Yes, I ate my placenta...and why you should also consider it!

     Sure, many people would be revolted at the thought of consuming a human organ, but there are a growing number of women who are choosing to eat their placentas for the many health benefits it offers. The art of drying and ingesting one's placenta actually goes back to Traditional Chinese Medicine and, even then, was believed to help with postpartum recovery. Some of the claims are:

- decreases or eliminates postpartum depression

- elevates mood

- faster recovery

-decreased bleeding

- replenishes iron levels

- aids in milk production

- helps shrink uterus to pre pregnancy size

     I brought the idea of placenta encapsulation up to Tim early in my pregnancy and, surprisingly, he didn't mind the idea. After searching locally for reputable sources, I found out that someone in my crunchy circle of friends is certified! I passed her contact information and cost along to Tim and told him he could make the final decision. I really didn't think it would happen for financial reasons...I had already insisted on having a doula (So worth it!) and maternity/newborn photography (Sweet memories!) and those things seemed more important than something that may or may not live up to the healing claims. 

     Fast forward to Penelope's birth. Tim informed the birth team that we did want the placenta. Turns out he had decided to surprise me with a "push present" and it happened to be my placenta, encapsulated, along with a keepsake print and dehydrated heart shaped cord! 

     I was thrilled to have received this gift and began taking the capsules each day, as directed.  Since this was my first child, I didn't know if I was having a super easy recovery or if the capsules were actually working. I unintentially forgot to take them two days in a row while traveling for Christmas and during that time could not figure out why I felt so fatigued, grumpy, and generally "foggy". Then it hit me, the placenta capsules were making the difference! Once I realized this, I immediately took two and within hours was feeling myself again.  

     My personal experience with this somewhat taboo practice has been nothing but positive! I had a super quick recovery after Penelope's birth, plenty of milk, no "baby blues", and I was back to my pre pregnancy weight within a week. I truly feel like taking my "placenta pills" helped with each of those. If you are pregnant, or plan to be, I encourage you to research this topic and try it! What do you have to lose?? 

Our Rainbow Baby!

Penelope’s Birth Story {Our Rainbow Baby}

Penelope's birthday was 12/10/2014 (36 weeks, 6 days), but the story of her birth actually begins two days before. It was Monday evening and I suspected my water was leaking, but wasn't quite sure since it wasn't the "gush" that you normally imagine. I decided to wait it out and try to sleep before calling my midwife or taking further action. Contractions started around 9pm and were slightly stronger than the Braxton Hicks ones I had been experiencing, making it difficult to sleep through the night. Early Tuesday morning I had more leaking and at this point was almost certain that it was my water, so I called the midwife and was told to come into the office for further examination. At the appointment she confirmed my suspicion and told us we would be having a baby in the next 24-48 hours. I was given the option to go home for a while and try to get real labor started before heading to the hospital, and I gladly accepted. Once home, I started layering clary sage and myrrh essential oils on uterine pressure points, rocked on my birth ball, and tried nipple stimulation with the breast pump. We let our families know that Penelope's birth was happening sooner than we anticipated and the news was met with excitement! My midwife called twice to check on my progression and during the second call told me that I needed to head over to L&D to be monitored overnight. At 7:30pm I checked into the hospital, and soon after we were taken to the labor and delivery room.

Once settled in Jessica, my doula, suggested I try some positions to help get things moving along. I also continued to apply clary sage and myrrh essential oils to my lower stomach and pressure points (and did so through the duration of my labor). While I did those things, she hung my prayer/affirmation flags and Christmas lights to help set a peaceful mood. It wasn’t long before my midwife came in to check on my progression. She finished breaking my water and told me that I could labor on my own overnight and we would reassess in the morning, assuming the intermittent fetal monitoring and my temperature both remained normal (it did!). I tried to settle down to rest around 11pm, but sleep was elusive. This was mostly because my contractions were coming every 5-7 minutes and my nurse was in every 30 minutes to check vitals, but I think excitement played a part too. Before things got too intense, I decided to review comfort measures Tim and I learned during our Natural Childbirth class and organize my essential oils for easy access when they were needed. This, along with prayer, really helped me get into a positive mindset and further prepare myself for the birth I had been imagining throughout this pregnancy. By 6am contractions were still coming regularly, but they still hadn’t increased in intensity very much. At this point I asked Lauren (also a doula) to come until Jessica was able to return (she had to leave to take a final exam). Lauren promptly began massaging the pressure points on my hands and ankles and rolled out any tension I had in my back with a massager. My mom also came by to check on things and offer her love and support to both Tim and me.

