How to Support a Strong + Vibrant Pregnancy

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It is hard not to compare pregnancies, birth and babes.  I think its safe to say most mothers don’t compare these things with the intention to grade their babes, rather our previous experiences provide us with a reference point to learn from.

 

I am certainly that mother.  From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I found myself saying “last time” and “oh but with G…” In absolutely no judgment to her sweet self, simply because now I had a reference point.

 

Pregnancy wise? In a nutshell, first trimester, Round 2 brought waaaay more fatigue + nausea than Round 1, but after that my symptoms were comparably the same. The main difference? That reference point I mentioned allowed me to be far more prepared + therefore comfortable, strong and vibrant even (!) second time around.

 
Round 2’s birth + recovery was also - BEYOND words better. 

So, I thought I would share with you the tools I used which I believe heavily contributed to the ease, vitality, energy, strength + empowerment I felt the second time around.


This will definitely take more than one blog, so for today’s purpose, I am just talking pregnancy.

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First Tri:

 Round 1

I experienced a little nausea in the mornings, but so long as I ate consistently throughout the day, it went away mid morning + didn’t bother me.

By week 6-7 I stopped training altogether as the nausea in the mornings meant I couldn’t train (when I normally would before work) + I was too tired after work.

I was extremely emotional + sensitive, finding myself taking time off work to cry at home or spend at the psychologist’s office (which I had not done for some years).

Round 2

I experienced alllll day nausea, despite what I would eat + debilitating fatigue.

Both would increase in strength as the day went on, to the point I would have to be horizontal by 3-4pm (not easy with a 3.5 year old around!).

I only took about 2 weeks off training. Whilst I ceased high intensity, high impact, cardio training, I continued with mindful weights training throughout.

Both Rounds – symptoms ceased SMACK ON 12 weeks! Thank my lucky stars!

Second Tri:

Both Rounds: Energy and mood re-vitalised and in fact, felt hiiiiigh!

Third Tri:

Round 1

As my tummy grew out + my core weakened through a lack of training, I suffered from growing back pain. Towards the end I could not sleep without a pillow between my legs + heatpack on my back. Despite seeing chiros, physios, acupuncturists and podiatrists, this pain continued for 3 years (until I started training again).

I took “Elevit” pregnancy supplement + iron tablets believing I was doing the right thing (eeeep this makes me squirm now)! As a result I was terribly constipated. I tried Metamucil which did nothing….

I recall having a few episodes of thrush, suspected UTI and a terrible lung infection which resulted in antibiotics and being bed bound for 10 days.

Round 2

I had little to no back pain! I am sure this is due to maintaining strength.

I experienced a range of typical pregnancy related symptoms as time went on but nothing that I felt was unmanageable. These symptoms and what I did to support myself are included below. Obviously, the list is not exhaustive, its just what I experienced and how I helped myself!

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Now, before I hook in - I must put some disclaimers here:

👉🏼 There tends to be a lack of evidence based medical studies available about natural remedies for pregnancy, as only few studies have been done on large numbered groups of pregnant women. Obviously, not many women want to be used as a test bunny while pregnant! This does not mean the evidence isn’t there or remedies aren’t safe, its just the studies aren’t there.

👉🏼 Nonetheless, I must state that what lies below is based off what I felt to be safe from my own experiences and research into other expert’s opinions.

👉🏼 I do not attempt to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness. I am not a medical professional. I’m just a mama doing her best with her knowledge + intuition and sharing to inspire you to do the same!

👉🏼 You will learn as you get to know me more that I am a FIERCE advocate for tapping into your intuition + sovereignty as a woman. So if something feels right, you will know and if not, you will also know. I TRUST THAT over anything.

👉🏼 I hope it goes without saying, when it comes to using any natural product PLEASE ensure you are using the highest quality + PUREST products you can find. Transparency with ingredients + testing procedures + results are always a massive indicator as to a brand’s trustworthiness.

Here goes!

Anemia

Despite taking supplements throughout Round 1, I was anemic for most of the pregnancy. Round 2, it wasn’t until the last few weeks were this came up for me. I believe that is largely due to a well balanced whole food diet, including supplementing with Beef Liver Capsules.

When I did get low, I supplemented with a plant based liquid form of Iron, Floradix Floravital which I have personally found to be the fastest absorbed, most bioavailable form of Iron for me (causing no digestive upsets).

Congestion / Dry Eyes / Sinus

Higher levels of blood circulation + estrogen can cause the lining of your nasal passages to swell (producing more mucus) during pregnancy. This is why we can often feel stuffy or like we have a cold or hayfever…I had this for a few weeks in my third tri. What I did?

👃 Add a few drops of Easy Air to my nighttime diffuser +/or put a drop in my hands and inhaled whenever I felt like I needed it in the day.

👃 Placed a drop of clove oil with a dab of coconut oil on the tips of my middle fingers + dabbed gently from middle of my nose, out over my cheek bones (along the sinus tract).

