Pampered Pregnancy (Review and Giveaway)

belly shot - 35 weeks!

I normally do not pamper myself much at all. My usual attire includes jeans, a ponytail, and no make-up. I rarely take time for a leisurely bath or use lotions. During pregnancy though, my aches and pains force me to pay attention to pampering myself a bit. I'm very picky about the body care products I use, especially when pregnant, and I look up everything in the Skin Deep database.

When I was pregnant with Julia, I purchased some Earth Mama Angel Baby products to use for the postpartum period. I used the bottom balm, new mama bottom spray, and postpartum bath herbs. I absolutely loved these and felt like the products were very effective and helped ease my discomfort. This time around, I had more of the Earth Mama Angel Baby products on my wish list to try out. A sweet mama that I met online runs a website called Shalom Beginnings and offered to help me out with a discount, some products in exchange for this review, and even a giveaway for my readers!

Nina runs Shalom Beginnings working from home with her three small children (and one on the way very soon). She sells cloth diapers, baby carriers, baby and mom body care products, and herbs and teas, all with a focus on offering affordable yet high quality items. Shipping is only $2.50 and Nina is great about replying to emails and helping customers find what they need.

I completely stocked up on Earth Mama Angel Baby products! Some to use during pregnancy, some to use for postpartum healing, and some to use on my sweet new baby when he or she arrives. I love that these products are rated zero in the Skin Deep database - the best rating possible. We had been using quite a few Burt's Bees products, but they didn't rate zero and had too much fragrance for my liking after a while.

I tested out the Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash on the girls the other day and really liked it. The wash smells like a mix of orange and vanilla, but not too strong. I also got the lotion, baby bottom balm, and diaper rash soap. I like that it all has such a sweet smell, but no added "fragrance". You can read all of the ingredients for each product right on the Earth Mama Angel Baby website.

I've been using the Natural Stretch Oil on my belly. It soaks in nicely and has a light scent to it. I could almost do without the scent, but its not bad. I can't really tell you if its helping prevent stretch marks or not, but I'm sure it helps at least a bit. I have the Happy Feet foot soak, it just sounded so nice for pregnant sore feet, especially near the end of pregnancy. Also the Third Trimester Tea - I'm actually not a big tea fan at all but I've been drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (RRL) on my midwife's recommendation. This tea has RRL and lots of other good ingredients to help prepare my body for labor and nourish it. Especially in these last few weeks drinking the tea helps my body store up the nutrients it needs for birth. I do feel like the RRL tea has helped with muscle pains and cramping, I haven't had much at all this time and it goes away when I drink my tea regularly. Shalom Beginnings also sells packets of just RRL tea.

For postpartum use, I got more of the Mama Bottom Balm (loved this last time!), New Mama Bottom Spray, and the Natural Nipple Butter. I love that these contain all natural ingredients and herbal formulations to help heal and restore my body. I've become a big believer in natural remedies and herbs and found them to be very effective. The witch hazel, calendula, and other ingredients in these products are very soothing. I haven't used the nipple butter yet, but my girls both had trouble nursing in the beginning and made me pretty sore. Lanolin was ok, but kind of sticky and harsh, this sounds like it will work a bit better.

Nina at Shalom Beginnings also created her own herbal bath tea that she sent me. I have used it a few times and it was very soothing and great for achy pregnant muscles. The bath tea contains calendula, chickweed, chamomile, lavender, oatmeal, and plantain. It doesn't have a strong scent, but does smell nice. It comes with a little muslin bag that you steep like tea and then pour into your bath. I let it swirl around in the tub and then squished the bag a bit to help it release the nutrients.

After saying I am not big on pampering myself - I just might be transformed. I feel better about myself and am a much less crabby mom when I take care of my aches and pains and have natural herbal products on hand to use. I recommend giving any of these products a try.

Shalom Beginnings is offering one reader a 2 oz Angel Baby Bottom Balm, a 5.3 oz Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash, and a packet of herbal bath tea. To enter the giveaway take a look at Shalom Beginnings website and let me know something they sell that you're interested in. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment so that I have a way to contact you. For another entry become a follower of my blog and let me know that in another comment. If you'd like a third entry, blog about this giveaway, linking to both my blog and Shalom Beginnings and then come back and leave me a link to your post. I'll close the giveaway on January 1st at midnight.

**The giveaway is now closed and random.org chose Amanda as the winner. Thanks for your interest.**