My midwife returned around 8am and did a cervical exam. I had only dilated to 3cm, but I was about 90% effaced and Penelope had dropped as low as she could get at this point (+1 station) and had turned to the optimal face down position. She was now eager to get active labor started and pushed for Pitocin. I reluctantly agreed and the IV was placed. The whole Pitocin thing really got into my head because I had read and been told that Pitocin contractions are way more intense than natural contractions and it almost always leads to other interventions (such as epidural). Even so, I was determined to birth naturally. I took a minute to calm myself down and made the conscious decision to push any negative thoughts away. After about an hour, labor picked up in intensity and I had to begin focusing and concentrating through each contraction. This is when my birth team really rocked at creating a peaceful atmosphere! Tim, Jessica, my mom, and my L&D Nurse (Melissa) were eager to assist when asked and often times anticipated my needs without any request. The most helpful things to me during this time were diffusing a grounding blend of essential oils (my favorite!), rocking on the birth ball, listening to music (I began with Christmas and later changed to a more hippy/primal new age mix), and knowing that I was surrounded by people who loved and cared about me.

A few hours later I started feeling nauseated and began shaking. I had learned that these were signs of transition, but didn’t want to get my hopes up because it seemed too soon! Using peppermint essential oil quickly helped with the nausea and at this point I got in the shower to help get through the contractions that were now coming with more intensity and frequency. I noticed that I was moaning through each contraction and making those low “ahhh” sounds really helped me visualize my cervix opening! Not long after getting out of the shower, I started feeling the urge to push. I let everyone know and felt the energy of the room change! Penelope was going to arrive soon and I couldn’t wait to meet her! My midwife came in about 30 minutes later and performed my last cervical check. I was 100% effaced and 9cm… this was happening soon and I was ready! I alternated between three positions while pushing (hands and knees, squatting, and on my side) and liked each one for different reasons. Squatting felt the most effective, but it used a lot of energy so I didn’t do that for long. Hands and knees was probably my favorite because I was able to hold Tim’s hands (They pulled the bed away from the wall and he was standing behind it) and I could easily sip water or labor-aid between each contraction. I ended up on my side in a semi-reclined position and Melissa applied essential oils to help support my perineum while my midwife coached my pushing. 

Penelope Kate Benham was born at 1:43pm. She was immediately placed on my chest and was nursing within minutes. Tim and I marveled at her and thanked God for her safe and perfect arrival! Tim was able to cut the cord and I delivered the placenta. I found out that I only had a super tiny tear. It was on a blood vessel and after attempting to stop the bleeding unsuccessfully with Helichrysum essential oil and silver nitrate, I only ended up needing one stitch! Penelope stayed on my chest for about an hour and a half before she was taken to be weighed (5 lbs 9 oz) and measured (20 inches).

 Even though things didn’t go exactly how I imagined (augmenting labor with Pitocin and not being able to have a water birth because Penelope was premature), I couldn’t have been happier with this birth and really wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It was truly a perfect experience! I am still in awe of what God created my body to do and the fact that I was able to birth naturally. I am so proud of myself and beyond thankful for my birth team!

Photos taken by Jessica Pace: A Mother's Pace Doula Service

Woah... Amber is the color of your energy....

I am really hoping that someone got the 311 reference.. :) I like music and I have grown fond of my Amber necklace, so this happens to make a perfect combination (in my mind)!

Amber is super popular among the natural living community. I have seen countless littles (and adults!) sporting these cute necklaces. Is there a reason for amber, or is it just another trendy accessory? Throughout the rest of this post when I refer to amber, I specifically mean Baltic Amber. I will explain why Baltic is important later on.

