Conception Spa
Think of yourself as being on a rejuvenating pre-pregnancy retreat for 1-3months.
These are lovely self care practices to nourish your whole body, mind AND your ovaries and reproductive tissue during the 1-3 months before TRYING to get pregnant. Do these UP TO the point of the luteal phase in which you attempt to conceive. At that point, you treat yourself as though you are pregnant, in which case some self-care habits change.
The habits below NOURISH your body and have a calming effect on the nervous system.
These are lovely self care practices to nourish your whole body, mind AND your ovaries and reproductive tissue during the 1-3 months before TRYING to get pregnant. Do these UP TO the point of the luteal phase in which you attempt to conceive. At that point, you treat yourself as though you are pregnant, in which case some self-care habits change.
The habits below NOURISH your body and have a calming effect on the nervous system.
10 Conception Self Care Treatments
- Daily Warm Baths with essential oils balancing for your type, or go for Lavender, Vetiver, Rose or Sandalwood {or a combination}
- Foot massage {self, or get partner to do}
- Full body oil massages {self, or see a massage therapist}
- Castor Oil Packs {instructions below}
- Daily herbal teas - ginger, licorice, nettles, chamomile and rasberry leaf are highly recommended
- Time in nature
- Gentle non-depleting exercise {hiking, walking, swimming, yoga}
- Connection to self - meditation, prayer, yoga, contemplation
- Wise Woman Support - Healing consultations or treatments such as acupuncture, ayurveda, massage, yoga therapy, etc.
- Time expressing love and care to others in your life - this is an opportunity to express your desire to be a caregiver to another being. As you satisfy that craving, a child will feel you are more ready to conceive from a place of joy, rather than need.
Castor Oil Pack Instructions for Pregnancy Preparation
NEVER do castor oil packs if you think you might be pregnant - which means you STOP using them as soon as you start trying. If you do not conceive you can use them again until you try during the next cycle.
You can do these EVERY day EXCEPT during menstruation and STOP if you reach your luteal phase and begin to try to conceive. In otherwords, in months that you are ONLY PREPARING and NOT TRYING you can do castor oil packs on your abdomen EVERY DAY from the end of menstruation, through the luteal phase all the way to the beginning of the next period. In months that you are going to TRY TO CONCEIVE, do castor oil packs from the end of bleeding, upto luteal phase / the point when you plan to start trying to conceive. Thank you to my dear Acupuncturist, Amy Mitchell in Berkeley for this wisdom. Below is castor oil pack info which I have edited from Wellness Mama.
Castor oil packs can be used on the lower abdomen to nourish the ovaries.
Test any new oil (or any substance) on a small part of my arm before using on a larger area of the body.
How to Do a Castor Oil PackCastor oil packs are simple to do at home. While the pack is on your abdomen, relax and read a book or watch a movie or hangout wiht your family for about 45 minutes. Beware they can be a little messy.
Needed Supplies
Prep your areaPrep the are where you’ll be doing the castor oil pack to prevent mess. Put a towel or sheet under where you will reset, just to make sure nothing stains. You'll be doing this every day so just fold and store for the next use.
Prep your Cloth
Use your Castor Oil Pack
You can do these EVERY day EXCEPT during menstruation and STOP if you reach your luteal phase and begin to try to conceive. In otherwords, in months that you are ONLY PREPARING and NOT TRYING you can do castor oil packs on your abdomen EVERY DAY from the end of menstruation, through the luteal phase all the way to the beginning of the next period. In months that you are going to TRY TO CONCEIVE, do castor oil packs from the end of bleeding, upto luteal phase / the point when you plan to start trying to conceive. Thank you to my dear Acupuncturist, Amy Mitchell in Berkeley for this wisdom. Below is castor oil pack info which I have edited from Wellness Mama.
Castor oil packs can be used on the lower abdomen to nourish the ovaries.
Test any new oil (or any substance) on a small part of my arm before using on a larger area of the body.
How to Do a Castor Oil PackCastor oil packs are simple to do at home. While the pack is on your abdomen, relax and read a book or watch a movie or hangout wiht your family for about 45 minutes. Beware they can be a little messy.
Needed Supplies
- High-quality castor oil (hexane free) – such as Radiant Life Catalog and Mountain Rose Herbs
- Unbleached and dye free wool or cotton flannel (like this)- can be reused up to 30 times
- Hot water bottle
- Glass container with lid – I use a quart size mason jar (for storing the oil soaked flannel between uses)
- Old clothes, towels or sheets – castor oil does stain
- Time (most difficult to find!)
Prep your areaPrep the are where you’ll be doing the castor oil pack to prevent mess. Put a towel or sheet under where you will reset, just to make sure nothing stains. You'll be doing this every day so just fold and store for the next use.
Prep your Cloth
- Take your large piece of cotton flannel and fold into thirds to make three layers.
- Pour a large amount of castor oil onto the cloth. Or fold the flannel and place in a quart size mason jar or bowl, then add castor oil about a tablespoon at a time (every 20 minutes or so) to give it time to saturate. Gently shake the jar between adding more oil so that the oil reaches all parts of the cloth. Save the jar since this is where I keep the flannel between uses (it can be used about 30 times).
Use your Castor Oil Pack
- Carefully remove and unfold the castor oil soaked cloth.
- While lying on an old towel or sheet, place the cloth on your lower abdomen
- Place the hot water bottle on top of this. You may need to refill the hot water bottle partway through the treatment.
- Lie on back with feet elevated (such as laying on the couch on your back or side, or in a recliner), and relax for 30-60 minutes.
- Use this time to practice deep breathing, read a book, meditate, listen to a podcast, watch a movie or read to your older children.
- After the desired time, remove the pack and return the flannel to the glass container. Store in fridge.
- Use a natural soap or a mix of baking soda and water to remove any castor oil left on the skin.
- Relax and rest. Make sure to drink enough water and stay hydrated after doing this.