Here is the program that Dr.Gary Young, founder of Young Living Essential Oils created for his wife Mary Young  (told by Gary Young himself during a talk in July, 2000 at The Farm, Mona, Utah):

YL Essential Oils:
Valor 2 times a day – tummy, back, hips – AM and PM.
Gentle Baby AM & PM for 30 days; then 1-2 times a week
By using Valor on the tummy, at 7 months she has no stretch marks or blemishes.  The doctors are amazed.
Brain Power on tummy, ears, neck once a day.  Baby knows Morse Code.
Her mind is much more clear.
Gary massages her legs at night with Valor and Cypress, sometimes Aroma Siez.
Frankincense each day protects baby.
He tests her weekly.
 
Supplements:
Multigreen – 8-12 a day.
Be Fit – 4 a day
Power Meal – 2 scoops in AM
Super Cal – 4 a day
Master Formula Hers – 6 a day
Body Balance – 1 scoop a day
Comfortone – 2 a day
Sulfurzyme – 2 tbs. a day
ICP – 2-3 times a week
Boswella Crème – 1 time a day on top of oils

*Note from Brenda – I personally use and recommend Young Living Essential Oils. The above recommendations are not intended for use with other types of oils, because essential oils are made very differently. Click here to visit my essential oils website and learn much more, or contact me if you have specific questions about my own experiences with essential oils, pregnancy, and birth.

Exercise in Pregnancy

Preparing for birth should be much like preparing for an athletic event because labour and birth are indeed physical events we can prepare our bodies for. A healthy and fit mother will not only feel better during pregnancy, she will have the strength and flexibility to move during labour easily and comfortably.

After the first trimester, activities that involve lying flat on her back for long periods of time should be avoided. That’s because the weight of a developing baby may press down on and compress blood vessels that play an important role in blood circulation to the uterus, pelvis and legs.

As fatigue tends to be most common in the first and third trimesters, she may find herself less able to exercise during these periods.

Contact sports or extreme sports (for example, skiing, scuba diving, and sky diving) should be avoided because they have the potential to do harm to mother and baby.

Discuss with primary caregiver any unusual symptoms experienced during or after exercise, such as discomfort in her chest, neck, jaw, or arms; nausea, dizziness, fainting, or excessive shortness of breath; or short-term changes in vision.

Consider exercising in a medically supervised program, at least initially, if there are any peripheral vascular disease or kidney problems. Those with peripheral neuropathy should not run, jog, or walk long distances without the approval of their doctors, and those with retinopathy should check with their eye doctors before initiating an exercise program.

Preparation

A woman’s exercise level during pregnancy depends largely upon her level of fitness before she became pregnant. In other words, the more physically fit before, the more activity she can do safely during pregnancy. It is important to realize that during pregnancy is not the time to strive for exercise milestones or try to lose weight. It is a good idea to monitor heart rate, a good way to monitor optimal exercise intensity without overexertion.

Strengthening and toning torso, back, pelvis, thighs and stomach will help with the labour process. Exercise performed safely during pregnancy can lessen your fatigue, improve your self-confidence and mood, reduce backaches and bad posture, and strengthen your endurance during a prolonged labor.

Muscular Control of the Vagina and Perineum (“Kegel”)

This exercise is very important. Sitting, standing or lying down; contract and tighten the muscles of the pelvic floor (those used to stop the flow of urine flow). Think of pulling the opening of the vagina all the way up to the cervix. Hold for a count of five and slowly release. After releasing, relax and bulge your perineum down. Putting a hand over the perineum as it tightens and then bulge it out can identify this. Do four to six sets of twenty-five, spread over the course of the day. This is commonly known as the “Kegel” exercise, after Doctor Arnold Kegel, who identified the importance of this exercise.

Tailor Sitting

Sit on the floor with soles of feet together. Lean upper torso forward until a gentle pull is felt in inner thighs. Hold the stretch for twenty to thirty seconds, building the length of stretch time gradually. Repeat three to four times.  Sit in this way whenever possible; choose to sit on the floor at least three times daily.

