Pregnancy, Birth, + Postpartum

mama + babymama

Apr 12

first of all, congratulations!! ~ whether you were surprised like us, or planning for a while, i’m happy for you + this chapter you’ve begun. excited to share all this wisdom i’ve gathered over our journey of bringing a lil human earth side.

*reminder that I am not a doctor. if you’re seeking medical advice please go see a trained healthcare professional. i’m just a mama sharing my experience on enjoying the whole pregnancy + birth thing.

gotta mention, i’m one of the annoying people who love being pregnant + thoroughly enjoy the process. I am pretty crunchy, I knew I would birth at home + breastfeed my babes from long before I got pregnant, so a lot of my view on pregnancy, birth, + postpartum is from a natural, holistic lens.

that being said, I fully respect and honor your path to motherhood, what ever you choose is best for you and your baby is the right decision!

the seasons

first trimester (1 - 12wks)

get your supplements in, drink your Ningxia. I loved Ritual’s prenatal, choline, synbiotic+, and omega-3 during my pregnancy
high protein breakfast helped me feel better throughout the day
when eating is hard, try ritual’s pregnancy + postpartum protein powder! yummy and light on your stomach
keep snacks on ya - I loved chomps beef sticks, that’s it fruit bars, and bobo’s lemon poppyseed bar
nausea can be annoying. up your protein, keep peppermint on hand, sip ginger tea throughout the day, + snack on salty crackers throughout the day
tummygize comes in handy during this time
stay hydrated!! water with electrolytes will be your best friend over the next year+
speak positivity over yourself + call a friend if you’re having a tough day. if you’re like me, you’ll experience most of your anxiety in the first trimester, waiting to get to 12 weeks to tell anyone because you so badly want this baby, but still feel scared to get too excited yet.
valor roller over your heart + on your wrists for mood support
when in doubt, take a bath
sleep all you want sista, your body is asking to rest, and honoring rest is a beautiful lesson to take from this chapter
diffuse all the calming + happy oils your heart desires
find a few good books you’d like to read throughout your pregnancy to support a positive experience - my faves are Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, The First Forty Days, Expecting Better, and Gentle Babies
start nourishing your body with lotion + body butter daily, especially around your belly to nourish your skin + avoid stretch marks - I love using baby balm or a body butter with gentle baby

second trimester (13 - 27wks)

enjoy all the naps your body asks for
eat carbs like sourdough + butter with sea salt .. yumm
high protein breakfast
lots of walks + time with friends
sunshine on your skin
enjoy the magic of growing a little human
start drinking a cup of red raspberry leaf tea each day
take your supps, drink your ningxia
squats are a great daily habit to practice
order that birth ball and enjoy the hip release
take a gentle yoga class to strengthen your core + move your body to release tension
magnesium before bed + sleepy oils to support sleep

third trimester (28wks - 40wks or birth)

at 32wks drink 1-3 cups of red raspberry leaf tea daily
at 34wks spray claraderm down there every time you use the bathroom
fall in love with dates, enjoy 6 a day from 36wks onward
take your supps, drink your ningxia
make a plan for your fourth trimester: prep frozen meals, select your support team, and plan how you can maximize rest - read The First Forty Days
order your birth + postpartum supplies: peri bottle, disposable undies, claraderm, afterease, your favorite oils, waterproof bed cover
order the birth kit from your midwife
make herbal padsicles (organic pads, aloe, witch hazel, lavender, frankincense, geranium, rosemary)
make a sitz bath + use 1/2c per bath (3c epsom salt, 15 drops lavender, frankincense, + geranium, 1tbsp calendula oil, 1/4c dried calendula, 1/4c dried lavender)

birth

electrolytes in water
ningxia zyng
snacks for energy (nuts, seeds, cheese slices, jerky, a smoothie, and protein bars) - birth is a marathon!
valor on your neck for courage
clary sage under tongue
labor support roller: 3 drops helichrysum, 3 drops fennel, 1 drop peppermint, 4 drops ylang ylang, + 3 drops clary sage
diffuse valor + frankincense
your midwife should send you a full supplies list that you will need by your 36 week home visit
bed set up - have 2 fitted sheets you don’t care about staining (check dollar store or amazon)
- fitted sheet, plastic tarp, fitted sheet, fitted sheet (so you can lay on your bed after baby comes, or birth on it. deliver placenta, get cleaned up, etc. then while you shower, your partner or midwife just strips the top sheets and plastic, and your clean fitted sheet for you to snuggle up on (with chux pads under you) is right there!)

fourth trimester / postpartum (after birth)

rest. rest. rest. - try to commit to 5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, and 5 days near the bed
stay hydrated - drink your electrolytes
ningxia
moon milk postpartum restorative tonic
moon milk postpartum collection
switch to ritual’s postnatal supplements, keep the rest on your stack (choline, synbiotic+, and omega-3)
use those herbal padsicles you made earlier in pregnancy

breastfeeding cart

I used an Ikea 3-tier rolling cart we had at the house to keep these things easily accessible

reusable nipple pads
nipple cream - rose ointment or baby balm
silverette nursing cups
breastfeeding pillow
breast pump - grab a free one through your insurance!
pill organizer for supplements + vitamins
ningxia red packets
electrolytes + big water cup
high protein snacks - chomps jerky, larabar, rx bar, Bobo’s, homemade protein balls
nuts + seeds - almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds

diaper caddy bag

grab a cute diaper caddy with lots of pockets + keep it nearby for easy diaper changes, this can live on your rolling cart or near the bed

things in our diaper caddy bag:

gathre micro+ changing mat
diapers - we love coterie
wipes - coterie
hatch rest go - white noice machine
hair clip for mama
seedlings tender tush
seedlings diaper rash cream
seedlings baby lotion
gentle baby, a perfume for mama that is calming to both baby + mama
rollers for baby - tummygize for tummy, myrrh for cord, and frankincense for wellness

oils for pregnancy + birth

pregnancy

valor - emotional support
tummygize - gentle tummy support
peppermint - nausea, regulate body temp during hot flashes
lavender - sleep support
sleepyize roller - my favorite sleep roller during pregnancy

birth + labor

frankincense - emotional support, diffuse during labor
valor - emotional support, diffuse during labor
geranium - smelling it distracts from intensity of labor, rub on lower back to encourage dilation
peppermint - nausea, a drop in the toilet to encourage peeing during labor, rainbow over top of belly to encourage baby to go downward if baby is breech
clary sage - on lower back, in bath, in massage oil, great for encouraging hormone balance during labor
release - supports your emotional body
helichrysum - a drop on the lower back or bottom of feet during labor, add to birth roller