Why Natural
Most women will find that their skin and hair become more sensitive in pregnancy so it’s important that you take care of it and avoid harsher ingredients that are more likely to irritate your newly sensitive skin. Because natural ingredients avoid the need for additional ingredients such as fillers, they are less likely to cause skin irritation.
Because all our products are designed to be safe and effective for use in pregnancy, using natural ingredients were a must for My Expert Midwife
Natural ingredients are derived from plants but extracting the active ingredients can be a time-consuming process, which is why natural blends tend to be more expensive than synthetic blends. Because our blends contain a high percentage of natural ingredients, we try to keep costs lower by using only simple, practical packaging that is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Honest Natural – not always 100% natural
It’s not always possible to have a completely natural blend as some blends will call for ingredients to help bind together oils and water and to remain stable. To be the safest and most effective blend, we can’t always use natural ingredients, but we always make sure that we keep any non-natural ingredients as the kindest to skin and least likely to irritate; and kept to an absolute minimum.
Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts and can be extremely powerful. Because of this, there are certain essential oils that should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Equally though, because they are so effective, they offer a natural benefit to both treating physical symptoms and ailments in pregnancy, promote physical recovery and help emotional mood. We’re huge fans of the power of essential oils here at My Expert Midwife and you can find more information on their unique properties and how to safely use them in pregnancy with our essential oil reference guide.
Our Hero ingredients
There are some ingredients that are just so amazing that we use them again and again in our blends. There’s also a huge variation in the quality of these ingredients so at My Expert Midwife we won’t compromise on that level of quality. We call them our ‘hero ingredients’ and they’re of the highest quality:
Frankincense – This essential oil has a wonderful aroma. It can help to relieve stress and anxiety during pregnancy and can be especially calming during labour and the transition phase.
Geranium Oil - even the ancient Egyptians knew this essential oil was a stressbuster. It’s also known to relieve anxiety by encouraging the balance of hormones within the body.
Bergamot - Stress-relieving and anxiety-reducing, this essential oil can soothe upset stomachs and help to relieve pain.
Tea Tree Oil - This has well known anti-bacterial and anti-fungal qualities and is anti-inflammatory.
Neroli - Neroli oil is from the orange blossom. It has a gorgeous fragrance and can help to reduce stress hormones in the body. It can also reduce inflammation and help soothe headaches.
Lavender - Widely recognised for its calming and relaxing properties, lavender oil can be helpful in treating insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression and restlessness. It can stop itching and ease the pain of minor burns, stings, swelling and bruising.
Eucalyptus oil - helps to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. It also increases blood supply to the skin, helping to ensure your skin gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs.
Calendula - This essential oil moisturises the skin. It has recognised soothing properties which help to reduce soreness and redness. It can also promote healing for dry and itchy skin, which can be a problem in pregnancy.
Grapefruit oil Grapefruit oil can help to relieve constipation and restless legs, which can be a real problem in pregnancy. It’s also an ideal massage oil for soothing sore ligaments or neck and shoulder pain. It’s known to be stimulating, helping to promote vitality and energy and enhance mood. It can improve circulation and is anti-bacterial, too!
Lemon oil - Lemon oil can help to tackle stress and mental fatigue, as well as helping to calm upset stomachs.
Orange – Orange oil is known for its relaxing and sedative properties, as well as being an anti-inflammatory.
Peppermint – Well-known for helping to soothe nausea and calm tummy upsets, peppermint oil can help to boost energy levels and get your focus and concentration back on track.
Other Ingredients
Argan oil – This moisturising oil has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to heal even cracked and broken skin.
Avocado oil – This contains omega 9, which helps to improve skin integrity.
Beeswax – Beeswax helps to increase the smoothness of the skin and to lock in your own moisture.
Castor oil – Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties, can help to relieve the discomfort of skin problems and reduce swelling. It can help the healing process by moisturising and preventing the build-up of dead skin cells.
Coconut oil – As well as having deep moisturising benefits, coconut oil has properties which can help with itching and rashes.
Epsom Salts – For hundreds of years, this salt has been used to treat a multitude of ailments. Most of the reported benefits of Epsom salts are attributed to its magnesium content, a mineral that a lot of people do not get enough of. Magnesium helps to promote sleep and reduce stress, helps with constipation, restless legs and cramps.
Grapeseed oil – This oil contains vitamin E, which helps to prevent damage to skin cells.
Medical Grade Lanolin – Lanolin is an effective moisturiser, which also creates a barrier to help stop the skin from drying out, promoting skin integrity. As a lubricant, it also helps the skin to withstand friction.
Sweet almond oil – This nourishing, moisturising oil has properties which promotes smooth and healthy skin.
Vitamin E – Vitamin E helps to maintain healthy skin; it is moisturising, can help to protect and strengthen the skin and improve elasticity. It may also promote healing for wounds.
Witch Hazel – applying witch hazel directly to skin is said to help with itching, pain, swelling, skin injury, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, bruises, insect bites, minor burns. There’s also some evidence to support it use in helping to repair broken skin and fight bacteria.