Pelvic Rock

Kneeling on all fours (or leaning on chair seat if mother has carpal tunnel syndrome), tighten the abdominal muscles, especially the lower muscles, while tightening and tucking in bottom. This may be done frequently throughout the day to ease back discomfort and strengthen abdominal muscles. Repeat twenty to thirty times.

This is an excellent exercise to move a posterior (baby’s back is to mother’s back) baby into an anterior position (optimal position, baby’s back to mother’s front, usually with the back on mother’s left front). It is important that if baby is posterior, mothers should avoid reclining (on couch, in recliner, bucket seats in vehicles) and assume upright, forward leaning or side lying to help baby turn.

Squatting

Stand with feet and heels flat on floor, about a shoulder width apart. Face a chair or other stable object for support. Feet should point outward, not forward. Hold onto the support, and bend knees out while lowering bottom to no lower than knees, keeping feet flat on floor. Slowly build time until this position can be held comfortably for a minute or longer.

There is some concern about assuming this position during pregnancy as it is felt that it may commit a baby who is in a posterior position which is known to prolong pregnancy (non-progressing prodomal labour as baby attempts to turn prior to active labour), prolong labour and increase labour pain. However, most posterior babies do not engage (move into the pelvis) prior to labour. If baby is believed to be posterior, focus on pelvic rocking (above).

Beach Ball Hold

Sit on floor, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Holding lower abdominal muscles in tightly, tuck chin to chest, cross arms across chest, and lean back slowly while keeping feet flat on floor until upper torso leans back at approximately forty-five degree angle. Hold this position for a count of ten seconds. Return to original position by using hands on knees to support lower back. Repeat ten times and build slowly until you can repeat twenty to thirty times.

Practicing Good Posture

Stand against a door and try to touch it with the small of your back. Place hands under ribs on each side of the chest. Now pretend to lift the rib cage up. There will be an automatically straightening of the shoulders, tuck hips under, and raise chin. Hold head high and be proud to be pregnant!

Walking

Walk daily, starting slowly and building slowly until walking one to two miles in thirty to forty-five minutes is comfortable. Wear supportive and comfortable shoes, and stretch thighs and calves before and after walking to avoid muscle damage. Walk with abdominal muscles pulled in, bottom tucked tight, back straight, and head looking forward. Swing arms to increase aerobic exercise.

A “side-hitch” indicates inadequate oxygen intake; breathe slowly and deeply, slowing pace if necessary.

Important Points to Remember:

• Pay special attention to proper footwear.
• Drink lots of water and stay well hydrated before, during, and after activity.
• Warm up before a workout, and cool down afterwards.
• Skip exercising any time you have a fever.
• Exercise to the point of mild fatigue and never to the point of exhaustion.
• Mothers should avoid exercising in hot, humid climates and not get overheated (more than 100.4 deg F core body temperature).

Alert Caregiver when:

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting, abdominal cramping, absence of fetal movement, or prolonged contractions after stopping exercise.
• Light-headedness or dizziness, serious headache, shortness of breath, palpitations, fast resting heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute), and chest pain that continue past a short rest period.

This may be copied and distributed with retained copyright.
© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ICAN Website

Pregnancy Tips – Ten Pregnancy Tips

On the eve of my baby’s due date, I am unable to sleep. With baby moving in my belly, Braxton Hicks contractions spontaneously occurring (that often render me helpless, like a beetle on it’s back waving its legs), and the enormous pressure in my pelvis that whisks me off to the toilet only to expel an unimpressive thimble full of pee every 15 minutes…I reflect upon the following 10 best parenting advice and pregnancy resources I received.

Pregnancy Tip 1:

 Learn to love your belly: Strangers on the street exclaimed, ‘Wow! Are you big! Must be any day now,’ when I was a mere four months pregnant. After months of experiencing a pang of panic each time I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I finally came to love my belly in a pregnancy photo shoot my girlfriend gave to me. The photographer was so supportive that I finally began to see myself how others dida beautiful pregnant woman.

