Pamper Your Pregnancy

First you must realize that you as a mother-to-be deserve lots of pampering care. If you're a working woman - and especially if you are already caring for one, two or more little ones at home, then caring c for yourself can go a long way in not only helping to ease your tension and stress, but also ensure your baby is happier and healthier as well.

To help set you in the right direction here are some tips for pampering your pregnant body, mind and spirit:

* Revel in a lavender foot soak! Fill a small plastic basin with warm water to which you add up to 5 drops of essential oil of lavender. Immerse both feet and soak for ten minutes. It will not only increase circulation to legs and feet, but also brings about measurable changes in the autonomic nervous system - the area of the brain that controls stress and anxiety.

* Soothe sore, swollen, tender tootsies. Fill a 16 ounce soda bottle with water and put it in the freezer. After it's frozen, place on the floor and roll your foot back and forth over the bottle in relieve aches and spasms.
Soothe dry pregnancy skin. Try this Honey Moisturizer: Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels, and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on for ten minutes, rinse with warm water.

* Try a relaxing aromatherapy bath. Combine 2 drops each of oil of neroli, lavender and lemon, with 6 teaspoons of apricot kernel or sweet almond oil. Add to a warm tub and soak away your worries! Caution: Ideally, bath water during pregnancy should be no hotter than 100 degrees. If you like it warmer - up to 102 degrees - don't soak for longer than 10 minutes.

* Take a super relaxing nap and do it often - try 15 minutes snoozing on a lavender pillow. By dusting a pillow case with lavender powder, or tucking a potpourri of lavender flowers under your pillow you might find you fall into a gentler, relaxing nap. You may also try to experiment with other relaxing herbs if carefully.

* Pamper your pregnant belly (and help reduce the risk of stretch marks). Soak a washcloth in a small dish of warm milk, and apply to your tummy. Re-dip and re-apply for up to 15 minutes, then add a rich moisturizer like pure cocoa butter.

Rinse yourself in attention of your partner and other relatives. Take as much rest as possible. Be attentive to all the signs of your organism and wait for the happiest moment of arrival a new life!