Amber is not a stone, but actually fossilized tree resin and has been used for healing purposes for thousands of years.

If you talk to a mom (or dad!) whose infant/toddler is wearing an amber necklace, you will most likely hear them singing it's praises! Every parent claims that the amber helps their child with pain and inflammation associated with teething and cuts back on the drooling.

Some of you may be thinking, "It's dangerous to put a necklace on a baby, that's a huge no-no!" Actually, with proper usage and supervision it is perfectly safe. Each bead is individually knotted around the necklace so if it happens to break, only one amber bead will  fall off. Also, in good quality necklaces, there is a built in safety with the clasp. This means that if it gets caught or too much pressure is applied, it will break away. It is not recommended, however, to allow a child to sleep with the necklace on. Just keep an eye on your baby to keep things safe,got it? Ok, I'm moving on!

Adults can benefit from wearing amber as well for issues such as pain relief & discomfort (allergies, headaches, arthritis, etc...), chronic inflammation, increased energy, and maintaining wellness. 

How does it work? Amber is known to have the highest concentration of succinic acid that can be found in nature. When worn, your body heats up the amber and it releases trace amounts of the succinic acid to provide therapeutic benefits. 

Other tips:

•Amber needs to be in direct contact with your skin for the wearer to reap the benefits.

•Wear the amber as close to the area of concern as possible (necklace for teething &  headaches, bracelet for arthritis, anklet for leg/foot pain...)

•Amber is soft and littles should not chew in it. Doing so may cause the beads to break. 

•Clean with lukewarm water and a cloth. Soaps and detergents will leave a film, preventing your amber from doing it's job.

•Take off your amber if you are bathing, swimming, applying lotions or oils as these could affect the benefits. 

When buying, you want to make sure you are getting high quality Baltic amber from a trusted source. There have been some claims that raw(unpolished) will provide the greatest benefits, but in my opinion, polished vs. raw does not make a difference, so get what is aesthetically pleasing to you. 

Do you or your child(ren) wear amber? I would love for you to share your experiences in the comments! 

One Year Blogiversary!!!

Hey y'all!! Can you believe that as of yesterday (4/23/14), has been ONE YEAR since I launched Crunchy, Like Granola?!? I thought it would be fun to reflect on the changes that Tim and I have made in our daily lives since I started this experiment crunchy journey and share where we aspire to be at the end of year two.....and maybe eat some cake to celebrate.

Prior to making the decision to change our lifestyles, we were what I would call, mostly unaware consumers. By this I mean that we didn't think twice about buying processed food, using disposable paper products, antiperspirant deodorant, commercial laundry detergent, mindlessly taking medicine for any and everything, etc, etc, etc.

Oh my, how so very far we have come! I feel like our eyes have been opened and we can finally see the light! After many, many hours of questions and research, we can actually feel good about how we live now! Not to say that we are all informed, all knowing, and are super crunch-monkeys (Tim's name for a "crunchy person", hehe) 100% of the time, but we have made significant changes! Still wondering how? Check out my posts from the past twelve months!!

Tim and I have discussed both short and long term goals for implementing more eco/friendly, sustainable, crunchy, and hippie-ish ways. Just a couple of these include: reducing our paper waste even more, taking reusable cups places where we know disposable is the only offered option, composting, buying local when possible, and researching intentional communities/ ecovillages. I can't wait to blog about these things and more in the coming year!

If you have been reading from the beginning, or if you are just joining us now, THANK YOU for being here. I hope you stick around for a while!

Heather

Essential Oils: Day 5 (Go-To Recipes and Testimonies)

I am sure some of you that have been following this little series are still skeptical about oils for one reason or another. The best way to convert from skeptic to believer is to just try essential oils, I mean, what do you have to lose?! When I first introduced them in our home, Tim and I were both a little hesitant to believe all of the claims and success stories we were finding, but using the oils really made us believers and eventually led us to become wellness advocates! The best thing about using them is that they are natural, pure, effective, and don't come with  long lists of possible side effects or drug interactions when used in a safe manner*. Check out just a few personal (anonymous) testimonies that I have received from close friends via text and messages....

