I am so excited to welcome the ultimate natural mum, Emmelina to The Wholesome Seed! Emmelina is a first-time mum hailing from the UK and is navigating the wonderful and crazy world of motherhood. She is passionate about natural remedies, growing her own produce, and incorporating sustainable ways to look after the planet by using second-hand clothing for her son. With a wealth of insight to offer, ranging from practical recipes for homemade deodorant to simple tips on starting your own garden, she is quintessentially inspiring. I hope that her story and experiences will leave you with inspiration and awe!
Without further adieu, please welcome Emmelina.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey as a natural mum.
Hi! My name is Emmelina and I live in the UK with my husband and 6-month-old son, Edward. Describing myself always has seemed to be a challenge. I always felt like that question would be at the beginning of an interview. Where I would stutter, feel tight in my chest and not be able to replay my true self in words. Being put on the spot was always a weakness of mine. I would either find the pressure of thinking too much and bail or say the completely wrong thing. Social anxiety when meeting new people would make me want to shout my words out so quickly that I would instantly turn fuchsia red and want to crawl up in a little ball and hide.
I think this is really what created my personality. I loved to travel alone, explore the world with my own unpressured eyes and take my time whether that was ‘full steam ahead’ charging and crashing into things along the way or taking minuscule, very detailed steps at a time. I was never academic (yes; I struggle with spelling) but I am creative.
I was a portrait and wedding photographer, but the pressure of capturing something consistently perfect every time ruined the joy, so I am on a sabbatical with that one. For now, I enjoy pottery, yoga, studying and practising herbal medicine, attending full moon and healing ceremonies, growing fruit, veg, and herbs and finally surfing.
Working and being at one with nature is my true heart and soul. I have been lucky in life to be loved and nurtured deeply, to love unconditionally through friends, family, and nature. This now feels like my duty to pass on to my gorgeous little boy.
“Just like my mother, I want him to know that he can always be himself in this world because that is exactly who he should be and nothing more and nothing less.”
You welcomed your first baby, a little boy, 6 months ago. How has motherhood treated you thus far?
For years, I dreamt of having a little one to show the world and nature in all its glory. I couldn’t wait to show them how to use their fingers as earth rakes, refining the clumps of soil for little seeds to find the light. It is an incredible thing to watch something grow. A plant, a child, a mother. For some, it is easy to find the light, to spread their leaves and flourish.
In my mind, I would be one of these mothers that would have a positive outlook on life. For most, I was, but inside I struggled. When it rained, it poured. It felt relentless, like a storm that had been brewing over the 6 months of sleepless nights. It was now taking its toll.
“You wait, life will change”. This is the comment I always heard and always hated. I rebelled against the idea that I would change, and life would change. To a degree, it hasn’t. We still adventure, socialise, and continue to nurture our dreams, but through sleepless nights, continuous “what’s wrong with him? Maybe his nappy…no…maybe he is teething… could be… maybe he’s hot… no… hmmm. I do not know.” However, whatever situation I was in, I calmed him in the end. It’s amazing how on your feet you become when you need to solve/soothe your crying baby. With that, a rollercoaster of emotions struck me. I felt so out of control and, yes, so exhausted. It can be relentless and you feel as if you could leave them with the next stranger passing by just to close your eyes for that one blissful hour. I have cried in the middle of a garden centre (a favourite place of mine), I continuously smell of pee, poo or sick, I have been a total cow to my husband, cancelled plans, wallowed in my self-pity, eaten a lot of brownies and turned the baby monitor down for minutes to block the crying whilst sleep training because it would make me break down.
These situations are not what I would have planned out in my head as a mother, but I am still proud of myself. I am proud of being open, and honest, embracing my mother’s body after birth and letting it heal in its own time, giving time to situations rather than rushing and forcing, and speaking to my husband openly and knowing that struggling is a completely normal thing, and it’s OK to find some days unbearable. With these unbearable days come the smiles, laughter, longing gazes of amazement, simple achievements like waving back for the first time and the comfort of simple life treats like that life-saving coffee and brownie, the simplicity of a friend giving you a hug or a call, taking any moment during your babies nap to create a little self-love or napping instead of washing those dishes that have been staring at you with their greasy eyes all day.
Honesty with yourself and others is so important and as much as I would love to say, it’s been a breeze, it certainly hasn’t, but by god, I have experienced the most beautiful bright sunny days for all those darker days.
“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness, will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Brene Brown
Motherhood is full of challenges. What are some relatable experiences you’ve had as a mum?
Where do I even begin? Firstly, we as mothers are not meant to be perfect, we are only human. I’ve…
Swore at my child
Drank too many champagnes when excited whilst breastfeeding
Kept my child awake against their will so I could taste freedom on a day or night out
Gave packet food in the second week of solids
Shouted at my husband because I was tired
Took drugs to relieve pain during labour/birth
Used disposable nappies and wipes
Left my child crying longer because I was desperate to sleep
Cried because I was counting down the time until his next nap instead of counting down the time before he woke up
What I regret…
Nothing!
