Aromatherapy Essential oils during labour

Essential oils are ideal for helping ease some of the problems occurring during labour.  Nausea can be alleviated by using Peppermint or Spearmint oil in room vaporisers, or for foot massage.  Peppermint, or Silver Fir are refreshing mental stimulants if the labour is long and tiring.  Relaxing oils can help relieve some of the emotional trauma's associated with labour.  The inhalation of the vapours from Clary sage has been found helpful to improve the efficiency of uterine contractions towards the end of a long labour.

The use of undiluted essential oils in Birthing pools during labour is NOT ADVISABLE because of the potential to cause irritation to the babies eyes during the birth.

Essential oils such as Chamomile, Hyssop, Lavender, Olibanum and Tea Tree can be used in a douches to relieve soreness and bruising of the perineal area from the birth, and from episiotomy wounds.   Alternatively, a few drops of a blend of the above oils can be diluted in fractionated coconut oil, or aloe vera gel and this can be applied to the affected areas on sanitary towels.  The use of these oils in the bath is unlikely to significantly improve healing (see The Oxford Brookes University Study) .

Woodspirits would also recommend complementing the oils with another alternative therapy/medacine such as Homeopathy.  I myself have just had a Baby and decided to give birth naturally without the use of drugs.   I used Aromatherapy and Homeopathy and had a straight forward birth with no tears or need for an epistomy.   

Giving birth however is a very personal thing, and waiting for that day to finally arrive is exciting, but it is perfectly natural to feel a little apprehensive. You will be thinking about how to make giving birth as easy as possible, and preparation is essential.  The best advice I could give would to be follow what feels right, follow your instincts and don't let anyone change your mind.  Do lots of research on natural pain relief and stick to it.  Preparing for childbirth during your pregnancy can make a massive difference to what happens on the day. At parent craft classes you will be advised on exercises to make you fitter. Relaxation and breathing exercises to help you manage your labour pains. Sometimes this is all that you may need. Care with your diet, and stopping smoking are other ways you can help yourself by improving your fitness and training your body for the task that lies ahead. Gentle Massage, breathing, posture and relaxation techniques help in early labour. A warm bath may also help.

Be strong willed and follow your heart and you will experience the most beautiful and natural thing there is. 

Essential Oils were put to the test in Oxford, during an eight-year study involving 8,000 mothers. The study showed that Aromatherapy was effective in managing labour pains. The study was conducted by Oxford Brookes University during 1990-98 and they found that using essential oils lessened maternal anxiety and fear while inducing a sense of well-being. Fear and anxiety are two things, which can slow labour and make the mother to be unable to cope with the pain of labour. The study showed a drop in the use of opiate pain relief by those mothers who used aromatherapy during labour. The normal uptake of opiate pain relief would have been expected to be 30% in the Oxford study this dropped to 0.4%. The oils that were used included, Lavender, Frankincense, Rose, Jasmine, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon, Mandarin and Clarysage. The methods of delivery used were massage, added to baths and footbaths and then as drops on the forehead and palms of the hand.

For more information on Aromatherapy from Pregnancy to Health Care for your baby we provide an excellent book called Aromatherapy For Women - By Maggie Tisserand

Read on for more Mother and Baby advice.

Aromatherapy massage during pregnancy

What is Aromatherapy

What are Essential oils

Baby Massage

Aromatherapy for babies

Step-by-step guide to baby massage

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