BELLY BUTTER

I had fun meeting so many new families in December! Rubbing bellies…what a happy way to finish out an abundantly eventful 2015. To those of you who stopped in, THANK YOU! Taking pause from the busy-ness of the holiday season to sit with you and your babies was a welcome breath of fresh air.

I've had a few people ask me about the belly butter I used for the massages and how to make it at home. I am not overly precise in my process, but adapted my method from a recipe found in Herbal Healing for Women, by the lovely Rosemary Gladstar. Her recipe (and my variations) are below. 




BELLY OIL  
(Excerpt from Herbal Healing for Women, by Rosemary Gladstar.)

• 1/2 cup cocoa butter
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup apricot, almond, or grape seed oil
• 20,000 I.U. vitamin E oil
• 2 teaspoons grated beeswax
• 1 teaspoon lanolin

To Make: Melt all ingredients together. You may wish to scent the mixture with your favorite essential oil, but I love the rich chocolaty smell as is. Rub this rich oil over the belly and breasts two or three times daily to keep the skin supple and help eliminate stretch marks. This is the richest, most emollient oil I have found. It's perfect for the expanding belly!

BELLY BUTTER 
(Kate's variation)

• 1/2 cup cocoa butter or shea butter (cocoa butter has a strong scent, while shea is more neutral.)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (use expeller pressed for a neutral scent or virgin for a strong coconut scent.) 
• 1/4 cup apricot kernel oil
• A drizzle of vitamin E oil
• As much grated beeswax as it takes to create a butter that is semi-solid, rather than liquid-y
• 1 teaspoon lanolin

To Make: Melt it all together, pour into storage containers. Enjoy!

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