Pregnancy Tip 2:

Beg and borrow maternity clothes: No matter how ugly and how huge some of the maternity pieces seem, accept them all. You truly don’t know how big you may get and how comfortable those hideous panels might be later on. Put away your pre-pregnancy clothes once you grow out of them so you aren’t constantly grieving the loss of your old wardrobe.

Pregnancy Tip 3:

Let go of your due date: Did you know only 4% of babies are born on their actual due date? Who knew! Once I found out that it is perfectly normal for a baby to arrive anytime between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, I let go of my due date altogether and followed the scout motto of ‘be prepared’ (at any time during that five week window).

Pregnancy Tip 4:

Learn to enjoy your admiring public: Yes, strangers will sometimes see your belly as public property and dish out a host of comments and advice. My husband helped me to start having fun with this new celebrity status. For instance after being annoyed by comments such as, “Looks like your due any time now!” my husband suggested I say things like, “Yup, any minute now!” or even joke, “Can you believe I’m not due for another 8 months?!” The fact of the matter is most people actually mean well and this milestone in your life brings up fond memories for them.

Pregnancy Tip 5:

Find a health care practitioner you love: The ups and downs of your pregnancy require special support and pregnancy resources. Find someone who welcomes your questions, puts your fears to rest and supports you in having the best pregnancy and delivery you can. For me I found this support in my midwives who gave me one hour session and even made house calls. Plus, once I found out my midwives’ statistics on c-sections, forceps use and episiotomies I was hooked! Other friends hired a doula (birth coach), or had a doctor they loved, and were thrilled with the care they received.

Pregnancy Tip 6:

Listen and learn to trust your body: Surrendering to my cravings (turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce and chocolate ice cream), the need of extra sleep (sometimes I would simply sit down to rest and suddenly wake up two hours later!) and being gentle with myself was what got me through.

Also, reading parenting books like The Girlfriends Guide… (for the humor and practicality), to fabulous hardcore midwifery books like Ina May’s Guide To Pregnancy (my favorite) helped me to learn to trust my body more than ever before. These books (another good one was Birthing From Within) helped to dissolve many of my fears, as I learned things like no matter how big your baby is, babies heads are mostly around the same size, and are designed by nature to make the journey through the birth canal.

Pregnancy Tip 7:

Find other pregnant women and hang out with them: My pre-natal exercise class is a real pregnancy resource blessing. Not only am I getting fit but I found a sense of belonging, where I could really let my belly hang out with the best of them. Whenever I began to pity myself (like on an especially nauseous day) I would find another pregnant woman who was going through a tougher situation (like kidney stones or painful hemorrhoids!), or a real trouper in class would say something that lifted my spirits. Plus, by finding other pregnant women I saved my non-pregnant friends the hassle of listening to me share every play-by-play experience of my pregnancy which likely saved a few of my friendships.

Pregnancy Tip 8:

Spend money only on the baby things that will make a real difference to you and borrow or buy the rest second-hand: Babies don’t care about paint chips and decor, only about being close to the milk source: you! The fact that they will rapidly grow out of any and all clothes helped put my priorities in order. So we splurged on the things that mattered to me: the stroller (as I am a huge walker), a safe car seat (for obvious reasons) and a rocker/glider (once I realized that I could be feeding up to twelve hours a day for the first six weeks).

The rest we either borrowed or bought second-hand, and we saved a mint! By getting so many great deals from places like ebay, and going to local ‘mothers of multiples’ sales I saved enough to put away for extra cleaning hours, and a special service to bring meals in during the first three months of our child’s life.
Pregnancy Tip 9:

‘Morning sickness’ can happen at anytime!: Morning sickness can happen at any hour of the day, all day or not at all. Fortunately not often, it can even creep into the second or third trimester like it did with me.