"I have been using [Lavender and Serenity Blend] for three nights and have slept great. I am actually researching, as we speak, other uses and different types of oils."

"Ok, so when I got home from church I hopped in the bath (because I have the terrible restless leg thing) and then covered myself in oils, lol-I had THE best nap!! And I fell asleep quick!! Going to use them again tonight!!"

"Last night I put the muscle rub on ____'s back- he has chronic back pain that never goes away- within 10 minutes he rolled over and said "what the heck? My back doesn't hurt! He was pretty shocked and so was I because he complains every night!" 

"My husband took some OnGuard Protective Blend with him to work because he felt like he was coming down with something. After ingesting a few drops every hour or so, the symptoms were gone by the end of the day! "

I am going to close out this Essential Oil Series with some of my favorite DIY recipes to use around the house :)

Personal Wellness

• Whipped Body Butter: There are several versions of this floating around, but I wanted some quick and simple without a  lot of fuss. I melt about 2 parts Coconut oil to one part Shea Butter, let cool/harden add 10-15 drops of EO (I like using lavender and frankincense to help soothe rough, chapped skin) per cup of oil and whip using a mixer. store it in a glass container and enjoy. *these oils melt when exposed to very warm temperatures. if that happens, no worries! Just pop the jar in the refrigerator and it will re-harden. You  can also add beeswax, vitamin e oil, olive oil, etc. Experiment and make it your own!

• Sugar Scrub: for 1 cup of scrub, I use approx. 1/2-2/3 cup of sugar (white or brown) and add about a 1/2 cup of vegetable oil (I usually use a mix of coconut oil or fractionated coconut oil and olive oil, but anything will work). and 10-15 drops of EO. Get creative! Some EO ideas to get you started..... lavender/lemon, ginger/lime, rosemary/peppermint, ylang ylang/ sandalwood....the options are endless and customizeable to your unique taste!

• Facial Cleanser:   Mix together 2 Tbsp Vegetable Glycerine, 4Tbsp Liquid Castile Soap, 1 Tbsp Alcohol Free Witch Hazel, 1 Drop each of rosemary, melaleuca, peppermint, and lavender. Store in a plastic or glass bottle.

• Moisturizer: 3 drops each of frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh, geranium, lavender,  melaleuca, and cedarwood in a 10ml dropper bottle. Fill to the top with jojoba oil or your choice of carrier oil.. Note* The melaleuca and cedarwood are to help acne prone skin and the others are great for general anti-aging and all around good skin.

Cleaning/Around The house

• All Purpose Cleaner: 3 cups of water, 4 Tbsp Vinegar, 3 Tbsp Borax (optional), and 10-20 drops of a disinfecting EO (OnGuard, lemon, Purify, melaleuca, lime, cinnamon, thyme, peppermint...)

• Room freshner/ carpet deodorizer: Add 20-30 drops of oil to a cup of baking soda. mix together and leave in a room or sprinkLe on carpet before vacuuming. (EO's to consider: Purify,peppermint, clary sage, patchouli, lavender, geranium, melaleuca, eucalyptus).

• Window/Mirror spray: add 1-2 drops of disinfecting EO (lemon) to 1 tsp Vinegar in a 1oz. spray bottle, fill the remainder with water. shake and spray, using cloth or newspaper to wipe off. 

• Room/Linen Spray: Mix 5-6 drops of a soothing EO or blend (lavender, serenity, roman chamomile, vetiver, sandalwood, etc...) with 1oz of water in a spray bottle. Spray pillows, sheets, curtains, blankets, or into the air. 

Thank you for sticking with me this week and being part of my very first series! It was so much fun to do and I am so thankful for you, my readers!!!

Heather

Websites to visit for more information:
www. everythingessential.me
www.aromaticscience.com
www.oilsmentor.com
www.doterrauniversity.com
www.doterrablog.com
www.doterraeveryday.com

Disclaimer: This series has been written to provide information and to help educate others. This information was not provided to diagnose, proscribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The information present should not be used as a substitute for medical counseling and anyone suffering from a disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. 

