the conscious decision blog
Expecting? Here’s how to have a cool summer
Is your baby belly growing in unison with increasing summer temps? While there are some perks to a summer pregnancy — like spending the long days outdoors, stone fruit and vitamin D — the dog days of summer can exacerbate some not-so-pleasant pregnancy symptoms. Here are our summer pregnancy tips to stay cool and comfortable this season. Check your tags! Wear loose clothing made out of breathable, natural fibers, like linen and cotton, and avoid synthetic fabrics, like nylon or polyester. This allows your body to perspire to release heat, like nature intended. Stick to light-colors to help reflect the summer sun, dark colors will absorb heat — and warm you up. *It’s good practice to avoid synthetics fabrics, especially when you’re expecting. Man-made fabrics, like acrylic, polyester, rayon, acetate and nylon, are often treated with harmful chemicals during production. The skin is the body’s largest living organ. It’s highly porous, allowing for harmful toxins and chemicals to be absorbed into the bloodstream and remain in human tissue for a long time. Get your 64 oz. + The number one way to stay cool while pregnant is to stay hydrated! Keep sipping water (you need extra, anyhow, when you’re expecting) to keep your body sweating. Yes— sweating. When sweat evaporates, it cools the body and helps regulate your core body temperature. You may even want to consider making the switch to a natural deodorant, like our award-winning USDA organic Jasmine & Grapefruit Organic Deodorant Spray! How to stick to the 8 x 8 rule? Try adding a little flavor to your water by infusing it with fresh fruit. There are even added benefits too, like apples are iron-rich and grapefruit helps flush toxins. Invest in a reusable water bottle. We like this glass one that reminds you to sip throughout the day. Quench your thirst with water-rich fruits and veggies, like cucumber, celery, strawberries and watermelon. Take a dip! Another way to beat the heat is to reinvigorate with a cool — not cold — shower. Pair it with our energizing Awaken synergy body wash, which stimulates the senses with essential oils of melissa, lemongrass and rose. Sleep tight It’s challenging enough to get a good night’s sleep when pregnant, and that goes double for hot summer nights. To ease into a cool, calm sleep mist your bed linens before getting into bed with water or our USDA organic Relax synergy body spray— crafted for body, room and linens. Plus, the soothing aromatherapy blend of lavender, rose and neroli essential oils calms the body and releases tension. Put your feet up During pregnancy, extra fluid in your body can build-up (thanks gravity!) causing discomfort in the hands and feet, especially in the third trimester. And, it’s often worse in the warmer months. When possible, take a seat and elevate your legs. Watch your sodium intake— too much salt in your diet causes water retention. Reinvigorate tired and swollen feet, ankles and legs with our USDA Organic Refreshing Foot Balm. It’s crafted with cypress and grapefruit essential oils to naturally reduce water retention and stimulate circulation.
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5 Ways New Parents Can Stay Rested!
Sleep is an essential part of daily life. It affects both your physical and mental health, helping your body and brain function properly. It affects mood, attention span, hormone balance and the immune system. Saying that new parents can struggle with getting enough sleep is an understatement. Parents have strategized for centuries on how to get restful nights after baby comes home. Of course, there will always be bumps in the road but here are a few tried and tested tips on how to get rest with a newborn to help new parents stay ready for each day. Get on a Schedule Try to focus on establishing a regular schedule of feeding, playing and sleeping as soon as possible. Even if the schedule is less than precise at first, soon a pattern will arise. This pattern also helps parents identify possible nap times that can align with baby’s newly formed schedule. Don't try to be too productive when baby naps! Consider sleep a priority over some other household chores that can wait until later. Enlist Help Have a partner or friend help with nighttime or pre-nap feedings. As the African proverb says: "It takes a village to raise a child." Taking turns with feedings or rotating nighttime feeding duty gives enough relief to keep parents feeling a bit more refreshed. You are also sharing bonding time with others which is good for baby and the loving people in your life. Create a Nighttime Ritual Develop a routine that can help signal your body and baby's for bed. We have heard some parents follow the three B's to prepare for bed: bath, book and bottle. Taking a warm bath can help relax baby, letting him/her know that bed is nearing. Try using bath products with soothing scents; you can also add calming bath oils to the bath. Lavender, chamomile and bergamot are some aromas that are known to help induce sleep. Remember to use essential oils a few drops at a time and dilute with a carrier oil like almond or jojoba before adding to bath. Reading a story or talking to baby may help lull baby to sleep and