Pregnancy Tip 10:

Everyone’s experience of pregnancy is different, so take what is useful and ignore the rest: So many experiences and so many people dishing out advice. What I have observed is that pregnancy for the most part is the great equalizer if you don’t get something on one end you’ll likely get something on the other. Fortunately, whatever our pregnancy experience may be, the majority of us end up with a little bundle of joy that makes the journey worth all the effort. I am off to bed now to join my sleeping husband and my five pillows that prop up my bountiful belly, my buxom boobs and weary head. As I go off to sleep, I go with gratitude in my heart, knowing that soon we will be welcoming a beautiful new addition into our little family. This truly is the greatest parenting miracle of all.

By: Franchis

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Read out pregnancy diary . Also check out for acne during pregnancy and chalazion

Dear little Baby
Whose life I now hold
More precious by far
Than all the earth’s gold

Eagerly awaited by
A chosen two
Who will help you and guide you
In all that you do

Be patient sweet Babe
Your time draws near
Our arms are wide open
To welcome you here.

Author Unknown

It first needs to be established that stretch marks are really scars. They are the damage left behind when the the skin has been stretched past its limit. This understanding is necessary so that we can continue with a discussion about how to prevent and treat them.

No one is immune to getting stretch marks. Anytime weight is gained or lost very fast there is possibility stretch marks will result. They are usually formed on women during pregnancy, but that is certainly not the only time you can get them.

Bodybuilders are another frequent recipient of stretch marks because of how quickly their muscles can grow. They are usually found on both their arms and chest. Youths who go through rapid growth spurts can also be left with stretch marks afterward.

Stretch mark creams, like Trilastin-SR have become a popular treatment choice over the past few years. These can be purchased in stores and on the Internet. Many women report very effective results.

You can talk to your doctor about the possibility of undergoing surgery to remove your stretch marks. This is not the best solution for everyone, but it is an option that can be explored. Remember that it can be costly and painful.

Prevention is the best stretch mark treatment of all. This is not always the easiest to implement. Try to exercise and eat sensibly during pregnancy. Also keep your skin well moisturized. This will allow it to endure the pulling and stretching the your growing belly will be going through.

What is really unfortunate is how embarrassed and depressed some women can get over their stretch marks. These are battle scars of which you should be proud. They are souvenirs of that beautiful baby that you carried inside and are nothing you should ever feel ashamed of. Do not feel like you need to take drastic measures to get rid of them, because you truly do not.

As any soon-to-be-mother knows, pregnancy can be a mixed bag of highs and lows. While you are excited about meeting your new bundle of joy, observing a hundred and one dos and donts can present something of a challenge, especially if you are a creature of habit.

Take for example, the use of essential oils.

Found in many spas, candles and aromatherapy products, they can present a problem to a mothers unborn child. The problem is many women use these items for holistic skin care regimens or a relaxation tools. Being told that they can no longer use these products may cause a sense of despair as impending motherhood can cause skin reactions and stress.

However, it is best for a pregnant woman to stay away from these oils. Understanding why could go a long way in aiding women to firm their resolve in avoiding these substances.

Harmful affects of essential oils

Botanical products are normally very beneficial to adult humans, but these same oils could cause birth defects or premature delivery, especially when used in certain doses.

This is because some of these oils produce hormone like affects that can trick the uterus into contracting. Others, while normally okay, can be highly toxic to an unborn child. Since oils can quickly absorb into the skin and into the blood stream, this is not a good thing.

A few oils to avoid

While it may seem like a bit of an over kill, you would be wells advised to consider what oils may not be safe to use.

There are literally hundreds of oils that are off limits during your pregnancy. To be certain which ones may cross the placenta and pose a threat to your unborn, ask your doctor or do an online search.

There are even a few pregnancy forums where mothers gather to swap anecdotes, ideas and advice. You may be able to get the info you need from such boards.

While the list can be fairly comprehensive, there are few common oils that most people use that would be best to avoid, and they are:

Basil, black pepper, citronella, clove , jasmine , lemon , nutmeg , peppermint, rose wintergreen, rosemary and chamomile in certain doses.

Many of these are uterine stimulants and can cause contractions. Causing early contractions, as you may know, may result in premature labor.

