Something I get asked about in terms of pregnancy (well besides food that is) is the all too famous stretch marks!
So I wanted to share some of my pregnancy secrets for your growing belly!
Your skin is literally being stretched by growing a human (which is pretty amazing if you think about it!) BUT can we do anything for those marks that sometimes show up and don’t always make you feel the most confident version of you? Absolutely!!!
First, let me say, YES there is something to be said about wearing them with pride, but also we can do so much to support the health of our skin along the way! It's not only important to support your skin for stretch marks, but with a rapidly growing belly and stretching skin can come lots and lots of itching too.
Every night I would apply what I call the happy belly blend. This is my super simple balm-like recipe that consists of Lavender, Frankincense and Cypress essential oils mixed with coconut oil. It is so soothing for the itching and it’s also very moisturizing which may help with the appearance of any stretch marks.
Here is what you will need:
A glass jar with lid for storage
Coconut oil
Young Living Essential oils (Lavender, Frankincense, and Cypress)
Start by melting down the coconut oil and then give it some time to cool a bit (not until completely hardened, you still want it soft for mixing).
Then go in and add about 10 drops of each essential oil and stir just until it's well incorporated.
To be fair I just threw random amounts in towards the end of pregnancy.
I am extremely picky about what goes on my body and essential oils have little regulation. Young Living oils tick all the boxes for me when it comes to the best of the best in the industry, so only Young Living essential oils for me.
During my last few months of pregnancy someone said to me that I could get stretch marks after birth, which I thought well maybe that is possible?
But also, maybe not!
Luckily for me (as usual, disclaimer here that everyone’s body is different!) that did not happen!
I'm in the process of creating a guide all around nutrition and support for pregnant women to share all my secrets and best kept tips to help you during your journey, join the waitlist here to be the first to know when it's available!
I want to say a few things lavender does and how important it is to relax 👇
Relaxation is important for the immune system because it helps maintain a healthy balance in the body and promotes optimal immune function. Chronic stress and a lack of relaxation can have a negative impact on the immune system in several ways:
Prolonged stress can lead to chronic inflammation in the body, which can weaken the immune system. Inflammatory responses are meant to be temporary and occur when the body is threatened by pathogens, injury, or other stressors. However, chronic stress can lead to persistent inflammation, which is associated with a range of health problems and can suppress the immune system's ability to respond to new threats effectively.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces water
- 1 bag Tazo Calm Chamomile Tea (or your favorite brand of Chamomile tea)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 toothpick swirl of Lavender Vitality Essential Oil
Instructions:
- Heat the water just until it turns steamy; no need to bring to a boil.
- Place a chamomile tea bag in a cup and pour the water over the bag.
- Cover the cup with a saucer to hold the heat in and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Uncover the cup and dispose of the tea bag.
- Stir in the honey until it dissolves.
- Place a clean toothpick in your Lavender Vitality Essential Oil and then swirl that into the mug. Discard the toothpick and enjoy!
I definitely didn’t know a lot about breastfeeding before giving birth, other than my boobs will feed the munchkin.
In reality there are so many different things to learn and experience!
I was talking to someone and they were like, oh wait that’s not true?! So I thought here’s a few common breastfeeding myths and the real deal!
✨ Breastfeeding helps you lose weight
✨ Breastfeeding doesn’t help baby after 6 months
✨ What you eat as a breastfeeding mom doesn’t really matter for your milk
Let’s debunk these!
👉Losing weight isn’t a direct result from nursing your baby and each mom is different. Although you do burn around 500 calories by breastfeeding, you’re also eating more to produce that milk. There’s also the aspect of your body holding onto that weight to make sure you can feed your little one!
👉Your milk changes during your breastfeeding journey, but it’s still an important part of your baby’s diet and nutritional needs, even after 6 months! When you consume caffeine and alcohol (for example) that can end up (in small amounts) in your breast milk. There are also important vitamins and minerals that can be absorbed from your breast milk (like vitamin A, iron and others!) that come from your food.
👉What you eat can alter your milk! Traces of the food that you consume do get into your breastmilk so it’s important to be mindful of what you eat and if it causes any digestive or other issues for your baby (check out my previous post about dairy!)
Did any of these surprise you!?
You can grab my free guide to learn more about breastfeeding and tips for nursing moms here!
B vitamins are an important part of pregnancy because B12 specifically is required for a process called methylation, which is involved in gene expression, cell differentiation, and organ formation. You’ve likely heard of these in different ways, depending upon what you’re dealing with. Each one does a lot of different things and are important for our body systems to operate in homeostasis (think balance).
Without enough B12, the risk of miscarriage, neural tube defects and preterm delivery go up.
Depending upon what you eat there’s nothing to worry about, but if you’re diet leaves something to be desired you can definitely clean it up and get that B12 you need!
Vitamin B12 is primarily found in animal-based foods, such as meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs. Pregnant women who follow vegetarian or vegan diets may be at risk of B12 deficiency and should consult with a healthcare provider about appropriate supplementation or dietary strategies to ensure they meet their B12 needs.
During pregnancy, it is generally recommended that women consume an adequate amount of vitamin B12 through their diet or supplements as prescribed by a healthcare provider to support the health and development of both the mother and the baby (always consult with your care team first!).
Here are some of the key functions of vitamin B12 during pregnancy:
- Red Blood Cell Formation: B12 helps prevent anemia by ensuring an adequate supply of healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Neurological Development: important for the proper development of the baby's nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
- DNA Synthesis: essential for the rapid growth and development of the fetus.
- Energy Metabolism: helps convert food into energy, which is especially important during pregnancy when the body's energy needs increase.
- Folate Metabolism: adequate B12 levels are necessary to support the function of folate in reducing pregnancy related risks.
- Immune System Support: helps maintain a healthy immune system, which is important for both the mother and the developing fetus.
I'm in the process of creating a guide all around nutrition and support for pregnant women to help you during your journey! Join the waitlist here and be the first to know when it launches!
Nutrition is such a hot topic when you are expecting, there is so much information out there about vitamin needs during pregnancy that it can be overwhelming!
Let’s break down some of the vitamins that are important for pregnant mamas.
One of the B vitamins that is really important for pregnancy (and let's be real a ton of other ones do too) is Folate or Vitamin B9.
This vitamin helps prevent birth defects and healthy cell division.
HOWEVER.... do not confuse this with folic acid, the synthetic form of folate that is present in many prenatal vitamins.
Many people have what’s known as the MTHFR gene variation (that we talked about earlier this month) which means that up to 60% of the population is unable to use the synthetic form of folate.
During pregnancy, it is generally recommended that women consume an adequate amount of Folate through their diet or supplements to support the health and development of both the mother and baby. Folate needs can vary among individuals, so it's important for pregnant women to discuss their specific dietary and nutritional requirements with their healthcare team to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
It's worth noting that folate is primarily found in foods, such as beef liver, lentils, asparagus, eggs, and raw spinach.
I'm in the process of creating a guide all around nutrition and support for pregnant women to help you during your journey so comment below if you want to be added to the list! 🫶
