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Aromatherapy
and Post-Natal Care
by
Francoise Rapp
Bringing a new baby home is one of the most exciting moments of a
parent's life. It can also be one of the scariest. Sure, mom and dad are
eager to begin their new life with baby, but at the same time the
unknown can be so daunting. And many new parents are surprised at how
exhausted they find themselves during the first 3 months of parenthood.
One of the keys to making this new life transition smoother is to
prepare in advance as much as possible. This includes:
* Stocking up on food and other household necessities; prepare
casseroles, soups and other
quick meals and freeze them until ready to bake.
* Establishing strong boundaries with friends and family; outline dates
and time you will
welcome visitors so you won't be overwhelmed by constant guests.
* Talking to your birth advisor, doula, or your own mother for advice
and tips to help you
adjust to parenthood.
While your focus will obviously be on your new baby, it is ever so
important that you commit to taking care of yourself, too. You, daddy
and baby will all benefit. Find time to relax and sleep when baby
sleeps. Nurture your body and mind--eat well, pamper yourself with a
relaxing massage, read, meditate and exercise. And enjoy the natural
benefits of aromatherapy with these easy aromatic recipes you can create
right at home.
Note: Since babies are extremely sensitive and may react dramatically to
the direct application or diffusion of essential oils, I recommend you
do not use any essential oils on children less than 2 years old.
Instead, use the infusion of herbs or hydrosols.
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Baby's "Sweet Dreams" Bath
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Prepare an herbal tea with either chamomile, lavender, or orange
blossom. Allow it to infuse for 10 minutes, then pour the tea into
baby's warm bath water. Its light and soothing aroma will help calm
fussy babies.
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Natural Diaper Rash Ointment
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In a 2-oz bottle, mix the following carrier oils. This natural blend
will soothe the skin, heal and calm any inflammations. Apply directly to
affected area.
1-oz Calendula
1/2-oz Avocado
1/2-oz Sweet Almond
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Blends for the New Mom
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If you are breastfeeding, you should avoid using concentrated
aromatherapy products. Essential oils can penetrate the different layers
of the skin and go into your bloodstream. But you can get around this
rule by adding a few drops of essential oils into a spray bottle filled
with water (6 to 10 drops per 2oz) and misting around yourself. Shake
the blend often and vigorously before use in order to disperse the
aromatic molecules. It will be very gentle and you will still enjoy and
benefit from aromatherapy.
~Energy Boost~
-4 drops Orange
-4 drops Rosemary
~Relaxation Time~
-5 drops Lavender
-2 drops Roman Chamomile
~Uplifting Your Spirit/Postpartum Blend~
-4 drops Orange
-3 drops Grapefruit
-3 drops Ylang Ylang
~Enhancing Self-Love~
-3 drops Rose otto or Jasmine otto
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Blends for the New Daddy
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You are not forgotten! Here are three aromatic blends that will help new
dads cope with the stress of becoming a new parenting, can boost your
energy, and calm your fears of this new life.
In a 10-ml bottle, pour the essential oils and then add an organic
vegetable oil to fill.
~Coping with New Responsibilities~
-6 drops Rosemary
-4 drops Cypress
-5 drops Cedarwood
Anoint the sacrum and solar plexus. Pour a few drops into the palm of
your hands and inhale deeply.
~Energy Boost~
-6 drops Peppermint
-6 drops Orange
-4 drops Rosemary
Anoint the sacrum and solar plexus. Pour a few drops into the palm of
your hands and inhale deeply.
~Easing Fears~
-2 drops Roman Chamomile
-4 drops Lavender
Anoint the solar plexus. Pour a few drops into the palm of your hands
and inhale deeply.
| (c) Francoise Rapp, 2002. Permission is granted to reproduce this article in your print or electronic publications, providing you use the article in its entirety, including the brief bio trailer, all links and references within. Please let me know if you use this article by email to
francoise@aromalchemy.com.
This article was originally published by Francoise Rapp in "The Arom'Alchemy Newsletter," a weekly ezine dedicated to healthy mind, body and soul through the use of aromatherapy. Join her for many aromatic moments to come by subscribing at
www.aromalchemy.com/education.
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