To avoid this, stay away from these particular oils altogether. Again, when in doubt about an essential oil, consult your OB/GYN for guidance.

Safe alternatives for Mom and baby

Women who find that their skin is now breaking out or are seeking new ways to relax and unwind may feel at a loss of what to do.

The answer is relatively simple.

There are many products especially made for the pregnant woman that contain organic ingredients like Shea butter oil, which is safe for use during pregnancy. While these may be a tad bit on the expensive side, you can console yourself by the thought that a) you will only be using them for a few months and b) you are doing it so your baby can remain healthy.

Besides, dont forget that daddy can be an indispensible help during this time. Ask him for occasional gentle messages to relieve stress and promote relaxation. You may be surprised, but the request will make him feel useful in a time where he may feel left out.

A happy, healthy pregnancy

Being pregnant can be an amazing time in a womans life. It can be hard and extremely stressful, yet alternatively rewarding. Yes, there may be things, like essential oils, that you have to worry about in conjunction with a million and one other things, but when you finally hold your child in your arms, giving up a few habits here and there wont seem quite so bad.

It is estimated that a shocking 35% of all pregnant women are affected in some way by hemorrhoids. Hormonal changes and changes to the female body and weight place additional pressure on the veins in and around the anus which leads to this high incident rate.

Hemorrhoids are caused when veins in the rectal area become enlarged and inflamed. This causes the common symptoms of hemorrhoids which include itching, bleeding, burning, and painful swellings. The first sign of a hemorrhoid is often through seeing blood or experiencing a lot of pain when passing a stool. Anal bleeding is not only caused by hemorrhoids however, if you are in doubt you should see a doctor. Hemorrhoids can be easily treated in the early stages, but if given the chance to develop they can become quite complicated, resulting in severe hemorrhoids such as prolapsed and thrombosed hemorrhoids.

Treatment of Hemorrhoids during Pregnancy

Hemorrhoid cures can be divided into 3 different types. The first and most extreme of the 3 is surgery. Hemorrhoid surgery is a last resort treatment, and as such I wont go into details about hemorrhoid surgery here. Creams, lotions, gels, and ointments (topical cures) are the second common hemorrhoid cure. They work by treating the main symptoms of hemorrhoids most notably pain, irritation, and swelling. While in some cases they can work well to treat hemorrhoid symptoms, they generally only provide temporary hemorrhoid relief at best. Natural hemorrhoid cures are the third type of hemorrhoid cure. Natural hemorrhoid cures come with a range of benefits which I will discuss now.

Choosing to cure hemorrhoids the natural way has many benefits. For one, you wont need to worry about any horrible side effects that come with other chemical based products (such as creams). Secondly, natural hemorrhoid cures such as H Miracle focus on treating the root causes of hemorrhoids, not just the symptoms as is the case with topical treatments. Natural hemorrhoid cures like H Miracle can provide very quick pain relief and also fast and efficient hemorrhoid treatment.

Along with using a natural hemorrhoid cure, if you add more fiber to your diet you will cure yourself even more quickly. Fiber is extremely useful in the treatment process as it softens stools allowing them to pass through the bowels much more naturally (without pain and irritation).

Dink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day, this is very important if you are increasing your fiber intake. Water helps to keep your body hydrated and stools moist. Exercise can make a difference to your metabolism which controls your bowel movements. Try to get 20 minutes of mild exercise into your diet 5 times a week or more.

If you are able to take quick action to cure hemorrhoids the moment you realize you have them, you can save yourself a lot of time, frustration and suffering. Hemorrhoids require some human intervention in order to be cured, the soon you decide to do something about your hemorrhoids the faster you will be able to cure them

Pregnancy is a wonderful, yucky thing isn’t it? There is so much going on with our bodies that we have absolutely no idea about. Especially if this is your first pregnancy it is completely normal to worry; A LOT! I have found that there are three types of discharge during pregnancy that worries us the most.

