Operation Detoxification

There are so many "things" that one is advised to do when one is trying (rather than succeeding) at making a baby. It feels like the list is never ending:

• lose weight (or gain weight)
• be healthier
• change your diet
• exercise (but not too much!)
• exposure to fewer chemicals
• boxers not briefs
• no cell phones in pockets (for him) or around belly (for her)
• get enough sleep
• use Essential Oils
• "Just relax" (that's my favorite piece of advice...)
• take a prenatal vitamin
• increase your progesterone
• And a whole host of other things: "My so-so in-law did ____________ and got pregnant right away!"

This is, by no means, a comprehensive list. There are SO MANY other things you can try or adjust in the quest to become pregnant. There are books, websites, doctors, and a host of well meaning friends to offer advice. take a look at this informational book if you want TONS more information.


But most recently, I have begun to work on the 5th line on the list--exposure to fewer chemicals.

I'm calling it Operation Detoxification.

Not surprisingly, we live in a world FILLED with chemicals. Our cleaning supplies, plastic tupperware, make-up, hair products, sunscreen, bug spray, fertilizer, pesticides...the list goes on and on it seems, when we consider the ways in which we are exposed regularly to chemicals that aren't so great.

My naturopath explained to me not so long ago that it takes almost a year (around 340 days, if I remember correctly) for an egg to mature in your ovary, so it can be dropped during ovulation. In order for your egg to mature, you need to be relatively healthy and keep things from disrupting its development (For more info, take a look at this informational book about how to change your life before you get pregnant. It's not gospel, but it has some great points and awesome ideas).

Therefore, in an effort to give my body the BEST CHANCE POSSIBLE to create healthy eggs so we can have a baby, I am working on detoxing our house. That means changing out bath products, hair products, make-up, cleaning agents, laundry detergent, air fresheners...you name it, I am evaluating it!

You might be thinking to yourself, "Wow. That sounds overwhelming. And costly."

Yes.

I thought the same thing.

And it's true, to some degree. Tossing out all those products is an expensive and overwhelming exercise. Which is why Operation Detoxification at the Sage Creek Ranch is a much slower process than that.

I have begun with a few small steps:

1. Clean out the bathroom cupboards
2. Research alternative products
3. Create some Essential Oil replacement products

Cleaning out the bathroom cupboards was a big deal, but I got it done! I threw out a lot of old, dated bath products (you know the kind: the inch of shampoo left in the bottle, or that body wash you loved but now the smell reminds you of being a 10th grader), set aside some products to take to school for my "mom box" (this might sound weird, but the mom box gets a lot of use from my students: lotion, pads, tampons, socks, bandaids, etc), put some products in the gift closet, and set aside a few things to give away.

Then I set to finding information on how to find and make alternative products (i.e. I spent some time browsing Pinterest...)

Since I already have Essential Oils in my home and I am connected with a great group of EO people, building some products wasn't too tough. I scoped out some recipes, visited the local health store, where I picked up some Castile Soap, Almond oil, and Shea Butter. These mixed up great with some coconut oil I already had, and when I added some Essential Oils like Lavender, Frankincense, Tangerine, Lemon, and Grapefruit, my new products felt and smelled delicious.

I put my products in mason jars, since anyone who has been
to the ranch knows I have about 500 of them.

I started with body wash, since I've been on the hunt for a body wash for a while anyway. I read a bunch of Pinterest recipes and patched together my own:

Citrus Body Wash

1 cup Castile Soap
1/2 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil*
1/4 cup Almond Oil
1/4 cup Regular Coconut Oil*
20 drops Young Living Lemon Oil
20 drops Young Living Grapefruit Oil
15 drops Young Living Tangerine Oil

Mix together all oils and stir or shake until combined. Add oils and shake. Store in mason jar or other glass container.

*Fractionated Coconut Oil has been processed into a liquid form. Regular Coconut Oil will remain solid at room temperature. The Regular will help thicken your body wash, but you can leave it out if you want it to remain at a more liquid state.

The next recipe I tried was a facial moisturizer. Again, I searched Pinterest and collected recipes, and then tweaked several to make my own:

Facial Moisturizer

2 Tablespoons Shea Butter
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
1 Tablespoon Almond Oil
10 drops Young Living Frankincense Oil
15 drops Young Living Lavender Oil

Mix ingredients and whip together in mixer or by hand until frothy. Add oils and whip again until combined.

The moisturizer was a little more oily than I expected or cared for at first, but after a few days of using it, I am sold--it works fantastically, and the benefits of Lavender and Frankincense for my skin are awesome.

I think I can safely say that the first steps of Operation Detoxification have been successful, and I'm happy with the simple, natural products I am using on my body. I don't have to worry about harsh chemicals in these products, and that's one less potential obstacle in the quest to get pregnant!

PS: I began using Young Living Essential Oils almost a year ago. I was a total skeptic at first, but after a few encounters, I was totally amazed at they way they support the body's own healing powers. If you are interested in learning more about my experience with oils or interested in potentially ordering some, click here, or contact me at jillgrace23@gmail.com