Your DIY skills are inspiring! Can you share with us the ingredients and methods you use for your soap and deodorant?
My soap and deodorant always have a purpose in mind. Whether that be calming, enriching, antibacterial, hydrating or simply to help those wrinkles tighten 😉 You will notice I ALWAYS use organic with my products and raw where possible. This is so important if you want to reap the real benefits of nature’s beautiful ingredients.
My natural deodorant recipe is very simple. I use the recipe from Gundersen Health System.
- 1/2 cup raw organic coconut oil
- 1/4 cup organic arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- 1/4 cup organic baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon organic essential oil (I love lavender or any type of citrus oil)
Simply melt the coconut oil so it’s warmed but not overheated as this can kill the benefits of the oil. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Pop in a jar and use as needed.
My soap gets a little more complicated. My favourite so far is my lavender and rose soap. A powerful beauty product that I love. Soap making can get pretty complicated and it is unbelievably important to know the safety measures to take whilst making cold process soap with lye and water as it can burn the skin.
Please see the following links to learn the safety, basics and understand the following recipe.
Beginner’s Guide to Cold Process Soap
Also, SOAPCALC is a great website to help do your calculations when creating your own recipes
As a natural mum, what are some natural remedies you use for your little one?
I love elderflower. I use the elderflower as a tincture which is distilled in 40% gin and also steeped as a tea. The tincture can be used 3 x a day 2 teaspoons added to water when you have flu-like symptoms and the tea can be drunk as is or added to your baby’s milk. I pick elderflower and dry it before popping into jar so I can use at my own pace through out the year.
I love that you buy second-hand clothing for your son! Can you share your thoughts on the benefits of this practice and tips for finding quality second-hand items?
Vinted is all I can say. It is amazing for selling and finding second-hand clothing, especially for babies and children. I have sold and bought pretty much everything for Edward on there. The great thing about baby clothes is that the clothes only get worn a few times since they grow so quickly that you’re practically getting new clothes for a fraction of the cost. It is important to explore their stores to save on the cost of your wallet and the planet. You can receive discounts for bundles, one postage cost and more clothes when needed! Friends or family have given other items to us from when they had kids. I have only bought three new items of clothing which were from an adorable French children’s clothing shop when we were on holiday.
Can you share a normal day for you? How do you make time for yourself and any hobbies or activities that recharge you?
I think your daily habits create your happiness. In the beginning, these can feel either exciting or gruelling, but soon they become second nature and you will not even think twice about doing them.
Here is an example of my typical day. By the way, I DID NOT do these right after birth. Birthing your child is one of the biggest and most special times you will ever experience, so taking time for that moment in your life is so unbelievably important. You can get back to your usual routine when you are settled in.
- Wake up and change
- Get Edward
- Feed animals
- Brush teeth whilst doing pelvic floor exercises. I count on my hand whilst doing it and make counting sounds to entertain my son during this. He finds it amusing.
- Make my Mushroom tea from DIRTEA. I get a few flavours, cacao for a healthy warming luxurious hot choc, chaga for energy, lions mane for focus, memory and digestion but my favourite is the reishi mushroom. It tastes SO good and I add a little organic unsweetened oat milk with a dash of my favourite raw honey.
- Back exercises whilst, you guessed it, counting and making funny sounds to my son.
- Either Yoga with him before he has had his first feed or once he has his first nap. With Edward, post-natal yoga with baby and without him, back pain relief stretches (this one is short and great for back pain).
- Cold shower. Please check out Wim Hof. A brilliant Dutch man who teaches us how to reap the benefits of cold water.
- Feed Edward and me
- Edward’s nap and my coffee time *yumm*
- Walk dog (Edwards fresh air and my exercise)
- Edward’s nap and I catch up with yoga, work, or studies
- Photograph a piece of clothing to sell on Vinted. Check out my shop here.
- Run errands with Edward (keeps him and myself entertained being out and about)
- Edward’s nap, and maybe I nap too!
- Lunch with Edward
- Walk dog and Edward
- Catch up on bits like prep dinner, tummy time for Edward or be lazy on the sofa or see a friend (you need to stay sociable or you lose the plot)
- Edward’s nap, light candles, fire (setting chilled afternoon vibes) and my coffee time again *mmm*
- Feed the dog and prep breakfast for the next morning.
- I try to have everything out for the morning, so it makes the beginning of my day easier and more pleasant. If you are struggling with starting your day healthily, then this is a savour. Get your overnight oats in the fridge, put your herbal tea bag in the mug and make sure all the dishes are done after your little one has gone to bed. There is nothing worse than starting your day by cleaning up dirty dishes from the night before in my eyes. Clean house, clean mind. It’s my meditation. We also have a cleaner which has been a huge help, but I understand that this isn’t possible for everyone.
- Edward’s end of the day wind down with a bath, book, massage etc (I wish my day ended like that haha)
- My time. A bath with a nice oil in or realistically wash Edward’s sick out of my hair. Finish cooking dinner, a glass of delicious wine or a cheeky beer.
