Essentially Daisy

08/08/2023

We’ve just got from a lovely (but pretty cold and wet!) week in West Wales. So I’m a little late posting for World Breastfeeding Week - but here is photo from our time away of me feeding Caspian on the Pembrokeshire cliffs. I think it was more warmth than another else he wanted from this feed (it was bloody freezing!!) but it was a beautiful moment in a beautiful spot.

We are currently starting the weaning transition which has given each feed more special significance.

Some oils that may support you on your feeding journey are: Copaiba, Fennel and Lavender (for sore and tender breasts)

And an oil you may want to avoid is Peppermint.

I actually would go easy on essential oil use in early postpartum while establishing feeding and bonding. The reason for this is you don’t want to mask the smell of your breast milk.

The powerful aroma of that sweet milk for our babe is so important - it can enhance babies sucking while also supporting bonding and calming them too.

This also applies for any perfumes/fragrances you may usually wear too. Let that milky aroma shine!!

And equally being able to smell our babies natural scent is so important - releasing loads of feel good hormones with every sniff!

18/07/2023

This Sunday I will be at The Wye Valley Wellness Festival, hosted by the Abbey Mill Tintern.
I will be doing a drop in baby massage and aromatherapy taster class at 1.30PM.

It’s £5 per family, no need to pre book, you can just turn up on the day. Or message me if you have any questions.

It’s suitable from newborn to 9months.

I also highly recommend it for expectant parents too - I have spare demo dolls you can borrow, so you can learn the strokes and moves in preparation for your little one’s arrival.

At the end of the massage class I will be available to chat all things essential oils and family life, how they can help you and how to safely use them with your children.

The festival itself is free entry and there will be loads of different Therapy Tasters Wellness Workshops and food and family fun.

10/07/2023

It’s slides 5 and 6 for me 💫

13/06/2023

Here are some of my favourite recommendations for using aromatherapy in your birth.

23/05/2023

I often hear concern and confusion over essential oils and dilution rates…

Don’t worry i’m going to make it reeeaally simple for you….

During pregnancy and with young children you need to use a 1% dilution rate.

That’s one drop of EO and 5ml of a carrier oil (fractionated coconut 🥥 is my fave)

A teaspoon is 5ml…so all you need to do is add one drop of your chosen EO and fill that spoon up with your carrier.

You can also increase this ratio if you need too. Eg 3 spoons, 3 drops etc.

Hope that helps!

15/05/2023

Clary Sage is well known for its supportive properties in labour and birth. It’s a great oil to use during the transfer from home to birthing centre/hospital, and also to assist with the passing of the placenta.
Not only is it supporting birth progression, it’s also filled with calming and a**lgesic properties.

It’s not recommended to use before 37 weeks when baby is full term. I would take that one step further and recommend not using it until labour has already begun.

Why? Because starting before is an induction, and an intervention that your baby and body may not be ready for.

I’ve spoken to so many mums who have used clary sage before baby is ready; this can lead to you being in early labour for days. Another mum used it in her bath - her waters broke as she got out of the birth - then nothing else and she ended up going down the route of induction then.

If you have decided that induction is the right course of action for you and your baby, you can use clary sage (or even better the clary calm blend) alongside induction methods. As shown in the example testimonial.

To learn more about which oils to safely use in pregnancy - and how and when to use them - head to the link in my bio to book your spot on my free antenatal aromatherapy workshop.

07/05/2023

Music Sundays ☀️

After years of (ignored!) encouragement my youngest three children have recently all embraced music and their various chosen instruments. And I couldn’t be more detailed!! It seems they really do model our behaviour after all 😝
Of to get my 🎻 and jam with my boys!

Enjoy the long weekend all 😘

01/05/2023

Hey Mama’s…some important info I want to share with you around peppermint oil.

Now I don’t want to scare you off this oil, cos it’s amazing but there is some important info you need to be aware of.

Peppermint is really supporting for your energy and focus. It brings clarity and calm, with a huge boost of energy (and no crash!)

It’s brilliant to naturally energise you through pregnancy brain fog and if you become tired during your birth and need a lift.

It can be tempting to lean really hard on this oil particularly during the first few days postpartum…however (and this is the important bit!) it can decrease breast milk production. So I would go easy on it until your feeding journey is established…then use it in very small amounts and see if you notice a difference.

Luckily it’s in and out of your system very quickly, so it’s an easy adjustment to make if you do notice a drop in milk supply.

- side note I’ve never experienced any difference in my milk 🥛 and I use peppermint almost daily 🍃 😆

25/04/2023

This sweet boy came home from school today, sad that he had been told off twice for daydreaming. He asked ‘Mum, is there an oil that can help?’
‘Yes there is, lemon is the oil of focus’ I replied. ‘I really need that!’ He said.

So tonight we are making him a lemon rollerball, that he can take to school with him, so he is equipped to remain present and focussed tomorrow!

My little daydreamer ☁️ 🍋

07/04/2023

‘There is no such thing as overwhelm’

Recently I have been struggling with overwhelm. I have also started a 12 month group coaching program with Jessica Mclaren] and this was something that was addressed on our call last night.

