Holistic Pregnancy and Postpartum Guide

An online guide to assist expecting and current mamas feel empowered, heal and thrive. We've got many tools for leading the way to your health in completeness.

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Axiom Lux has consulted with Naturopathic Doctors, Holistic Nutritionists, and over a dozen seasoned Mamas to provide support in your pregnancy and postpartum.

Owner, Rebecca Ahern, understands the pressure that mothers face: to know, to be and to do all the things. By assisting mothers in providing tools of nourishment and empowerment, Axiom Lux takes pride in the educating and encouraging clients to take charge of their wellness journey.

Whether it is Mind, Body or Spirit, our goal is always about supporting wholeness while guiding towards vitality and wellbeing.

We have compiled a comprehensive guide to living with a holistic mindset including handcrafted herbal remedies, Energy Healing, Spiritual Counseling, & Holistic Community Resources.

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When my husband, Dan and I got married we wanted to start a family right away. After 6 months of trying we hadn’t seen any success. I know that many try for much longer without success and I wanted to reach out to my Dr. to see if there was anything that we needed to do to help us on our journey. A bit of blood testing was done on my end and everything showed I was healthy.

While I was at a friend’s house sharing my story, she suggested that I try Reiki. She had learned how to practice and briefly explained that it is the God energy transmuted through the Reiki Healer and out their hands as they hold space for the recipients energy to shift out the old and into a higher vibration. I said I was willing to try anything and was excited to have her work on me.

I laid with my head in her lap, with her hands on my head. I suddenly felt warmth and calm coming from her hands. I began to see beautiful swirling colors in my minds-eye, I was giggling, and surprised with how much I was experiencing. While she worked, she saw 2 boys playing and one had curly hair. She said it was so vivid and beautiful. After the session I felt calm and refreshed and very intrigued with the entire experience.

The next month, I was pregnant with my now 7-year-old. At the time I had no idea how the reiki session helped, and I didn’t care. Now looking back, I realize that I had shifted out of old energy patterns that were holding me back from obtaining my soul purpose.

While pregnant I decided that needed to learn how to also practice Reiki, I searched for weeks trying to find a place where I could learn and finally finding a local yoga studio that offered the class. My first class was powerful, I remember feeling like I needed to know all about energy and holistic healing. It was as if these flood gates were opened and God was continuing to show me life’s amazing beauty. While pregnant I received 2 of the 3 classes and received my Master Teacher lever just after Xavier was born.

I used Reiki while pregnant to help the anxiety and stress that came with being considered high risk, I used it to alleviate the constant pain in my body, and I used it to help others shift. I also used it to connect to my unborn child and surround him with love and peace. It was such beautiful tool that God gifted me, and I will be forever grateful. Without Reiki before, during and after my pregnancy I do not think that I would be the person I have evolved to now.

(Hover over this text to read more...)

My Pregnancy Story

First Things First: What to Avoid.

Avoid Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals found in everyday household products including skincare products that can disrupt our bodies. In large enough doses, these chemicals can increase the production of certain hormones while decreasing the production of others. A few of these disruptive chemicals found in skin-care products are parabens, which are used to preserve the products; phthalates which are the fragrances used; BPA, which is often found in the plastic packaging; and triclosan, which is antibacterial. Parabens have been found to cause low birth weight in babies, as well as shorten women’s menstrual cycles outside of pregnancy. There is also some research linking phthalates to thyroid dysfunction and endometriosis. Not only should all pregnant and non-pregnant women avoid these chemicals, so should men, as there may also be a link between phthalates and lowered sperm count.

Avoid Skin Irritants

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a chemical found in a wide range of personal care products including shampoo, soap, detergent, and toothpaste. While it is a very inexpensive, and effective cleaning and foaming agent, it can seriously irritate skin resulting in eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. At the very least, it can cause your skin to be dry, or incredibly sensitive. During pregnancy, your skin can become quite sensitive, even if it is not usually. But thanks to your changing hormones, your skin, scalp, and even gums can become sensitive. Avoid using SLS in all skin-care products as well as in your laundry detergent. Many natural baby products avoid SLS due to the sensitive nature of baby skin, so consider switching to these products.

Avoid Toxins

Some skincare and cleaning products contain ethoxylated ingredients, which are carcinogens for you and baby. These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin or reach our internal organs when airborne after we clean floors or wash windows. They are also environmental toxins that are leaking into soil and water sources every time these ingredients are washed down the drain. These harmful ingredients often end in -eth (sodium Laureth sulfate), have numbers in the name (polysorbate-20) or may contain the letter PEG (PEG 40). If any of your beauty or cleaning products contain these chemicals, avoid them.

