Mum, Baby and Child
During pregnancy body care is particularly important to keep the skin supple and avoid stretch marks. Dr.Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil supports the skin in weight loss or weigh gain and is superb at stretch mark prevention. Use daily on skin still moist from the shower or bath.
Rose Body Moisturiser to keep skin supple. Plus Rose nurtures both the skin and the spirit.
Rose Body Oil provides supportive vigour of light and life. Lavender Body Oil relaxes, soothes and encourages sleep. Quince Body Moisturiser gives the skin a fresh, firm feeling during pregnancy.
Rapidly tiring and swelling legs in the latter stages of pregnancy gain support from Rosemary Leg and Arm Toner.
A protective cocoon for the child
Only the best is good enough for a child’s tender skin. The rich Dr.Hauschka creams and oils nurture their sensitive skin and envelop the child in a warming and protective cocoon. For the youngest, this warming protection is very important, as they can get cold quickly.
Babies really only need to be bathed in warm water and a muslin cloth; however, Dr.Hauschka Rose Body Wash with such gentle ingredients from nature is for cleansing if needed. Our Body Silk containing real silk has to be the most exquisite and caring baby body powder there is.
Tip: I speak with experience; Body Silk was the only product the cured my daughter’s predisposition towards nappy rash. Body Silk contains Rice Starch, real Silk Powder, Silica and Sage.
Heading off to school and the dreaded lice:
Neem Hair Lotion
Sprinkle throughout children’s hair, as a lice preventative.
Having children is a catalyst for many changes. It’s an excellent time to remove the huge amount of synthetic chemical overload in our homes and on our bodies; from all the conventional synthetic chemical skin, perfume, hair and body products to cleaning and laundry products.
Pregnant and in good health
At no other time does an individual enter into such a close relationship with another person as during pregnancy. But as the pregnant woman’s body adapts to fully meeting the needs of the growing child, this can lead to physical discomfort. In our interview, Manuela Burkhardt, WALA contact person for midwives and herself a trained midwife, gives tips on how expectant mothers can find relief in such cases.
As a midwife you have already guided many women through their pregnancy. Are there different ‘phases’ that every pregnant woman goes through during the nine months?
Each woman’s experience of pregnancy is different. However, one can divide the course of pregnancy roughly into three phases, each of which last about three months: the phase of adjustment, the phase of wellbeing and the phase of burden.
What happens in the first phase, the phase of adjustment?
In the first three months it is not usually obvious that the woman is pregnant, and most of the changes are hidden from view. During this time the body is already starting to adjust to nurturing another human being – this is why we call it the phase of adjustment. The hormone status changes, fatty deposits in the breasts are built up and the metabolism goes into overdrive. Although there is nothing to see on the outside, the woman may already be suffering diverse complaints – nausea, sickness and tiredness. Mood swings are also quite common and completely normal.
How can affected women alleviate these complaints?
Nausea is among the most troublesome complaints during pregnancy. Due to the hormonal changes they undergo, some mums-to-be feel nauseous a lot. A regular daily routine, several small meals and walking in the fresh air can also help. Hosing the legs with cold water in the morning will also help stimulate the overtaxed circulation.
But at some point the female body adjusts to being pregnant…
Yes, fortunately. The middle three months are the best phase of pregnancy – this is the “phase of wellbeing”. The body has adjusted to the new situation and the woman is in harmony with her child. The abdomen starts to grow gradually and the first movements of the baby can be felt. The only downside: during this phase the first stretch marks can start to appear on the belly and the thighs. However, a daily pinching massage can help stop these stretch marks forming (see instructions in the information box below).
And after these middle three months, what can the pregnant woman expect then? Is the phase of wellbeing over?
Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly. But the last three months are considerably more tiring. The expectant mother is getting bulkier and the child pushes up on her diaphragm, making it more difficult for her to breathe. The pregnancy now becomes an increasing burden and the woman tires easily. During this phase many women also suffer from back pains and muscle tension; walking and standing become harder.
What can the expectant mother do to help herself?
Massages can alleviate the complaints caused by her increasing girth and weight. In the case of heavy, swollen legs it can be helpful to lessen the congestion by stimulating the flow of venous blood back to the heart. For this the mum-to-be should massage her legs daily with a brush, working from the toes upwards towards the thighs, or she can hose her legs with alternating warm and cold water.
As her due date approaches, what can the expectant mother do to prepare herself for the birth?
It helps a lot if she can keep calm and look forward to the event with positive feelings. Of course it is absolutely essential to have a bag packed and ready for the hospital – that’s a great help in calming the nerves. And then life with the little newcomer is all set to start smoothly.
Important tips:
Pinching massage to reduce stretch marks
Use Dr.Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil for the pinching massage. The combination of massage and oil thoroughly warms the skin, leaving it better supplied with blood and therefore more elastic. For a pinching massage, take the top layer of skin between thumb and forefinger, lift it up slightly and then let go again. For best results repeat the process five times for each section of skin.
