Pregnancy Self Care With Bathing Blessings

AHHHH! The thoughts of time and space for just you and your baby.  Imagine a nice warm bath, music that makes your heart sing, a cup of soothing tea and a candle … how decadent and how relaxing! Just you, your thoughts, and your baby. A ritual, a meditation, a blessing.

It’s important to take time out for you with pregnancy self-care. A bath, this quiet space, is time to connect with your mind, body and baby. Finding some quiet your spirit feels the connection of your two souls; the energy flow between you and your baby. Water vibrates energy and sound …

Give yourself time and space to relax, to dream your motherhood journey dreams, to talk with your baby, to listen to your inner guidance, to listen to your baby’s whispers.

Read further to find detail about a bathing ritual, a couple bath recipes and their benefits, and the good to know about how to make the best experience of your bathing ritual.

RITUAL

Gather all the ingredients and materials you’ll need and like for your private self-care escape. Brew a pot of herbal tea such as chamomile or raspberry tea (beginning at 32wks.). 

Grab a washcloth to place under your neck or on your forehead. Get it wet with cool water to place on your forehead so you don’t get too warm in the bath and to keep your body temp regulated OR get it wet with warm water or bathwater to rest your head on. 

Your favorite candle whether unscented if you’re sensitive to smell at this stage or a scent that you’re enjoying at this particular time.  .. we know it changes throughout your pregnancy. Don’t forget matches.

A cinnamon stick to smudge the energy. Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and blood sugar regulator when consumed. Lighting a stick and using it as a smudge helps clear the energy and has a nice aromatherapy effect if you aren’t sensitive to it’s smell. 

Device for favorite music to accompany you and your baby. Do you have “a song” that you and your baby share? Do you have a favorite artist for emo music?

With all the props set in place, slowly submerge yourself into the warm and inviting bath water. Include your head and hair .. the water can infuse your whole being and the milk is also conditioning for the hair. 

During this meditative time, go within, connect with your baby and together set an intention for both of your rebirthing … you as a Mother and your Baby in this life.

10-15minutes

Relax … Enjoy … Envision … Rebirth

When you’re ready to leave the bath rinse off with plain water to wash away the milk residue leaving your body and skin smooth and soft without any sticky milk residue.

RECIPIES

Recipe 1 - Milk Bath

Milk Bathing has been around for a very long time with well-known skin benefits. It’s known that Cleopatra bathed daily in donkey milk for her skin and complexion.

• Body temp water (not too hot)

• 1 cup full fat Milk of choice … Cow Milk, Oat milk, Coconut Milk are all good options. Milk is great for soothing the skin

• 2 cups Epson Salt

• 3-12 drops Essential Oil like Lavender, Bergamot (Citrus), Eucalyptus (use once hit 2nd trimester). Add to a carrier oil like coconut oil (below) before adding to the bath.

• A couple tablespoons of Coconut Oil (carrier oil for essential oil. See how to mix below in the Good To Know / Tips section)

• Aromatherapy - Flower Petals (fresh or dried), Flowers, Sprigs of Eucalyptus, Sliced Oranges 

Recipe 2 - Oat & Honey Bath

An oatmeal and honey bath is soothing for the skin and can be great after a sunburn or for really dry skin.

Bathing in an oatmeal bath soothes dehydrated, itchy and inflamed skin.

• Body temp water (not too hot)

• 1 cup full fat Milk of choice … Cow Milk, Oat milk, Coconut Milk are all good options. Milk is great for soothing the skin

• Honey

• 1 cup Old Fashioned Oats (grind finely in a blender or coffee grinder. You’ll know when they’re ground finely enough when a tablespoon dissolves in hot water) OR Colloidal Oatmeal (finely ground powder you can dissolve in your bath water)

• Almond Oil (or another carrier oil - see Good To Know / Tips below)

• 3-12 drops - Lavender essential oil in a carrier oil (like almond oil above)

In a sauce pan heat the following ingredients a few minutes until well blended: milk, honey, oatmeal, almond oil. After heating transfer to a bowl and add a couple drops of the essential oil (lavender).

Mix and use immediately .. this recipe does not have a shelf life.

BENEFITS

• Magnesium in Epson Salt is very beneficial. Magnesium helps with cramps and hydration.

• Epson Salt relaxes and may help with lowering stress. Can help with and relieve back pain.

• Milk - the fat and protein in milk hydrates the skin and works with inflammation.

• Oats - can be moisturizing, soothing, and inflammation-relieving for the skin. Oatmeal has a natural anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and can naturally soften the skin due to phenols found in oats. When ground into a powder, oats are more easily absorbed into the skin. On the skin, oatmeal functions as a skin protectant.

• Honey - has skin-smoothing benefits thanks to its amino acids and antioxidants

• Lavender essential oil - reduces stress and soothes aches and pains.

• Eucalyptus essential oil - soothes irritated skin, relieves pain, protects against infection, and rejuvenates sore muscles. 

GOOD TO KNOW / TIPS

Cow, Coconut and Oat milks are all good options. Its your preference. You want to use full fat varieties though because it’s the fat and proteins in the milk that provide the skin benefits. The milk helps relieve belly itchiness you may experience throughout your pregnancy as your belly grows and your skin stretches to accommodate your baby’s home. Note: avoid milk if you have sensitive skin.

Adding Essential Oils. Do not just drip 3-12 drops directly into a full bath .. the oils are not water soluble and won’t mix. Oil and water don’t mix. Do always add the oil to a carrier oil first; like coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil.

For a single bath add 3-12 drops of essential oil in one Tablespoon of the carrier oil of your choice.

Best recommended skin-loving Essential Oils: Lavender, Rose, and Chamomile. Watch for signs of sensitivities to essential oils.

Raspberry leaf tea strengthens uterine walls and may decrease labor time. Begin with one cup / day and work up to 3cups / day beginning at 32weeks.

And, imagine a peaceful photo shoot with you in a milk bath, with sliced oranges for fragrance and/or rose petals. You’ll cherish these images and be able to show your baby one day and let them know just how you couldn’t wait to meet them and how excited you were to be pregnant, to live that experience with him/her and to start a family.

HAPPY MAMA, HAPPY WOMB, HAPPY BABY

Kundalini Baby