Aromatherapy in Childbirth

[Ryce :)]

Hello
Just wondered if anyone has any experience of particular essential oils which have been useful in labour?
Also, oils such as clary sage I would not use when pregnant so surely during labour it should still not be used as may pass to baby?
Many thanks
seeker.

 

[Ask and Answer]

I used Clary sage mixed with lavender in a massage rub for pain relief in the early stages of labour which worked great.I also used rose and lavender in the bath to relax which was fab.Alot advocate the use of jasmine but i dont like the aroma xx

 

[James Grays]

One of my tutors used jasmine during labour and said it was wonderful. You wouldn't use it during the pregnancy because it may stimulate uterine contractions, but obviously it's perfect once you're in labour. Iknow many people don't like jasmine because they think it smells like cat pee! But that's only the very poor quality stuff.

 

[TibiaTeldWads]

Yes,
I am really interested in the whole Aromatherapy, pregnancy and birth thing. When I was pregnant clary sage was really advocated for its use in stimulating contractions. However, apparently recent studies have shown that it also makes the baby very sleepy and floppy. Best avoided I think! Jasmine and lavender would be my top 2. Jasmine to tone the uterine contractions and lavender to relax you.
All the best for a happy, easy and painfree (as poss) birth!
Sally x

 

[Scottieattenty]

Hi

Prior to labour, I used a 1% blend of rose otto in rosehip seed base for perineal massage (cant recommend this highly enough - I had an episiotomy with my first and not even the tiniest tear with my second, despite scar tissue). I used a blend of clary sage & jasmine for daily lower abdominal massage from 39 weeks onwards (but this was with my second child). During labour I used the same blend to strengthen contractions at the beginning - once in established labour I was too busy to think about it! My active birth teacher recommended taking a bath with a few drops of clary sage in early labour but to be honest I didnt feel like a bath then - I had my pool ready for a water birth later in labour. I had frankincense & lavender in my aromastream throughout. In addition, my husband put a couple of drops of ginger on a tissue whenever I was feeling nauseous and he also gave me frankincense on a tissue when I went through a "panicky" stage during transition. I had a homebirth and found that everyone who was with me loved the oils and my midwife was so interested that I ended up giving her a mini aromatherapy lesson about the properties etc during labour!

I used 4 drops of lavender in the bath immediately after the birth. I then had daily baths using 2 drops tea tree & 2 drops lavender. When the milk comes in at 3 days or so, a 1% blend of geranium & lemongrass or geranium & lavender is a wonderful blend to help ease engorgement (or, god forbid, mastitis)- just dont massage around the nipple and make sure you use the blend immediately after a feed so that the aroma has time to dissipate before the next feed.

Sorry........this went on a bit longer than I anticipated .......can you tell its one of my favourite subjects

Katy
x