Fourth Trimester?! WTF?!?!?!!! honestly the first time I heard this term, I wigged out. I've already had a baby in me 9 months and you think I'm going to do it for another 3? You are soooooo wrong! Not to worry. The fourth trimester doesn't include you hold that baby in any longer. It's just a term use to describe the first 3 months of your babies life and moms recovery during the following 3 months after giving birth.
This is such a tough time for moms as we try desperately to
be there for our babies while we are recovering from our own experience.
For me I was recovering from my c-section and the anxiety of
needing to deliver early and the possible hysterectomy - that I ended up not
needing- was really difficult. Here are my favorite products for me and baby
during this time:
Me:
Oils:
Milk mama blend- 2 drops fennel 2 drops basil. This was my
favorite blend to help my milk come in. Because of the fennel you do NOT want
to use this for more than one week at a time. For more information on oils for
help with nursing check on my nursing blog
Balance- balance is my longest favorite oil for mental
health. This oil balances out everything bringing you to a happy Medium
emotionally. This oil is infused in my deodorant and body wash so I always have
it on, but during my 4th trimester I used it so much extra to help me balance
my emotions so I could be my best while with baby.
Frankincense Touch- the touch oils are prediluted and in a
roller bottle for easy on the go use. This was great for me because I didn't
have time to mix blends or make any rollers when i came home from the hospital.
Frankincense has magical healing properties by healing at a cellular level
making a great oil to have on hand while recovering from any surgery. I used
this oil daily along my scar once my stitches came out. Not only was it helping
my visible scar heal but also my uterus and my previous scar tissue.
Immortelle- Immortelle comes in a roller ball which makes it
perfect for applying. It is not diffused but that helps it be a very strong oil
blend of Frankincense Resin, Hawaiian Sandalwood, Lavender Flower, Myrrh Gum
Resin, Helichrysum Flower, Rose Flower essential oils to make your skin
radiant. And who doesnt want to show their skin a little love after all that
stretching to make room for baby. I used this on my stretch Mark's and over my
scar.
Melaleuca - Tea tree is such a versatile oil that came in
handy for me in my post baby belly lotion. Recipe below.
Adaptive- adaptive is a new doterra oil blend that I
happened upon right when baby was born. This oil was such a great oil to
diffuse any time of day. Much like balance it helps sooth and calm without
making you sleepy. I also started using the softgel version of this oil for
myself (see below)
Serenity- After giving birth I made some changes to my sleep
routine and chose to start using the doterra reccomended sleep blend which is a
combination of Balance and Serenity. Using these oils together helps regulate
your emotions to a calm medium and then alows you to fall into a restful sleep
from there.
Supplements:
LLV- have you heard me rant and rave about how much I love
my LLV yet? Omg ok so if you haven't read my blurb on LLV here gos
LLV stands for Lifelong Vitality which is a 3-part
multi-vitamin. A full dose is 2 of each vitamins 2 xs daily totaling 12 a day,
so there is definitely a lot involved, but it was so worth it.
The LLV has a “tummy tamer” blend in all three parts which
allows you to be able to take them without food which is sometimes necessary
for new moms. I also love the energy that I got from taking these I would take
the first half in the morning to help wake up and the second dose at lunch to
help me finish the day strong.
1. Vegan Microplex MVZ- This formula includes a balanced blend
of essential antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, and an energy complex of B
vitamins presented in a patented glycoprotein matrix. It also contains chelated
minerals including calcium, magnesium, and zinc for optimal bone and metabolic
health, and is encapsulated using sodium lauryl sulfate-free vegetable capsules
2. Alpha CRS+ - This is a proprietary formula combining potent
levels of natural botanical extracts that support healthy cell function with
important metabolic factors of cellular energy. It is to be used as a
comprehensive dietary supplement foundation for a lifetime of vitality and
wellness.
3. vEO Mega- This is a
revolutionary, 100 percent vegetarian-friendly formula blending CPTG Certified
Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils with natural, plant-sourced essential
fatty acids.
* Vegan Microplex MVZ does include Folate, but I did take an
additional Folic Acid supplement
PB Assist+ - scared of those after birth poops? I was.
