If you didn't hear, we are expecting our 3rd baby any day now!
I've been nesting and cleaning this house like crazy! But another thing that I'm doing in my 3rd trimester is helping my body prepare for labor.
Here are a few things that I have been doing in my 3rd trimester to get ready for Labor
- Drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea has been shown to strengthen the Uterus wall and has even been used for other hormonal help. Studies have shown that red raspberry leaf tea can reduce complications and interventions during birth, and even help to make labor faster. Yes to all of that! am I right mamas?
Red raspberry leaf also has vitamins C, E, and A, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, and has essential trace minerals such as zinc, iron, chromium and manganese... So amazing benefits!
- Eat Dates
Why Dates? Studies have shown that dates help prepare the Cervix for labor and can reduce needs for inductions. These studies have also shown that dates may ease labor and reduce postpartum hemorrhage.
Also dates have a lot of fiber (goodbye pregnancy constipation), iron, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants which are not only great for pregnant mama's but for anyone!
And we are told to increase Folate during pregnancy... Dates are a great way to do that!
I wrote a previous blog post all about dates and some of my favorite ways to eat them.
Check it out here
- Exercises to Open my Hips
There are a lot of stretches and exercises that you can do to prepare for labor. We want our hips to be as flexible as possible to make room for our baby. My favorite way to do this is using my exercise ball. You can look on YouTube and find so many exercise ball videos for pregnant moms (great ball workouts for any of you out there that aren't pregnant too!) The Free App, FitOn also has some great Pregnancy workouts for opening the hips.
Also, I was finding that the larger I got, the worse my posture and hip position was from sitting back on the couch or my bed. How to switch that? Get your exercise ball out and sit on that while you are sitting. You will be amazed how it is actually much more comfortable and better for your back and hips. Another thing you can do if relaxing, is lay on your side with pillows between your knees.
Congrats Mama!
- Bailey Lowe
Functional Nutrition Coach
(989) 245-5358
The majority of us are magnesium deficient... it is amazing how many problems it can causes when our body is deficient in certain minerals...
So...the question is why are so many of us magnesium deficient?
- Our soil, today, is depleted and has lower levels of magnesium and other minerals.
- Water supplies have chemicals like fluoride and chlorine which bind to magnesium.
- Things that we consume like caffeine and sugar deplete our magnesium levels.
What kind of things can magnesium help with?
- Muscle cramps/ Aches
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Better sleep
And did you know that topically is a great way to get magnesium into your body.
It absorbs through your skin and avoids going through the digestive track.
My personal story - During my pregnancies, I had awful restless legs and muscle cramps. (My body was telling me that it needed more magnesium as it was using more of my minerals to create that little life inside of me)
Someone suggested magnesium... so I made up this spray, and I was amazed that my muscle cramps went away! I use this spray daily. I spray it on legs, arms, and back after I shower.
Recipe :
- Equal Parts warm water and Magnesium Flakes
- 10 - 20 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
- Glass Spray Bottle
Mix everything together and poor in your glass spray bottle. It may tingle the first couple times, this is normal. (If it bothers you, you can dilute it a little more.) Let me know if you give it a try!
Here are a couple of my favorites if you prefer a supplement version of Magnesium - MegaCal & Unwind
- Bailey Lowe
Functional Nutrition Coach
(989) 245-5358
If you have had that jiggly can of cranberry sauce and weren’t a fan… I don’t blame you… It’s time for a better cranberries sauce to be on the Thanksgiving Dinner table!
This is a recipe that I give all the credit to my mom. She has been making this for years; I have loved it since I was a kid.
And… it is a no cook recipe, so you can whip this together in a matter of minutes.
- 1 bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 apple
- 1 orange
- Maple Syrup
Place everything in your food processor (apple - cored and quartered, orange - quartered and remove any seeds, but leave peel on) Add maple syrup to taste. Keep refrigerated.
Give it a try this week and let me know how you like it!
Happy Thanksgiving!
- Bailey Lowe
Functional Nutrition Coach
(989) 245-5358
What says Summertime more than fresh squeezed Lemonade?
And... the best part is that it has a couple secret ingredients that help anyone that suffers from sniffles when the seasons change
Did you know it that Lavender is a natural antihistamine and local honey is great for allergies too!
- 6 lemons, juiced
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ cup honey
- Optional - add 1 drops Lavender Vitality essential oil (important! All essential oils are not created equal, and most are not ok to ingest)
- 10 cups ice water
- Lavender sprigs, optional
Combine lemon juice, lime juice, honey and Lavender essential oil in a large glass pitcher. Add ice water to taste. Stir until well mixed & Enjoy!
Let me know if you give it a try!
- Bailey Lowe
Functional Nutrition Coach
Young Living Brand Partner
(989) 245-5358
We are constantly exposed to things in our environment that our body needs to detox.
Your amazing body that God created has natural ways to detox ; things like sweating, digestion, breathing, and even sleeping.
Your Lymphatic System is one of the ways that your body detoxes. This amazing system is your bodies’ garbage truck; if it isn’t flowing, all of that garbage is building up which then causes a lot of problems...
Here are some signs that lymphatic fluid is not moving effectively and that toxins are building up in your body:
• Bloating
• Swelling in your fingers/rings fitting more tightly
• Brain fog
• Digestive issues
• Cellulite
• Depression
• Sinus infections
• Skin problems/dry and or itchy skin
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Chronic fatigue
• Feeling sore or stiff when you wake up in the morning
• Excess weight
• Cold hands and feet
• Constipation
• Worsened allergies
• Food sensitivities
• Increased colds and flu
What are some easy things that you can do to help your
Lymphatic System?
- Jump - Your Lymphatic System does not pump like your circulatory system, so any kind of jumping movement is great to keep your Lymph moving! Run, walk, jump rope, jumping jacks, or one of my new favorites is rebounding! Rebounding is a small trampoline, there are some great workouts on YouTube, or just jumping for a few minutes a day.
- Dry Brushing - Naturally stimulates the flow of your lymphatic system. It promotes lymph drainage to help detoxification and circulation in your body. Which boosts your immune system and even aids in digestion. You can buy a dry brush like this at most stores or online. This is something that you can do quick before you hop in the shower!
- Essential Oils - Cypress is great for supporting lymphatic congestion and Citrus oils are great for supporting our bodies natural detoxification.
- Spirulina is a source of chlorophyll which is a potent cleaner that purifies the bodily fluids, such as blood, lymph, supports healthy metabolism, and energy levels. Multi Greens are my go too for Spirulina
- Armpit Detox - there are a lot of lymph nodes in your armpit and breast area. And most of us have used deodorants for years that are full of toxic ingredients... guess where all those ingredients go... right into your lymph system...Here are a couple easy ways to do an armpit detox
- Mix 2 Tablespoon of Bentonite Clay and 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and make a paste. Apply the paste to your armpits and once it dries, hop in the shower to rinse it off.
- If you aren't a DIYer, and want a quick option. Apply this Charcoal Mask to your armpits, let it dry, and hop in the shower to rinse it off.
Are you ready?
Do you need easy step by step instructions
to start working on your Lymph Health?
- Bailey Lowe
Functional Nutrition Coach
Young Living Brand Partner
(989) 245-5358
