Aromatherapy For Labor

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by Marlene Ericksen

Aromatherapy, increasingly endorsed by midwives throughout the world, is slowly gaining acceptance in hospitals throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. German midwife trainees are required to study aromatherapy as part of their course curriculum. Indeed, monitoring equipment has shown that fetal heartbeat variability accompanying fetal distress can be normalized when mothers are given an essential oil body massage.(2)

Whether you are planning to birth your baby in a hospital, at a birthing center, or at home, have ready the following items:

* Blended oils for massage. Bottle the mixtures in dark glass containers at least three weeks in advance of your due date.

* Undiluted essential oils for baths, compresses, inhalations, and diffuser. An aromatic diffuser. An electric model is preferable if there will be toddlers about or if you will be using a hospital or birthing center room.

* Flannels and bowls for compresses.

* A plastic baby tub for sitz baths.

Plan on creating a magical birthing environment, complete with soft lights, music, and your favorite essential oils. Neroli, bergamot, rose, and frankincense can help relieve anxiety and fears you might be harboring about birth. Breathing in any of these oils as they waft through the air from your diffuser will help you relax between contractions, inviting your body's production of endorphins to provide natural pain relief. Simply add to the diffuser 3 or 4 drops of your chosen oil.

Lavender (Lavendula augustifolia) can promote relaxation and pain relief during labor. Once your contractions are established and your cervix has dilated at least 2 centimeters, plan on taking a long lavender soak. Women who bathe for 30 minutes or more during this phase of labor experience improved progress and a significant decrease in the need for drugs.(3)

An essential oil massage between contractions can be soothing and comforting while stimulating pain relief. A foot massage may be ideal, or perhaps a low back massage with gentle, yet firm strokes, using the palm of the hand. For a topnotch labor blend, combine 20 drops of lavender and 8 drops of clary sage in 4 ounces of carrier oil.

To help stimulate and strengthen contractions, request a jasmine (lasminum grandiflorum) compress on the lower abdomen or sacrum. For pain, use lavender or clary sage. Cool compresses to the forehead can help ward off fatigue and keep you refreshed. If nausea crops up, take a whiff of peppermint or lavender.

Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi), an exotic essential oil not often mentioned in aromatherapy literature, is profoundly relaxing. Spikenard's sedative action is useful if pain and tension are keeping you from opening into your contractions. In such instances, be sure to ask for an abdominal massage with 8 drops of spikenard mixed with 7 drops of jasmine and 3 drops of lemon verbena in 4 ounces of carrier oil. Or apply a compress of this blend just above the pubic hair. Evening primrose oil can be massaged directly on the cervix if it remains rigid and non-dilating.

Labor is a wondrous act of nature, and unique to every childbearing woman.
If pain or tension gets you down, remember that this stage will pass. Envision yourself as a powerful woman, and know that in a very short time, you will be experiencing the gift of birth.

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