This amazing probiotic makes going to the bathroom a breeze even during surgery
constipation. This is a proprietary formula of pre-biotic fiber and six strains
of probiotic microorganisms in a unique double layer vegetable capsule. It
delivers 6 billion CFUs of active probiotic cultures and soluble pre-biotic FOS
(fructooligosaccharides) that encourage friendly bacterial growth. The
time-release, double-capsule delivery system is designed to help protect the
sensitive probiotic cultures from stomach acid. PB Assist+ offers a unique,
safe, and effective way to deliver the well-recognized digestive and immune
system support benefits of probiotics.
TerraZyme- This is another proprietary blend, but of
active whole-food enzymes and supporting cofactors that are often deficient in
cooked, processed, and preservative-laden foods. The powerful combination of
digestive enzymes found in DigestZen TerraZyme supports the body’s constant
production of enzymes critical for healthy biochemical functions, including
healthy digestion of food nutrients and cellular metabolism of nutrients to
energy. DigestZen TerraZyme includes a variety of whole-food enzymes that help
with the digestion of proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates, sugars, and fiber.
Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex- My first trimester I had a
lot of inflammation and pain in my hips to where I was taking 2 of these a day
and the pain continued on and off during the rest of my pregnancy and into my
post pregnancy life. The brand name Deep Blue® is synonymous with soothing
support. It only makes sense that an ingestible supplement would complement the
topical benefits of the Deep Blue product line. Deep Blue Polyphenol Complex
delivers polyphenol extracts of frankincense, turmeric, green tea, ginger,
pomegranate, and grape seed, and is designed to provide soothing support to
aching muscles and to other occasional discomfort.
Copaiba soft gel- Copaiba is an anti-inflammatory as well
as an oil I used nightly even before I was pregnant to help reduce nightly
stress and sleep better. Taking it now as a soft gel helped reduce the pain in
my hip and fall asleep faster. I started taking this every night during month
5. Copaiba essential oil is derived from the resin of the copaiba tree which can
grow upwards of more than 100 feet and can be found in tropical South America.
Copaiba oil is widely used in cosmetic products including soaps, creams,
lotions, and perfumes. Since the 16th century, copaiba essential oil has been
utilized in traditional health practices by the natives of north and
northeastern Brazil.
Mito2Max- dont want to drink too much coffee while nursing?
No problem. Want to be awake while feeding and changing your baby? No problem.
Mito2Max wakes you up without caffeine. Mito2Max contains doTERRA’s proprietary
energy and stamina complex that enhances mitochondria function, supports
stamina and endurance, helps the body adapt more quickly to the diverse
activities of life, and helps increase mental energy. Acetyl-L-carnitine, a
primary ingredient, supports mental health, mitochondrial function, and
circulation to the brain. Oligonol is a unique and powerful antioxidant blend
that combines biologically active polyphenols from lychee fruit and green tea
in a form that allows them to be quickly absorbed and is effective at
protecting cells against free radicals and oxidation. Oligonol also helps
support improved circulation and energy, both of which are important to overall
healthy aging.
Turmeric- after surgery your body works hard to reduce the
inflammation around the area of your body that was cut into. Turmeric reduces
inflammation which for me was great for recovering from my surgery but also for
my hip pain I mentioned earlier. Deep blue has green tea in it so I order to
not feel the caffeine effects at night I would take deep blue in the morning
and tumeric before bed.
Placenta pills- I went to Delaware placenta pills to get my
placenta turned into raw placenta capsules. I know it's new and odd for most of
us and it was for me too at first but I have to say it was the best decision I
ever made. Consuming your placenta post pregnancy helps your body re-nourish
itself after 9 months of giving so much of yourself to your baby which is why
most mammals do this. Not only that but it helps with reducing or completely
preventing PPD, aids milk supply in coming in and staying up, energizes you and
helps in your overall recovery after giving birth. Wendy walked me through
every step and talked about all my options. I finally chose to purchase raw
encapsulated placenta and an additional tincture for long term keep and use. If
you are interested in more information on placenta pills check out Wendy's
website: Delaware Placenta Pills |
Placenta encapsulation specialist excited to work for you!
Iron- being highly anemic during pregnancy and knowing that
for some women we dont fully recover from giving birth for 10 years (yes you
heard that right. Some womens bodies can take up to 10 years to recover fully)
I decided it was best for me to continue on the same iron regiment I was on
during pregnancy and continued to do so for the first year of my daughters
life.
Folic acid- If you are breast feeding folic acid should be
included in your diet. While the LLV Vegan Microplex MVZ already includes Folate,
I decided to continue taking my folic acid to make sure baby and I were each
getting enough.
