use oils as they grow. Applying oils for abdominal pain, colds and thrush are all easy to treat with a little help from the plant kingdom. There will be a special treat for all pregnant moms!

 

Tuesday October 25th

12:30-2:00pm

SW Portland OR (RSVP for Address)

Kids welcome

Home First Aid Kit

Oils to have in your kit.  I picked 10 oils and then made a list of what I wanted to treat, fortunately with only these oils I could do it!

• Lavender
  

  Image by Marcin Wichary via Flickr

• Roman Chamomile
• Wild Orange
• Balance
• Breathe
• OnGuard
• Melaleuca
• Terra Shield
• Lemon
• Geranium

Ears, Nose and Throat

• Earaches (never put oils inside ear cannel)-Roman Chamomile, Lavender
• Ear Infection-Melaleuca, Lavender
• Nose Bleed-Lemon, Lavender
• Allergies-Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemon, Breathe, Melaleuca
• Throat- Lavender, OnGuard, Melaleuca, Lemon
• Congestion in Throat-Peppermint, Melaleuca
•  Sore Throat- Melaleuca, OnGuard, Geranium
• Tonsillitis- Melaleuca, Lemon, OnGuard, Lavender, Roman Chamomile
• Canker Sores- Melaleuca, OnGuard, Roman Chamomile

Emotional Needs

• Anger-Lavender, Balance, Geranium, Lemon, Wild orange
• Anxiety and Nervousness-Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange, Balance
• Depression-Lemon, Lavender, Balance, Geranium
• Fear-Balance, Wild Orange, Geranium
• Grief-Lemon, Balance, Lavender
• Hyperactive-Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Wild Orange, Balance
• Stress-Geranium, Roman Chamomile

Digestive System- Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange, Melaleuca, Lemon

• Heart Burn-Wild Orange
• Diarrhea- Wild Orange, Melaleuca
• Constipation -Wild Orange, Roman Chamomile
• Colic-Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange
• Food poising- Lemon
• Intestinal Parasites- Roman Chamomile, Lemon, Melaleuca

Respiratory system- Wild Orange, Breathe, OnGuard, Melaleuca, Lemon

• Asthma-Roman Chamomile, Balance, Breathe, Melaleuca, Lemon
• Bronchitis – Melaleuca, lemon

Skin-Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Melaleuca

• Acne- Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange, Melaleuca, Lemon
• Bruises-Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Lemon
• Burns-Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Melaleuca
• Cuts-Lavender, Melaleuca, OnGuard, Roman Chamomile
• Lice- Melaleuca, Lavender
• Warts-Melaleuca

Colds and Flu-

• Infections-Lavender, Breathe, OnGuard, Melaleuca
• Colds-Breathe, OnGuard, Melaleuca, Lemon
• Insomnia-Breathe
• Headache-Lavender, Peppermint
• Fever-Lavender, Peppermint, Wild Orange, Roman Chamomile, Lemon
• Flu-Lavender, Wild Orange, Breathe, OnGuard, Melaleuca, Lemon

Babies-

• Colic-Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange
• Crying-Balance, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange, Geranium
• Cradle Cap-Lemon and Geranium
• Diaper Rash-Lavender, Roman Chamomile
• Teething-Lavender, Roman Chamomile
• Insomnia-Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange
• Jaundice-Geranium, Lemon, Wild Orange
• Thrush- Melaleuca, Lavender, Geranium

 

Bug Repellant- Terra Shield

Disinfectant- Lemon, OnGuard, Melaleuca

Removing Gun, wood stains, oil and grease spots-Lemon.

 

 

The Joy of Finding Wild Oranges

Wild Orange Essential Oil-Yummy!

Wild Orange was the first oil that I used from doTERRA.  A dear friend of mine put it in my water after I had my daughter.  I remember its calming effect taking hold of me instantly.  A smile creeping onto my face.  Stress melting away and happiness replacing my fear.

I call Wild Orange  “Rainbow in a Bottle” or “Liquid Smile’.  It still has this effect on me.  I love hiding under the covers in the morning breathing it in, a rainbow sauna if you will…

I add Wild Orange to my water every day, every time I take a sip I find a huge grin on my face.

Wild Orange has so many wonderful abilities-

Image via Wikipedia

Wild Orange is

Antibacterial
Antidepressant
Antifungal
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Antiseptic
Carminative
Choleretic
Digestive
Hypotensive
Sedative
Stimulant

Systems Affected by Orange

• Digestive System
• Emotional Balance
• Immune System
• Skin and Hair

Health Issues

Acid Reflux
Cold and Flu
Depression
Heartburn
Indigestion
Muscle Pain
Stomach Ache
Stress

Anti-septic, bacterial and fungal

Add 5-10 drops wild orange to a spray bottle to wipe down kitchens and bathrooms.  Add peppermint and/or OnGuard for even more germ fighting power!

Antidepressant-

Orange is settling and boosting to the mind and body. Breathe wild orange to lift your spirits throughout the day. Add 1-2 drops in your glass of water to keep you smiling, also boosting to the immune system.

To relieve anxiety apply to temples and breathe deeply.

Adding Balance to the bottom of feet helps soothes the body and spirit as a add on!

Anti-inflammatory-

Massage into sore muscles for a relaxing and soothing effect.

Digestion-

Add 2-3 drops to water to help move a sluggish digestion system and apply 1-2 drops to stomach.

Add 1-2 drops to water for acid reflux and heartburn.

Sedative and Stimulant-

Wild orange is a sedative on the nervous system and can be used with peppermint which is a stimulant like hot and cold compresses.  Try applying a few drops of orange along the spine.

Cold and Flu

Apply topically to bottom of the feet and throat when feeling a cold or flu coming on.

Other Uses for Wild Orange-

Relives colic-apply 1 drop to bottom of baby’s feet.

Addiction Breathe and apply to feet to help relieve symptoms.

Insomnia Apply wild orange and lavender on bottom of feet, around naval and on back of neck, before bed.

Orange icing Add 1-2 drops to icing for sweet rolls or cupcakes

Ice Tea- Add 1-2 drops to a glass of ice tea for a twist

One Last Fact- Citrus oils contain high levels of d-limonene, which has been found to keep advanced stage cancer patients stable.

Caution- May react to sunlight or UV rays.  When using topically, wait a twelve hours before exposing skin to UV rays.

 

Bun in the Oven and New Mamas!

I am so excited to invite you all to this class coming up next week.  It should be a lot of fun and very informative if you are in the childbearing years!  Hope to see you!

Essential oils, plant medicines, given to us from mother earth.

Join essential oil educators Kelly Richins, Emily Murphy and Arin Ingraham for an evening of essential oils. Come learn to be the healer of your family.

Using essential oils can empower ourselves to take control of our own health and healing. We will be sharing stories on motherhood, while using essential oils to care for the pregnant mama, sore baby bellies, diaper issues, torn and sore perineum, baby belly stretch marks and of course labor.

Mamas to be and kids welcome!

We will be making geranium stretch mark disappearing cream. $5 for the cost of ingredients

RSVP to receive directions