Essential Oils: Part Four (My Top 10)

Yeah, so remember that part in last night's post where I promised to share my top 10 personal favorite EO's? I must have been delirious from lack of sleep because it has been near impossible to only pick 10 favorites! This may have something to do with the fact that Tim and I have consistently good results when we use the oils in our ever growing collection, and discovering that there truly is an oil for everything. Alas, here is my current list of top 10 EO's and their most common uses. These lists are most definitely not complete and is largely compiled from the EO's I find to be the most versatile (in other words, they get plenty of use around our house).

Lavender:  This is one that gets use every. single. day. around our house and should really be considered to have super powers.  It is a gentile oil that is generally safe for everyone (even the littles) to use aromatically, topically, and internally. Lavender is a natural antihistamine (which comes in handy this time of year), and is commonly used for health concerns such as: allergy relief, relaxation/sleep aid, anxiety, bug bites/stings, burns, diaper rash, dry/fragile hair and hair loss, poison ivy/oak, rashes, seizures, dry skin, sunburn, teething pain, vertigo, wounds, and so much more!

Lemon: Rather than using the actual fruit, this EO is collected from the rind (as with all the citrus oils) and can be used aromatically, topically, and internally. With lemon's anticancer, antidepressant, antiseptic, antifungal, antioxident, astringent, and invigorating properties, it is great for purification, bite/stings, blood pressure regulation, colds, disinfecting, aiding with digestion, stress, throat infections, furniture polish, getting gum/stickiness removal, grief/sorrow, and heartburn.

Peppermint: Not only does it smell cool, invigorating, and refreshing, peppermint EO has several impressive uses including: headache relief, fever reduction, digestive support, heartburn relief, memory support, motion sickness, muscle aches, breath freshener, ulcers, and varicose veins.

Side note..... Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint are the first the EO's I started out with as part of a small intro kit and I quickly realized why they were suggested. These three EO's totally rock! If you are overwhelmed with where to begin, I highly recommend you starting with these. I have been continuously finding new ways to use them, even with over a year of use. doTERRA has posted 101 uses for these three oils & you'll find them here. Seriously, check it out... there are some really great tips there :)

Got it? Ok! Were moving on.... with the remaining 7 oils, I am going to briefly share how I use each one.

Frankincense: To me, frankincense has a very "regal" smell. Maybe it is the connection of frankincense with Jesus, but I feel like I am having a religious experience each time I use it. This is a wonderful oil to use for skin concerns and migraines. In addition, the recognized rule is "When in doubt, use Frankincense!"

Clary Sage: This is my go to for PMS symptoms. It helps relieve my abdominal cramps and balances out my moodiness. This makes Tim a happier husband when dealing with me during "that time of the month". It's awesome!

Melaleuca: You are probably familiar with the more common name of  Tea Tree Oil. I take advantage of the antibacterial properties by including this one in my deodorant. I have also had great success using it to help soothe a sore throat.

The remaining four EO's I am going to share are actually proprietary blends created exclusively by doTERRA.

Balance: Recommended for aromatic or topical use, it is a grounding blend I use to help calm anxiety and improve my mood. I especially like using it first thing in the morning to help put me in a positive mindset & shape my mood for the day.

Elevation: This joyful blend smells like sunshine in a bottle and is usually my go-to for use in the diffuser for an uplifting and invigorating citrus-y boost.

DigestZen: This one works wonders for the digestive system when used topically or internally. It relieves indigestion, and surprisingly, helps relieve a stuffy nose.

OnGuard: The EO's present in this protective blend work to support your immune system. Personally, when I have felt any hint of sickness coming on and used this blend, I felt better within a few hours with no return of symptoms.

Wow, have I already listed ten?!? Let's pick this back up tomorrow with a few of my go-to recipes for some specific health concerns, followed by a handful of personal testimonies.

Please keep in mind that the above statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. I am not a doctor, just a girl who is passionate about educating myself and others about natural alternatives available to us by God's amazing creation.

Interested in trying oils for yourself? I have added a link to my personal doTERRA page at the top of the blog, and will be happy to chat more with you about products, how to get wholesale pricing and even earn free oils, and/or the business opportunity. Email me at crunchylikegranola@gmail.com to get the conversation started. It would be my pleasure to help you and your family take the steps to a more natural and healthy lifestyle.