Vitamin D- if you are breastfeeding it's important that you
take all the necessary vitamins that your baby needs including vitamin D. Many
breastfed babies dont recieve enough vitamin D through mommy's milk without
taking a supplement. One way to make sure that your baby is getting enough is
to make sure you are taking it yourself.
Adaptive softgels- my mood stabilizer. This is a calming and grounding blend much
like balance and serenity if they were mixed together -although without the
sleepy side effects. I used this anytime I felt out if whack with life for a
day and it really helped me get back to feeling myself.
Oil infused products:
Correct X- this stuff is amazing for any booboos including
really big ones like c-section scars.
1 cup raw shea butter
1 cup cocoa butter
1 cup coconut oil
1 TBS argon oil
1 TBS rose hip oil
1TBS vitamin E oil
20 drops melaleuca
20 drops Frankincense
20 drops Lavender
Heat shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil in a double
boiler until liquid then remove from heat and add the rest of the ingredients,
mix and store in a glass jar.
If you want to use a store-bought body butter that’s fine
too, but here’s why you want to add these three essential oils:
Melaleuca aka Tea Tree: This oil is great for skin. This baby belly butter is thick and can make
you break out even more so than just pregnancy breakouts. That’s one of the
reasons I added the melaleuca. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic
properties, helps reduce skin redness, irritation, and swelling. The oil is a
powerful solvent, which means it breaks the oil, dirt, and debris that builds
up under our skin and clogs up our pores. It also helps to strengthen skin and
heal cuts which helps to add to the prevention of stretch marks.
Frankincense: Frankincense is known as the King of oils. It
has so many amazing benefits, not only for the skin, but for the entire body.
Specifically, for the skin, its ability to revive and rejuvenate the skin makes
it wonderful for reducing the appearance of wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars,
preventing acne, and healing minor wounds. Aside from just skin health it can
help de-stress and relax the body. Frankincense is also an anti-inflammatory
oil which I mentioned need a lot of. I experienced so many aches and pains in
my hips, and knees, that I was taking anti-inflammatories daily. Lastly
Frankincense rejuvenates and supports and encourages cellular function. Meaning
that new little one you’ve got growing inside you that is trying to piece
together all its cells and their functions is going to get a little extra help
from this oil as well as Mama, who is getting the benefits of healthy
functioning organs.
Lavender: I normally used this baby belly butter at night,
and this was for a few reasons. 1. It's thick and takes a little time to dry so
you don’t want to be wearing your nice going out in public clothes, PJs are
best. 2. Two of the essential oils that I picked that are really great for skin
health are also great for relaxation. Lavender is known for helping to relieve
stress and anxiety as well as promoting restfulness and relaxation which I
really needed at night since that seemed to be the only time, I couldn’t fall
asleep. The anti-inflammatory properties also helped me with my joint pain in
my hips and knees as well. Lavender is known for healing injured skin from
burns, cuts, and scrapes, because of its abilities to quickly heal skin. This
come sin great for helping to prevent those stretch marks.
Non-oils
Baby sign language: ok so this isnt a need to have product, but it does help. I started with the signs for hungry, sleepy and all finished, the basics. And I signed them all the time. My little one is now 14 months and although she can only speak dada, mama, and nose, she can communicate when she wants more or when shes all finished, when shes hungry, when shes sleepy, and learning to ask for help and thanks. So for me it's been a blessing to be able to truly understand what my baby is in need of which is why it made this list.
What to expect the first year- I know these books are cheesy
but for me it gave me a sense of peace as I knew what to look for and what to
help foster and grow in my baby through each month
Baby:
Oils:
Lavender touch- Thank you for the touch line!!! Honestly as
a new mom all over again, I did not have time to make blends for me or my baby
so having prediluted oils delivered right to my doorstep was a lifesaver.
Lavander can be used for so much. I used it for mild diaper rash, help sleeping
restfully, and along the jawline for teething pain.
Frankincense Touch- want to give your baby a leg up? We all
do! My little one was born a bit early due to some scares we had during my
pregnancy so I wanted to help her out as much as possible. Frankincense is one
of the ouls that can be applied undiluted to your baby from birth, but when we
are talking oils- less is more. I would apply Frankincense touch to her head
daily to help her cells grow and form quickly so she could leave the NICU
(which she did in 4 days!)