is also beneficial in helping baby to start recognizing words and find comfort in a parent's voice. Have a bottle ready/get yourself in position for feeding when bedtime nears. You want to be as comfortable as you can when you are nursing, so make use of pillows and comfy ottomans. Using a rocker can help rock baby to sleep and make it easier for you. Have your book, iPad, or other recreational item by your side along with water and snacks! Developing a nighttime routine will make baby feel secure and signal him/her to drift off. Set a Restful Tone Create a soothing space for you and baby to relax into. Even newborns can pick up on the energy in a room. Dim the lights, warm up the room, turn on a lullaby or use white noise. Again, you can use aromatherapy by putting a diffuser in the room. Make the environment as cozy as possible for a good rest. Water and Sunshine Part of getting on a regular schedule is creating space for self care and getting alone time as a parent. Head outside to get some sunshine when baby wakes up in the early morning. After a brisk walk and some stimulation, baby might just be ready for a nap. Also remember to stay hydrated; it's just as important as getting sleep. Drinking fluids help flush toxins out of the body and is vital in keeping the body and internal systems functioning properly. To take care of baby, you have to also take care of self. It's going to take time getting used to a new schedule and a new baby in the family, but you'll create so many amazing memories, the sleepless nights will soon be forgotten. We hope that after reading this article you know how to get alone time as a parent. You can experiment with these and other techniques to get rest with a newborn until you find a routine that works for you and baby. Hopefully then you'll be able to get more shut eye and keep yourself healthy.
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Pregnancy - A Time of Self Discovery
Pregnancy has a way of inspiring reflection that is holistic bringing focus to the mind, body and spirit. A new pregnancy can kindle an array of thoughts and emotions. A journey has begun…life-altering, exciting and nerve-wracking. Sure there is researching baby names, and planning out a new nursery, but along side those tasks a true soul-searching begins where all basic choices are revisited. In many ways the pregnancy ebb and flow is timeless. Yet recent trends for expectant moms seem to be transforming some of the more challenging pregnancy moments into opportunities for self-discovery and renewal. The 2015 mom-to-be has a new set of tricks up her sleeve. As early as the first trimester many women modify their daily routine to include pregnancy wellness activities such as yoga, meditation, or switching to organic foods and products. These lifestyle modifications leave many women with a renewed way of life that can last far beyond a 9 month term. Here are a few reasons why we love these pregnancy self-care trends. Yoga - Nausea and back pain can be a major source of discomfort during pregnancy but prenatal yoga is being accepted as a viable remedy for these symptoms. Yoga is also known to enhance fitness, assist in stress reduction and improve sleep. A study by the Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation found that yoga may also help improve baby’s birth weight and decrease risk of preterm labor. Meditation - Mood swings are a common pregnancy challenge but researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that just 10-weeks of Mindfulness Yoga led to significant mood elevation for expectant moms. A daily prenatal meditation practice has also become widely recognized for its ability to promote mental clarity and provide increased attentiveness and inspire creativity. Organic Foods - Satisfying cravings while eating nutrient rich foods can be undertaking. But the vibrancy and palatable flavors found in locally grown organic foods is what has foodies and locavores rushing to farmers markets and ordering CSA boxes. Indulging in quality, nourishment and flavor – free from potentially harmful pesticides and toxins – is what makes organic the perfect choice for mommy and baby. Organic Personal Care Products - Caring for tummy dryness and itchy skin while using pregnancy safe personal care products can take some effort. Fortunately expectant moms that would like to avoid toxins, synthetic fragrances and unhealthy additives can keep and eye out for products carrying the USDA organic seal. The USDA Organic Certification is only granted after meticulous assessments from the National Organic Program scrutinizing everything from seeds, soil and water to harvesting and handling techniques. There is no safer standard for the health conscious mom-to-be. The wealth of benefits gained through these lifestyle changes is validated by both word of mouth (from mom-to-mom) and through health studies. These trends seem to speak to a defining spirit of our times that is arising from a well-informed new generation of mothers-to-be. Even post-pregnancy these new habits and self-discoveries lead to healthier, happier families. We would love to hear your feedback! Tell us how pregnancy inspired a healthier lifestyle for you.
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