I arrived on the call feeling totally overwhelmed after a really testing day with the children. I almost didn’t make it on to the coaching call. I made it, but was weary and tearful and for the first 45 mins all I could hear was Caspian screaming ‘Mummy Mummy Mummy’ from the other room.
He has been glued to my side recently and will not accept any one else’s comfort. It was at this point that Jessica Mclaren] said ‘there is no such thing as overwhelm’ and im thinking what?!? Today I’ve dealt with children’s explosive diarrhoea 💩 - one very public sharting incident - and an enormous tub of fence paint falling out of my car boot, exploding all over me, the car and the car park 😬 all while 2 of my children were crying for different reasons and a 3rd child has s**t himself…and those are just the highlights! So to say I was feeling overwhelmed was an understatement!

But I learnt that overwhelm is simply a message to ‘slow down’ and that any emotions that come up should I be sat with (not squashed down) until they pass…which they will!

This morning while I tried to peel Caspian off me for a quick shower and he started his screaming for me again. I felt the familiar wave of ‘overwhelm’ and realised actually that wasn’t what I was feeling. It was in fact frustration. And with this epiphany I recognised that when I tell myself I am overwhelmed, i’m also telling myself i’m not coping. Which isn’t true! It was so empowering to recognise the frustration, and that that was probably a very normal response in the moment and just to allow it to pass, which it did.

I feel so different and calm and capable today - a stark contrast to yesterday!

I hope this insight helps you, if you are also feeling overwhelm too. ❤️

Pic of us today at the park enjoying the lovely bank hol sunshine ☀️

02/04/2023

It’s been a while since I’ve uploaded a breastfeeding with my sis photo, and you know I love them!! 👯‍♀️ 👨‍🍼

I’m going to be really honest and share, that as much I am so proud to still be feeding my almost 2 year old - i’m also aware that a lot of society are starting to be surprised by it - a few looks and comments here and there - doesn’t help that he’s a whopper in 3-4 year old clothes 😅 (not that there’s anything wrong with feeding at that stage either!) Anyway i’m doing my best to ignore that ni**le of unease around any judgement of our feeding journey. And just keep doing what’s best for my babe, who is still very much needing it.

Proud of my sister too who is the most wonderful mum. I love raising our boys so close together .davies.x

30/03/2023

This month has seen the launch of our brand new content - free online antenatal aromatherapy classes, and it’s been so much fun!!

This is definitely an area that’s growing in popularity and interest - which is great - but i’ve also been concerned by some of the incorrect information being shared surrounding it. Dare I say it - even oil recommendations from some midwives to the expectant mums have put my teeth on edge 😬

So if you want to learn how to safely and effectively use aromatherapy (from an aromatherapist) you can book your spot here.

https://calendly.com/essentiallydaisy/antenatal-aromatherapy-masterclass?back=1&month=2023-04

Classes for March are now fully booked, I do have availability from April- but hurry cos class sizes are limited.

It’s been such a pleasure to meet so many amazing mums, through the launch of this class in March and I look forward to teaching many more of you!

I can’t tell you what joy it brings to my heart, hearing your beautiful birth stories with the oils in use. 🌱

19/03/2023

19/03/2023

I was not expecting to see my eldest son today. Our first Mother’s Day apart. When our car pulled up outside our home and I saw him inside I burst into tears! I had been holding in my sadness of his absence all day. The second I saw him - I exploded with love joy and gratitude! The best Mother’s Day surprise and gift ever. When your adult children choose to be there. It’s the biggest wave of relief, joy and gratitude rolled into one!
Having children so many years apart gives the gift of hindsight to what the years ahead offer, with understanding of how fast the years pass - a daily reminder to soak up every moment, to be present and appreciating of the time when they are little and you are their whole world.
It’s been the best Mother’s Day ❤️ wishing you all the same today!

08/03/2023

Happy International Women’s Day!

It’s a double celebration here because… today coincided with the end of my Doula Training Course and the start of my Doula Mentorship with

For a vocation that’s entire premise is about supporting women, how beautifully appropriate is that? 🫶

And I am BUZZING with excitement!

I can’t wait to share more with you as my doula-ing grows, evolves and brings even more incredible women into my life. I love you all - you’re amazing!!

Daisy xx

P.S. I am officially ON CALL RIGHT NOW to doula my first birth ❤️

01/03/2023

Lavender oil massage shown to dramatically reduce risk of perineal tearing in child birth 💜
I would also recommend using it during active labour for its a**lgesic (pain relieving and calming properties xx

Perineal tears affect about 80% of women during childbirth. Of these, second-degree tears (involving the va**na and/or perineal muscle) occur in 35.1%-78.3% of first-time mothers and 34.8%-39.6% of multi-birth mothers. Fourth-degree tears (involving the a**l sphincter) occur in 1.8%-8.3% of women. A clinical study found that perineal massage with lavender essential oil starting at 34 weeks of pregnancy—10 minutes daily for five consecutive days in one week—significantly reduced perineal tearing during delivery compared to the control group (just normal delivery care). Only one individual (3.8%) had no perineal tears in the control group, while 30.8% of the women in the lavender perineal massage group had no tears.
https://ejournal.poltekkes-smg.ac.id/ojs/index.php/JAHMT/article/view/9238

This video shows how to perform perineal massage on a plastic model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceOAGdC5njk Add from 6 to 24 drops of lavender essential oil to 15 mL of carrier oil to create the massage oil.