Digestzen touch- although its diluted digestzen touch still
packs a punch I used the Tiny Tummies Blend(see below) on a daily basis, but
when my baby was in pain I would apply digestzen touch for immediate relief to
all her stomach pains.
Tamer- this is part of the doTERRA kids collection and is
created specifically with children in mind. This specific blend helps with
digestion. My little one had some digestive issues which turned out to be
caused by a dairy intolerance. Until we figured out it was dairy we focused on
just keeping her comfortable which meant giving her some help when she was
constipated with Tamer.
Copaiba- this oil became a lifesaver for teething for us.
Some babies can start teething early on which make many teething relief options
unavailable. doTERRA Copaiba can be applied without dilution to your babys gums
to help with teething pain.
Roman chamomile- lavender is well known for its calming
properties but Roman chamomile is also a great sleep and calming oil. Just as
every person is different, the oils that work best for each is us is going to
be different as well. Roman chamomile is what we initially tried for teething
because of how sweet it is, but she was not a fan so we switched and found
copaiba. We also ended up switching from lavender to Roman Chamomile for sleep
help early on because the lavender didnt seem to help her as much as the roman
chamomile did and since lavender was being used for her in other ways it was
nice to have some variety for her.
Nightly diffuser blends:
1. Sleepy Baby- 2 drops Balance, 2 drops Serenity, and 1
drop Roman Chamomile
2. Breath easy- 2 drops Breathe, drops Lavender 1, and 1 drop Frankincense
Non-oils:
Hazelwood necklace for GERD- this is available at Baltic
essentials as a necklace or bracelet. I was skeptical at first because I didnt
understand the science or language behind the description of how the hazelwood
would help sooth GERD but seeing it made me a true believer. Almost instantly
we saw a huge difference in our childs ability to eat food and digest it
without issues or pain. Best part was that I didnt need to be constantly
reapplying oils to her belly which was a huge relief.
Gripe water- gripe water can be used from everything from
hiccups to an upset stomach. I love the fact that it's a natural product that I
can use with my baby to help give her relief. It's honestly hard to find
effective natural products so I wanted to share this with you all. It wasnt the
right fit for our stomach issues at this time but as we grew out of our stomach
and digestive issues it showed effective for excessive hiccups.
Mason Bottles- we breastfed almost all the time but when I
needed a break for a nap we loved the mason bottles for feeding. The glass
mason jar can be reused as a sippy cup, regular cup, and canning jar over time
which makes me happy because, recycling!!!
Grovia Cloth O.N.E. diapers- we decided on cloth diapers
because of the cost, but also because it can be better for the environment. If
you buy brand new though the environmental impact wont be as impactful so if
you can find used cloth diapers grab those up- also the used diapers are more
absorbent than brand new ones that havent been broken in. We chose Grovia but I
would suggest that if your going to go cloth to research the different styles
and brands to see what would fit your family and baby needs best.
Bamboo baby toothbrush- there are a million different kinds
out there and the brand truly doesnt matter, but I loved these most because of
the fact that my daughter loves them, and not just as a toothbrush. This turned
into her favorite teething toy which made the transition to brushing our teeth
as part of our routine that much simpler and enjoyable.
Oil Life Mama and Babies Rollers- these were life!!! they cover every need for new mamas and babies:
Cool Baby: 2 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Peppermint, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Sleepy Baby: 2 drops Lavender, 1 drop Roman Chamomile, 1 drop Vetiver l, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Tiny Teeth: 1 drop Lavender, 1 drop Copaiba, 1 drop White Fir, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Tiny Tummy: 2 drops Cardamom, 2 drops Fennel, 2 drops Wild Orange, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Tiny Airways: 1 drop Lime, 1 drop Melissa, 1 drop Rosemary, 1 drop Frankincense, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Calm Momma: 5 drops Balance, 5 drops Serenity, 2 drops Lavender, 2 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Ylang Ylang, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Happy Momma: 3 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Clary Sage, 6 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Grapefruit, 2 drops Wild Orange, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Mama Tiger Stripes: 10 drops Yarrow POM, 2 drops Cypress, 2 drops Geranium, 2 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Lavender, 2 drops Wild Orange, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Milk Momma: 10 drops Basil, 10 drops Fennel, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
Tender Ta-Tas: 10 drops Geranium, 10 drops Myrrh, Fill with FCO in a 10ml
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