Essential Aromatherapy: Postpartum
Image: Mobile Mind Over Matter by Alexander Calder.
How to Build / Make Mobiles / Kinetic Sculptures (Mobiles by Marco Mahler)
The trick is that you build the mobile from bottom to top… In Alexander Calder’s own words: “I begin with the smallest and work up. Once I know the balance point for this first pair of discs, I anchor it by a hook to another arm, where it acts as one end of another pair of scales, and so on up. It’s a kind of ascending scale of weights and counterweights.” – from Curtis Cate, Calder Made Easy, Horizon Magazine, vol. 9, no. 1 (Winter 1972).
Postpartum is one of the most frequent mental issues in women which can also be divided into prenatal and postnatal depression. If you are looking for natural methods of treating the condition, subtle aromatherapy can be perfectly used in a holistic approach. Consider adding gentle and safe herbal remedies such as teas, tinctures, baths, beauty and self-care rituals, more time for rest and sleep.
Postpartum depression can start during pregnancy and it is important to begin caring for yourself early with natural remedies. There is a reason why I also like to call this period ‘an ode to yourself’ however self-centred in may sound. Sparing yourself time can give you a boost of energy and have a positive impact on your everyday mood. Essential oils can be used both in slow rituals and more convenient and fast methods depending on the situation. And as a mother I know what I am talking about. Both are necessary and very often we need to act fast to pull ourselves together, especially when we are responsible for another human being. The formula has 3 different methods of using the blend: skin and diffuser (with extra precaution information) and an additional one for quick results which is the safest of all, in particular for a baby. Remember that when using aromatherapy as well as beauty products, everything you put on skin is eventually absorbed by it and can end up in breast milk. Be especially careful in choosing the best method depending on your life circumstances.
The materials I chose in the formula are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding but I recommend to use minimum amounts and reduce the ratio of EO to carrier oil. The smell of the final and complete blend is sweet floral, rosy with warm citrus and honey notes which is comforting and can be used for a few different purposes: to de-stress, reduce depression, increase libido (use it in foreplays), balance your hormones and thus fight mood swings. For a soft natural on-skin application, consider using hydrosols instead of essential oils. For more details check the formula.
Remember that safety comes first, with older infants and young children keep essential oils away, out of reach, always close the bottles well, choose child resistant caps on bottles. See which oils might expire soon as they can also pose danger: oxidised oils must be avoided and can be toxic in many cases. Check oils before use, for any change of smell, viscosity and colour. Extra precautions are extremely important in this period.
Postpartum is a period in which equilibrium (mental and physical) is the key objective, see it as the time for transformation and an irreversible self-identity change: you have given birth not only to your baby but to a new self as well. Balancing the essentials is undoubtedly difficult, see the quote above and use the principle of a mobile as a simple mental concept, in the end being a mother is art too. Download the Formula.
If you are looking for natural methods which are suitable for female health and are not nursing or pregnant and do not have a baby at the moment, consider Mythopoeia perfume oils which can be used for depression, mood swings, stress, PMS and menopuase and breast health.
Please always consult your doctor before using any essential oils when pregnant/breastfeeding/nursing and in particular in severe cases of postpartum depression.