Sources:
I gathered the information shared from Modern Essentials: A Complete Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils,  Fourth Edition and from the web at: www.everythingessential.me

Disclaimer: This series has been written to provide information and to help educate others. This information was not provided to diagnose, proscribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The information present should not be used as a substitute for medical counseling and anyone suffering from a disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. 

Essential Oils: Part Three (Usage)

Well, here we go! Gathering again for day three of my five day Essential Oil Series. If you missed days one and two, don't worry!  You can find them here and here, respectively.

As promised, today's topic is sharing the three ways to use essential oils and how to decide which way is best for your specific needs.

1. Aromatic
This method is most widely used  for mood enhancement, respiratory support, and air purification.

-Diffusers

•  I use two on a regular basis and love them for different reasons. The Lotus Diffuser is exclusively sold by doTERRA and I purchased the Oil Drop Diffuser from an online aromatherapy tool website. Both are used in the same manner, by filling a well with water and a adding 3-5 drops of EO. They work by atomizing EO's into tiny ion particles that are more easily absorbed by our bodies.  This process also works to purify the air. Don't have a diffuser yet? No worries! There are other ways to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

Lotus Diffuser

Oil Drop Diffuser

-Direct Inhalation Tips

• Inhale the aroma straight from the bottle.
• Aromatherapy jewelry. I made a clay/terracotta necklace to act as my own personal diffuser. 
• Put a drop or two of EO in your hands, rub together, cup and inhale.
• Make a room spray by putting a few drops of EO in a small, glass, spray bottle with distilled water.
• Using a cotton pad or cotton ball, add EO and place near a fan, vent, or other sources of moving air.
• Make a steam tent to help with stuffiness or colds by putting a few drops of EO in a glass container of steaming water, put a towel over your head and around the container to breathe in the vapors.

2.Topical

Our skin is porous, so, of course you can expect  whatever we put on it to be absorbed into our bodies. Because of this, when EO's are applied, they travel to bloodstream quickly, in fact, within 30 seconds of application! Applying oils topically are most commonly used for localized areas of concern such as temples for a headache, on stomach for digestive trouble, and on muscles for soreness. 

Just a few benefits of topical application include relaxation, relief from pain/discomfort, immune
support.

It is important for me to include that while most EO's are mild enough to be applied neat 

(using no dilution), some oils are considered "hot" and need to be diluted before applying directly to skin.You would do this with a carrier vegetable oil such as coconut, jojoba, almond, or olive. It is always a good idea to spot test and area of skin to check for sensitivities before applying to a larger area. *Added bonus, the dilution does not hinder the effectiveness of the EO's you're applying, but actually makes the oils more effective.

* Never attempt to dilute an essential oil with water. Oil and water don't mix and the addition of it will drive the EO deeper into the tissue, causing more discomfort. This is especially helpful to know if you accidentally get an EO in your eye. In that case, dilute with a carrier vegetable oil.

** Some oils (mostly citrus) are photosensitive. If using these topically, it is best to avoid direct, prolonged sunlight or UV exposure  after use. Doing so could result in  burns.

3. Internal

I am going to say the last way I am sharing is highly controversial in the aromatherapy community. This is largely due to the lack of research present in addition with a market flooded with low quality EO's that would make consumption potentially harmful. I wholeheartedly trust doTERRA's
distillation methods and the purity of the oils they provide, so I consume EO's that are labeled GRAS (generally regarded as safe) on a daily basis. Internal consumption is useful for (but definitely not limited to) targeted wellness with the mouth, throat, digestive system, urinary tract, and metabolic support.

* Follow this link to see what Dr. Hill has to say about using EO's internally.

Whew! There is soooo much more I want to share, but to keep the information manageable I will  stop here. Tomorrow, I will share my top 10 essential oils & blends and their most common uses. 

Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this little series! 

Heather

Disclaimer: This series has been written to provide information and to help educate others. This information was not provided to diagnose, proscribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The information present should not be used as a substitute for medical counseling and anyone suffering from a disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional.