TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF

It was during my pregnancies, while indulging myself in frequent in aromatic baths, and scenting the atmosphere of my home with beautiful aromas, that I noticed how much less prone I was to catching colds, or any illness for that matter. Maybe this is due to the fact that pregnancy produces extra antibodies in defence of the new life growing within, but I like to think that my extraordinarily healthful state was due in part to my aromatic lifestyle. This is not hard to imagine, when you consider that the only people said to survive the great plague of London were perfumers, glovers (who used essential oils to cure the leather) and those doctors who carried a walking stick in which the top was hollow and filled with aromatic herbs and spices.

Water is very good for pregnant women ? drinking lots of mineral water, swimming regularly and, of course, relaxing aromatic baths For an aromatic bath almost any essential oil that you really like will benefit you, and it is a matter of personal preference. I remember being particularly fond of petitgrain oil during my first pregnancy, and whenever I smell petitgrain oil it instantly reminds me of that time. Clary sage and geranium oils are both great morale boosters, especially towards the end of the pregnancy when each day seems like an eternity, and one wonders if the baby is ever going to arrive.

Lavender is a must during pregnancy, as it has the longest list of therapeutic properties, together with being the safest oil on the skin. What a piece of creative genius! Can you imagine the triumph for a pharmaceutical company which could produce one substance that could be, used in the bath, on the skin, as a perfume, to bring about relaxation, promote heating, treat bums, stop bleeding promote restful sleep, plus many more uses. It would be impossible In the creation of lavender, we can see the skill of a master perfumer, the genius of the best scientist, plus the knowledge of all cosmetic chemists rolled into one, to make a substance which is almost a medicine chest in a bottle. To say that lavender is beneficial during pregnancy is an understatement; it has the a to stimulate the production of healthy white blood cells, and to goad them into action, should an invading organism, such as a cold virus, decide to visit. I would recommend a lavender bath at least once a week during pregnancy.

Tea tree baths are toning and will help you shake off a cold should you succumb to one. Tea tree has anti?fungal and anti-bacterial properties and will improve many skin conditions. It is an excellent alternative to lavender oil for healing burns or treating sunburn for those people who for whatever reason, do not like the aroma of lavender. During the summer I find that
bergamot or rosewood baths are delightfully refreshing, and can be enjoyed either in the morning or the evening. Other light
refreshing essences which make ideal bath additives are lemon, orange, rosemary orange blossom and clary sage. Heavier
and sweeter aromas are sandalwood, geranium, rose, Jasmine, patchouli and ylang?ylang. Peppermint oil, when used
sparingly, makes for a wonderfully cooling bath in the midst of summer. I was heavily pregnant during the heatwave of 1976,
and peppermint baths saved my sanity many times. To a bath of tepid water, just add 2?4 drops of peppermint, mix well, slide in and defuse.

Throughout pregnancy you are a very important person. This is a time for being selfish, for taking the best care of yourself that you can. Your state of health will be reflected in your baby. Your state of mind will also have an effect on the foetus growing inside you. Whatever you eat, whatever you drink and, to a certain extent, whatever you apply to your skin, will be building blocks for the growth and formation of your child. positive and beautiful thoughts can alter our basic cravings for things which may be harmful to the baby. Sometimes habits are hard to break, but we should try to remember that although nine months is only a short span of time out of our own lifetime, to a developing baby it is the most critical period of its entire life. it is when we feel a bit down or depressed that the temptation to reach for a glass Of alcohol or a cigarette is strongest. and at these times perhaps we can reach for a safe alternative, a clary sag' bath to lift depression, or one of the Bach Flower Remedies, for instance. I find that Rescue Remedy is extremely useful to 'a" at stressful times, especially so after an accident, however minor.