For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mother. Growing up in a family of 5 children, I never dreamed I would struggle with fertility or pregnancy loss, but I did, 3 times. Like so many women out there wanting to start a family, I was unaware of so much, especially how important it is to be healthy before conception. Each pregnancy loss I suffered was a learning lesson, a chance to explore my own health deeper, to examine the possible root causes and functions behind the scenes that was keeping me from Motherhood. While I won’t pretend I didn’t suffer painful emotions of not feeling like I was enough, that my body was somehow weak, and the heavy shame I carried thinking I was a failure at simply being a woman, I had to move on believing that everything happens for a reason. There is so many different aspects of improving your health to prepare for pregnancy, but from my personal experience, the following tips are simple ways you can explore to prepare the body for supporting another life.
Through my own personal research I discovered how the health of the gut is so important for not just the developing fetus, but to prepare the body for pregnancy itself. Our intestines contain over 100 trillion beneficial bacteria. This flora is responsible for:
Synthesizing proteins.
Gene activation.
Counteracting harmful bacteria.
Immune support.
Digestive function.
Prevention of specific types of cancer.
Absorption of nutrients.
There are many components of our lifestyle that directly contribute to low levels of healthy gut bacteria including stress, poor nutrition, inflammation, antibiotics, and inadequate sleep. When our bacteria levels are too low, various health issues can arise, including infertility.
Having a really healthy probiotic protocol before conception will help the body maintain adequate amounts of healthy gut bacteria, so these functions can take place and the body is best suited to sustain life. My favorite probiotic is PB Assist+. PB Assist+ is a proprietary formula of pre-biotic fiber and 6 strains of probiotic microorganisms in a unique double-layer vegetable capsule. It delivers 6 billion CFUs of active probiotic cultures and soluble pre-biotic fructo-oligosaccharides that encourage friendly bacterial growth. The time-release, double-capsule, delivery system is designed to help protect the sensitive probiotic cultures from stomach acid.
I also highly recommend GX Assist as a way to gently cleanse the gut. GX Assist is a combination of CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils and caprylic acid to help support a healthy digestive tract by creating an unfriendly environment for potential threats that can disrupt digestive immunities and cause digestive upset. GX Assist is formulated to be used for 10 days as a preparatory cleansing step before using PB Assist® +Probiotic Defense Formula.
Because my life is all about plant based living and essential oils, my favorite oil protocol to prepare for pregnancy includes Geranium & Clary Sage. These oils work together to help support hormone balancing, tone and tighten the uterus, and prepare those delicate tissues to function optimally.
BABY MAKER BLEND: Diluted in a 10 ml roller combine 25 drops of each Oil.
HOW TO USE: apply over the lower abdomen morning and night up until conception.
This information is meant to help women everywhere better understand how to support their bodies in the best ways possible before pregnancy. Being a Mom has been the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life, and even though it took me some time to get there, I never gave up exploring all I could do. As always, consult with your OBGYN if you believe you have other issues going on that may be impacting your fertility. I am not a doctor. I am simply a mom who at one point in my life, never thought she would be one.
Health and Happiness,
Kim Camuso, CMT
DŌTERRA Diamond Leader
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