* Blood

Bleeding during early pregnancy can be very scary, in fact, bleeding is scary in general, pregnant or not. Any bleeding during the first trimester is a reason to call your doctor as it can definitely mean trouble. However the most common type of bloody discharge during pregnancy comes after sex. I hear this question all the time and the answer is always the same, “Yes it’s normal!” Your cervix is very temperamental during pregnancy and sexual activity can cause some light bleeding or pink discharge.

Call or go into your doctor’s office IF:

*You have bleeding in the first trimester

*If you have bleeding that is accompanied by heavy cramps or contractions.

*You need to wear more than a panty liner to contain the bleeding

*If you have moderate to heavy bleeding that lasts more than 24 hours.

*Yeast

If you see a thick, white lumpy discharge during pregnancy you may have a yeast infection which is very common when you are pregnant. Some women have these more than others. One sign that the discharge is actually yeast and not something more serious include itching or burning along with the discharge. A lot of women wonder whether it is okay to take an over the counter medication such as Monistat for thier yeast infections when they are pregnant. The answer to this is YES! Monistat is okay during pregnancy.

It is important to note however, that there is a chance that you may have a more serious condition in which the symptoms mimic those of a yeast infection. Therefore, it is important that you talk to your doctor no matter how confident you are that you have a yeast infection.

Pink, Clear Fluid

This could be the most concerning type of discharge during pregnancy since it could possibly be amniotic fluid. No matter what point you have reached in your pregnancy, this clear discharge can mean trouble but this is especially true during the third trimester. It is possible that you could have a tear in the amniotic sack which could cause leaking of the amniotic fluid.

Typically however, this is not the case. Most usually this clear discharge is nothing more than urine! That’s right girls, urine. Many times during pregnancy you will find that you urinate on yourself without even knowing it. Thankfully, there is a simple test that can be done at your doctor’s office which can tell the difference between urine and amniotic fluid.

There are times when you need to go to the emergency room:

*A bloody discharge along with this clear fluid

*Regular contractions or pain with the discharge

Normally we will experience an increase in overall discharge during pregnancy. It is important to know what to look for. Most of the time our discharge will be milky and about the consistency of yogurt. If you are concerned, always call your doctor!

Nowadays, women don’t need to wait for pregnancy signs to find out about a potential pregnancy, since tests have been invented and they have an accuracy of over 99%. There are basically two types of tests, categorized by the samples they use: urine tests and blood ones. Women prefer the first type generally, and that’s because it has multiple advantages, one of the most important being the possibility that it offers: finding out if they’re pregnant or not in the privacy of their own home, at a lower price and with an excellent accuracy.

All pregnancy tests are working by the same principle: they try to detect the presence and levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in a woman’s body(which only appears if she is pregnant) – and it’s produced by placenta at least after 6 days after ovulation. So, as there is no hCG in a woman’s body before this moment, it’s useless to take a test because it will give a negative result even if pregnant.

Things are pretty simple, basically: the first day after the moment of conception that you could be getting an accurate result is the 7th day; however, doctors recommend taking a test at least 2 weeks after that moment. Most of the tests’ instructions, though, suggest that the best moment for this is the day you have missed your period.

Although they have many things in common, there are also certain features that make the difference amongst pregnancy tests, such as: the accuracy level, the easiness in use and interpretation, the results(the faster, the better), and so on. The advantage of home tests is that they’re taken in your intimacy, but the disadvantage is that they’re taken alone most of the time; however, you don’t actually need the help of a specialist, since these tests are practically designed for the need of average people, so the instruction set should be enough help. The process is very easy: after removing the cap, just hold the test’s stick under your urine stream for 5 seconds and then wait a short while before reading the result; one line means you’re not pregnant and two lines mean that you are. To avoid any confusion that could sometimes appear, you could go for a digital pregnancy test that literally spells out the result for you “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant”.

Things have evolved, so nowadays in order to find out if you’re pregnant or not all you have to do is take a test. Most women appeal to home tests due to their high accuracy level(98-99%) combined with the fast result(2-3 minutes) and the intimacy that they provide.