- Phone on silent and early bedtime
One thing I wanted to highlight is that I really struggled to put Edward in the car to go on journeys, as he would just hysterically cry. My whole body would be so tense and I would nearly be in tears by the time we got to our destination that I didn’t want to drive anywhere anymore. I even thought, let’s live our dream of having no car, but reality didn’t make this possible. So instead, I made sure we went in the car every day to get us both comfortable. He soon settled into the idea and I believe that sometimes when we find something tough and want to run away, we need to keep at it until it gets easier and then one day it does!
What inspired you to start your own garden, and what advice do you have for beginners looking to grow their own produce?
My Granny is an avid gardener. Every moment I spent watching her nurture and grow fruit and vegetables from seed or saplings. She inspired me with her endless knowledge. As I grew up, it felt like second nature. The understanding and the dedication to planting, watering, growing and then the luxury of the first bite of that warm tomato straight off the vine. There is no other smell that I enjoy more, no comparison to your own grown to that bought in the store.
My advice to new growers is to start small and simple. Enjoy the learning process of each new plant with each new year. Start maybe with three simple ones. I find baby spinach, potatoes, and carrots to be easy ones. Just make sure you understand what pests are around to prevent your time and effort going down the drain and please avoid pesticides. What is the point of your own grown food if you ruin the nutrients with man-made chemicals? Also, putting chemicals into the soil ruins the structure of the soil and its living organisms in it. You will notice the depletion of the quality of your produce and the wildlife surrounding it. Please check out Ben @GrowVeg for some great and useful tips.
You are into herbal medicine, what drew you to this? Do you have any favourite remedies or herbs that you commonly use?
I have always been so interested in the benefits of food. Just like growing it, you get to know each ingredient and its medicinal properties. I enjoyed making candles and learning about the benefits of aromatherapy to the mind and body. Soaps to help soothe such things as my eczema, homemade deodorants to avoid the most common chemical ingredients found in deodorant and antiperspirants such as parabens, triclosan, phthalates, propylene glycol and aluminium. Research has linked these ingredients to several medical conditions, including types of cancer and reproductive development issues.
When you understand why natural remedies have been put on the planet, you understand they are all there for a purpose. Mother Nature has kindly given us medicine and we need to use it. Yes, I understand in more serious cases, not all natural medicine is a healer but it can help lessen the pain, inflammation and help ease your body through some pretty horrendous illnesses. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error with the type of plant or dosage, as every person is different.
My favourite plants to grow in my medicinal garden in the UK are:
Lemon Balm
Grows like a weed, self-sows and can grow throughout winter. Yummy as tea and great for tinctures.=
Uses: It contains volatile oils that help with emotions, and digestive function, and has antiviral properties.
German Chamomile or Roman Chamomile
Uses: Good for the digestive system and very soothing and calming
Calendula
Grows very easily and produces many flowers, be sure to keep picking the flowers as they bloom to produce more! Great for tinctures and pulses.
Uses: Skin conditions, great for the lymphatic and digestive systems
Costmary
Uses: Soothes headaches and migraines
Willow herb
Grows between cracks on payments everywhere.
Uses: Great for men’s health and prostate health
St John’s Wort
Uses: John’s wort is promoted for depression, menopausal symptoms, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), somatic symptom disorder (a condition in which a person feels extreme, exaggerated anxiety about physical symptoms), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other conditions.
Spearmint
I use it for tea and cooking
Uses: Good for balancing testosterone levels and in soothing polycystic ovaries.
Yarrow
Uses: Fevers, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and helps with menstrual issues
Peppermint
Uses: Anti-spasmodic for the digestive system
What has been the biggest challenge for you as a mom, and how have you navigated it?
The biggest challenge for me has been feeling lonely because only I can be the one to look after my baby.
I navigate these challenges by:
Making room for my passions. My mum looks after Edward once a week for a few hours so I can escape to do pottery. It is so meditative for me as it switches my mind off.
Got out on walks and simple things like getting coffee over the road at the cafe. Great for him, great for me. Socialising and fresh air.
Yoga during his naps or with him. Even just 10 minutes makes all the difference.
Nap when he naps when I need it. I never regret doing this! It’s like starting your day afresh after. I like to do it on his first nap when it’s still morning, so I don’t feel like I’m wasting my afternoon (which you aren’t but it’s just phycological in my head).
Making social plans or having a friend or a family member to call when you are feeling low.
Finding purpose each day. I write a to-do list in the morning and try to accomplish it, even if it is only one item. Then I know, even on the hardest of days, I can pull through and still achieve. It’s important to add things you like to do to your list along with your everyday chores as it creates happiness in your day!
Share with us the best piece of advice you’ve received since becoming a mom.
You have your own mother’s instinct. Nobody can beat that. “This ‘maternal instinct’ of a sixth sense for one’s child and what they need come from intense closeness and deep love, spending hours with and thinking about the child,” says Monk. It involves seeing the signs because of a connection you’ve built with your child, not an instinctive understanding of motherhood.
