Essential oils & other don’ts

[Devj]

Soooo I decided to rub a bit of essential oils I had for my birthday into my pulse points as I wanted a good night’s sleep......googled it after I put it on (something just came into my head that I shouldn’t have used them) and yes low and behold not to be used in pregnancy. Tried to wash it off and it’s all I can smell and now I’m getting bad cramps ☹️ could honestly cry. Why am I so stupid?

I also ate brie and goats cheese the other day, completely without thinking. You’d never have thought I’ve had an IVF baby before. I am being so careless. My heads all over the shop 😢

Also forgot to put my pessary in this morning. Good job I decided to hot foot it home from work to put it in as the clinic rang me back 8 hours after I rang then for advice on what to do...! I have now packed a few in my work bag so that doesn’t happen again.

What on earth is wrong with me? So stupid 😕

[Hidden]

I ate brie the last day totally forgot! And i put lavender in my bath in the first week - had no clue.

If it is a one off mistake it should be fine I think.

Xxx

[Lovefood1984]

I ate a smoked salmon sandwich on Sunday before I remembered fish is supposed to be cooked 🙈 We’ve all done something we shouldn’t, try not to worry too much and just try to avoid doing it again. Once probably isn’t going to change a thing, it’s the repeated things that up the risk of something going wrong but it still doesn’t mean it’ll definitely happen. I think having had to work so hard on getting pregnant we beat ourselves up more than most x

[Devj in reply to Lovefood1984]

So true! We are extra careful arent we having gone through the mill to get where we are. My head just went yesterday. The tiredness is taking its toll. Glad I had a better day today xxx

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Devj]

Glad to hear you’ve had a better day 😊 Long may they continue! x

[Lilli79]

I wouldn't worry too much - I'm 35 weeks and I occasionally still use a lavender roller thing to sleep. Lavender is supposed to induce labour but you'd have to be in late stages and also it would be used in higher quantities (like in a diffuser or oil burner). I've eaten lots of things I'm not supposed to eat, they only say not to eat things like soft cheeses as potential for Listeria. But if it's not present, then it can't harm you. They also say not to eat undercooked eggs, but for some reason never specify chicken (both threat of salmonella). Just have a read on the nhs website and follow the guidance in future xx

[kt_11 in reply to Lilli79]

I was fortunate in that I’m such a picky eater I don’t really like any of the things you’re not supposed to have (except alcohol which I obviously gave up) so didn’t really need to change my diet at all.

Never heard that about lavender...Although if it it was that good at inducing labour perhaps the hospital should’ve given me that instead of spending a week trying to induce me with numerous (probably expensive) drugs 😂 x

[Lilli79 in reply to kt_11]

Ha yeah I don't eat dairy, eggs or meat so easy for me to avoid most things. I think the lavender thing is used in maternity wards to relax the mom and help baby along. I'm not convinced that if baby is really comfy in there that lavender would make a hoot of difference anyway!!

[kt_11 in reply to Lilli79]

Haha exactly. When 4 pessaries and 2 gels only just got me able to have the induction drip I’d be very surprised if lavender could do the job. Raspberry leaf tea wasn’t much good either for the record 😂

[forMoira]

I set an alarm clock for my pessaries and take it out in my handbag. I put my other tablets on my mobile phone at night so I take them first thing.

It can be so stifling avoiding everything in ivf. I wonder if it contributes to low mood. I've noticed that other non ivf mums are more cavalier and also possibly happier which has to be good for the baby. So don't worry too much. I even worry when I touch my cat!

[Lilli79 in reply to forMoira]

Oh my god, our poor cats!! Was convinced I'd contracted toxoplasmosis at the beginning, despite my cat being the laziest creature in the world and has rarely ever interacted with the outside world! I feel like I'm an expert on rare and random pregnancy diseases, the potential for most of them is about 1 in 10,000!!

[Hidden in reply to Lilli79]

This is so me! We just went for a walk and my OH was petting a beautiful cat and I was afraid to touch it....🙄

[Autumnmoon]

Hey not stupid just human please Don't beat yourself up these things happen and all thecwarings are just precaution I'm sure one use of small amount of oils would be ok the cheese was probably pasteurized and so safe and one missed pessary is always happening try to relax and enjoy the wonderful fact that you will soon have your precious baby in your arms x

[Devj in reply to Autumnmoon]

Thank you hun. Feeling better today, had such a rubbish day yesterday with all my bad things! My heads a bit all over the shop at the mo xxx

[kt_11]

Aw don’t worry! The risk with some cheeses is due to increased risk of listeria. Obviously you should avoid them to reduce that risk but that risk is still very small. Some people eat stuff like that every day & never catch anything so accidentally doing it once you’d have to be extremely unlucky.

Goats cheese is allowed anyway, I’m almost certain (I can’t stand the stuff so never cared whether it was or not). Check the nhs website to be sure but no point in depriving yourself if it’s ok to eat!

And although some stuff like essential oils say not to be used in pregnancy it’s usually because, due to ethics, it’s not been tested on pregnant women so they can’t say for definite it’s safe.

Don’t beat yourself up. You’re doing a great job by trying to do the right things xx

[Devj in reply to kt_11]

Thank you lovely. Had a right panic on! My head is all over the shop. Better today though, hopefully over my stupidity now and will start being more careful xxx