Constipation

Higher levels of progesterone (which we produce to relax the muscles of the uterus) can slow the movement of food through your digestive system, causing constipation.

Iron supplements (in certain forms, particularly the well known Iron Sulfate tablets) can add to that problem as iron that isn’t absorbed feeds bad bacteria in the gut.

I didn’t suffer near as much for Round 2 and I believe these things helped:

💦Daily movement

💦 Heaps of hydration, including smoothies with plenty of fiber like spinach, chia seeds + psyllium husks.

💦 Including lots of fiber in my diet like more fruit than I would normally eat (I naturally craved this anyway) eg. berries + organic prunes.

💦 avoiding wheat + dairy

💦 eating fermented foods like coconut yoghurt, sauerkraut + miso

💦 Using bioavailable supplements, steering clear of synthetics.

Cramps

It is common to experience cramps in pregnancy due to muscle fatigue + Magnesium deficiency (due to your babe needing more for its bones + your metabolism changing). I got them in my calves severely in Round 1 +2. What I did?

🦵 Took a good quality, professionally prescribed magnesium supplement (I took BioCeuticals or Metagenics).

🦵 Epsom Salt Baths - 1 cup Epsom Salts + 1/2 cup bicarb + 6-10 drops essential oils (I used Frank + Patchouli + Geranium). The Epsom Salts contain magnesium +sulfate which break down in the water, are absorbed by your body which then draws out toxins from your cells to be eliminated + the bicarb soda helps to alkalise the water, soften your skin + drive the magnesium into your body)!

🦵 DIY Magnesium Spray = Add 4 tablespoons of magnesium salts + add to 90ml hot water, mix until dissolved. Add to a glass spray bottle. Once the water is cooled add a dash of fractionated coconut oil, with 5 drops each of Frankincense, AromaTouch + Copaiba essential oils. Shake before use + spray your feet, up your legs and over your abdomen before getting into bed.

🦵 Rubbed my calves with lemongrass + marjoram + basil essential oils heavily diluted in almond oil.

Cravings

I mostly succumbed to them! Your body is giving you messages, so listen to them!

Obviously, I found in the early weeks of nausea I was reaching for more sugary +/or salty high glycemic carb foods which I largely gave my body. I also was sure to balance them out with good fats and proteins when I could.

🥑 When I ate more good fats, proteins + lower GI carbs (like brown rice, sweet potato + GF oats) I wanted less of the naughty stuff. My coaching philosophy is always to crowd out the “bad” with the good! It works!

It also helps to do this to avoid the sugar crashes, as they can lead to more nausea!

🥑 I also found tongue scraping, brushing my teeth with OnGuard Toothpaste + rinsing with OnGuard Mouthwash after each meal helped as it cleaned the palate + has Clove + Cinnamon oils which can help with cravings.

Dizzy spells

I got these a few times at the gym when I wasn’t being cautious/slow enough. But they are also quite common in pregnancy given lower blood pressure + reduced blood flow.

🧡 Best solution is to put your head between knees + take a few deep breaths. Also - move slower!

Fluid Retention

Got this in my feet both Rounds 1 +2. Worse in Round 1 due to sitting at a desk all day, whereas I was constantly moving in Round 2. What I did?

🍋 Drank water with either squeezed lemon with 2 drops of Ginger oil or simply with 2 drops of lemon essential oil daily.

🍋 Put 3 drops of Geranium, Ginger, Lemon + Lavender oils in a 10ml roller bottle with fractionated coconut oil + roll on the ankles and feet a few times a day. Massage feet + ankles in an upward movement toward the heart.

Group Beta Strep

For several reasons and with the support of my beautiful midwife, I chose not to have the testing nor antibiotics for this. Rather, I chose to support my body in the last 2 weeks before my due date by rubbing a mix of 3 drops OnGuard + 3 drops Oregano on the soles of feet in the am/pm.

Headaches

These were a bit of a killer at times. Probably when I wasn’t conscious enough of my hydration. What I did?

🍃 Rubbed 1 drop of diluted peppermint or Past Tense oil into my temples + up the back of my neck.

 Heart burn

Pregnancy hormones relax the valve between your stomach + esophagus which can allow stomach acid to leak back up into your esophagus, causing heartburn. I got this in the last trimester. To support myself?

🔥 Ate smaller, more frequent meals. Avoided dairy and fried + spicy foods.

🔥 Drank water or digestive teas with Lemon, Ginger, Spearmint, Grapefruit +/or Lime essential oils.

🔥 Placed 1 drop of DigestZen Blend under my tongue and rubbed a drop diluted in coconut oil on my throat + abdomen a couple of times a day. You can also drop 1 drop of peppermint essential oil into your hands + inhale as needed.

Low Moods

I didn’t suffer with the near as much in Round 2, but when they came, I was sure to give myself time, space + rest to process whatever was coming up. I also reached out for support much quicker when the warning signs came up.

I also had 3 daily oil practices including:

💛 Diffusing any of the Elevation, Balance or Adaptiv Blends.