Avoid Synthetic Colors And Petrochemicals

There is sufficient evidence however to avoid certain petrochemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are cancer-causing chemicals found in crude oil. Petroleum jelly and mineral oil are not considered harmful petrochemicals, however, some women avoid them due to possible contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which is a known risk. The best way to minimize your chance of getting stretch marks is to support your skin’s elasticity. You can do this by keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized both internally and externally eat healthy fats and nutrient rich foods. Herbal Infusions and water are also a great way to support you skin. Consider the practice of dry brushing to reduce the appearance of existing stretch marks, but also as a preventative measure. In addition to exfoliating your skin, dry brushing also helps with circulation. Most important however may be your genes. If your mother, aunts, and sisters had stretch marks, you may have a higher chance of getting them as well.

Energy Work

Intuitive Reiki Healing

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Prenatal Reiki

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Postpartum Reiki

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Crystalline Consciousness Technique

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Energy Work Testimonials

After my first session, in the days following, I noticed peace and love flowing through my body. I noticed the track that played in my mind was quieted! It actually never came back in that same way after my first session. I have always been prone to anxiety, so this was extremely helpful to me during my first trimester. My next session released more than I ever could have hoped. I noticed that I had a clarity of mind that I had never had before in my life!

This related to big decisions as well as things as small as remembering why I walked into a room to do something. I was able to be present like I never had before. It was amazing!! My sessions in my 3rd trimester continued to release more emotional pain as well as physical pain. The reiki energy helped heal my past and helped me to remember my true self!! I am able to see things differently. I’m more confident than ever in my ability to make decisions based on the highest good of anyone I interact with and forgive myself when I don’t live up to my best.

My daughter is about to be 3 in a couple weeks and all of the transformations I experienced throughout my prenatal and postnatal reiki sessions have stayed with me. The peace, love, joy, clarity, and steadfast connectedness with the universe is still present. Experiencing pregnancy with regular reiki sessions is something that I will recommend for the rest of my life! I can only imagine the benefits by daughter received at the same time. I have so much sincere gratitude to Becky for honoring her calling to provide reiki services!!!

L.V.

Community Pregnancy and Postpartum Support

"Give a woman advice and support her for a day.

Teach a woman to advocate for herself and empower her for a lifetime."

Check out our list of local and online support. Our list consist of Child Birth Educators, Midwifes, Mental Health Counselors, Pregnancy Massage, Health Food Stores and many other resources.

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| Child Birth Educators |

| Nutritional Support & Education |

| Midwives |

| Holistic Medical Practioners |

| Birth & Postpartum Doulas |

| Chiropractors |

| Mental Health Counselors |

| Lactation Consultation & Support |

| Prenatal Yoga |

| Green Cleaning & Products |

| Pre/Postnatal Personal Trainers |

| Pregnancy Massage |

| Placenta Encapsulation |

| Health Food Stores |

| Pregnancy & Birth Photographers|

| Breastfeeding Support |

| Childbirth Educational Resources |

Natural Childbirth the Bradley® Way Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg
Husband-Coached® Childbirth Dr. Robert A. Bradley
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding La Leche League International
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth Henci Goer
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering Dr. Sarah J. Buckley
Having a Baby, Naturally Peggy O’Mara
Your Best Birth Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein
Birth Matters by Ina May Gaskin
Born in the USA by Marsden Wagner
Pushed by Jennifer Block
The Sears Library

Recommended Books

Recommended Websites

Childbirth Connection
Spinning Babies (optimal fetal positioning)
Evidence Based Birth
Alliance for the Improvement of Maternity Services (AIMS)
Science and Sensibility

Empowering Mama: A Collective Blog

Growing into a mother can be overwhelming. Processing all of the emotions and expectations associated with becoming a mother to another human being can be...challenging. Your sense of responsibility, your limitless love for your little one(s), and the daily uncertainty of each day can send you into an endless quest for solutions to soothe your mind.

Long before Google and Facebook, before the hundreds of contradictory sleep and parenting books, and before everyone had an opinion on whether or not you should XYZ, there was a time when women raised their babies using only their intuition and a village of support from seasoned mothers. Connection and community were and still are imperative. New mothers need a connection with themselves to trust their instincts, as well as solid relationships with others who are walking similar paths.

This collective blog provides a community of Toledo area businesses that you can utilize to empower your journey as a mother. Though this voyage will not be easy or perfect, these local owners are here to support and guide you with care. They want to see you thrive and can help create a safe place to land through education, resources, connection with other like-minded mamas, and support of your mind, body, and spirit.

Cheers to Wellness!