💛 Massaging Citrus Bliss over my whole body.

💛 Placing a drop of Wild Orange in the palms of my hands + inhaling.

Nausea

What a killer in the first Tri of Round 2! There is not much I could do but succumb to what my body was asking - REST. Other things I found to be helpful:

🤢 Exercising first thing in the morning seemed to reduce the severity later in the day.

🤢 Magnesium support (as detailed under cramping) as Mag deficiency can cause nausea.

🤢 Eating small amounts regularly. Trying my best to reduce high GI, sugary foods and increase good fats + proteins.

🤢 Diffusing 3 drops of grapefruit, lemon or peppermint essential oil in the morning.

🤢 Placing 1 drop of DigestZen and/or Peppermint oil (avoided in the last weeks as it can reduce milk production) under my tongue + rubbed on my belly. I also put Digestzen in a capsule occasionally if it was really bad. Inhaling peppermint oil from my hands also worked too.

Pain + Tension

I suffered very minimally from this in Round 2 - I am certain because I continued to train every day.

🏋🏼‍♀️ That said, when the aches came I was sure to have an Epsom salt bath + spray (as detailed under cramping). 

🏋🏼‍♀️ Massage with any of the following essential oils: Cypress, Frankincense + Lavender (after the first trimester) + Roman Chamomile. Specifically for Low Back + Leg Pain/Pressure: Deep Blue & AromaTouch nightly.

 Sensitive Gums

Again thanks to progesterone + estrogen and increased blood flow, along with other parts of your bod, your gums can swell. This can create deep pockets of tender tissue which can bleed during brushing or flossing your teeth. Things that helped me?

🖤 Brushing my teeth with OnGuard Toothpaste + rinsing with OnGuard Mouthwash after each meal. It has Clove (which can support healing) + Cinnamon (which is a powerful support for healthy circulation) as is Rosemary which is also included.

 Sleeplessness + Crazy dreams

Again, I found this worse in Round 1, but a little happened very late in Round 2 too. Here’s how I supported myself:

💤 Diffusing the Lavender Peace Blend (especially nearing due date).

💤 Putting 3 drops of either lavender or ylang ylang to 1 tbsp carrier oil (I used Apricot Kernal oil) + giving myself a full body rub after a shower at night before bed.

💤 Rubbing the Adaptiv Blend down the back of my neck before bed.

Stretch marks

OMG the thought of me rubbing myself with the commercial “oil” through Round 1 makes me want to cry now! SO toxic!!! But when we know better we do better, so Round 2 I made my own belly rub which I used from second trimester onwards:

🤰🏼 Add 3 drops each Helichrysum, Lavender + Frankincense + liquid from 4 Vitamin E capsules to 100ml Jojoba Oil and rubbed in lovingly!

You could also use Rose (after the first tri), Sandalwood, Myrrh or Roman Chamomile.

Yeast Infection:

I remember having a few UTIs in Round 2, which lead to antibiotics, which lead to Thrush. Whilst, I did not get any of these Round 2, I thought I would mention here what I would do, just in case:

😉 Mix 3 drops of Tea Tree + 1 drop Lavender to my Epsom Salt Bath (above under cramps). Add to warm water + soak for 10 minutes min.


💌 More support 💌

Oils to Avoid

There are some oils that universally should be avoided during pregnancy. 

The most common reasons for avoiding certain oils during pregnancy are due to the stimulating effects on the uterus, which can cause contractions for example, Clary Sage.  I will not list the others here, but do suggest you obtain advice or seek a reliable resource to guide you on this.

The oils I described + used above, have been used + tested on hundreds of women by various midwives without negative results. That said, if in doubt, check with your doctor or other professional to see if using oils is right for you and always be sure you are using the oil correctly diluted + in a safe manner.

Resources

A great book by midwife, Stephanie Fritz (whose video I’ve also linked below), is Essential oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies.

If you are concerned about the safety of essential oils, this is a helpful page.

Watch these 2 helpful videos:

the final note

If you haven’t guessed already, I attribute 3 things to the differences between my two pregnancies that beautifully transformed my life + changed our world.

  1. I LISTENED TO MY BODY + HONOURED HER.

    This included eating an intuitively clean, nutrient dense whole food diet, not limiting any intake when my body called for something; and

  2. I MOVED every single day.

    I continued to do resistance training up until the day before I was induced in Round 2 at 42w+1. Again, I listened to my body + rested when I needed to, but I did not stop.

  3. I integrated mother nature solutions to my health rituals every day, by clean, pure + bio available supplements + essential oils.

    I obviously, honestly cannot recommend essential oils enough for anyone who is trying, on their way or has birthed children into this world. They are integral to my own vital + vibrant experiences and once brought in to support your daily life, I realised how powerful they really are. I hope the same for you!

On that note, if you do not have essential oils in your life and want more info about how to get them + be supported through that journey of implementation, email me at alltheviclov@gmail.com or of course, if you are the independent woman I am guessing you are - go here to purchase.

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Just a few deep breaths…