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Essential Oil Therapy, Pregnancy & Labour

Essential Oil Therapy for a natural and healthy pregnancy – Part 2

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Labour

The essential oils of neroli (citrus aurantium) and lavender (lavandula angustifolia) can be used to help with fear and anxiety during your labour.1 If you have a long labour and fatigue has set in, the essential oils of peppermint (mentha piperita) and sage (salvia officinalis) can be used for energy or alertness.2 Also during a long labour, misting your face with the hydrosols of lavender, neroli or rose (rosa damascena), will refresh you. Use any hydrosol that you enjoy.

During labour, have your labour partner massage your lower back with the essential oils of chamomile (Roman – anthemis nobilis and/or German – matricaria chamomilla), clary sage (salvia sclarea) and lavender in a carrier oil. A compress with the essential oil and hydrosol of clary sage will greatly reduce labour pain when applied to the lower abdomen and back. If you are having a water birth, the EO and hydrosol can be added directly to the tub. One study has shown that the essential oils of clary sage and chamomile are effective in reducing pain during labour.3

Essential Oil Therapy during pregnancy:

  • – can help reduce stretch marks
  • – can help deal with stress and promote relaxation
  • – can ease cramping and pains experienced during pregnancy
  • – can help you keep in tune with your body and your baby
  • – can provide relief from ailments such as headaches, nausea, varicose veins and edema
  • – can aid in ‘recovery’ after childbirth

Postnatal

Applying hydrosols directly to the perineum, or adding essential oils to a sitz bath can aid discomfort and healing of the perineum. As some women find it uncomfortable to use the sitz bath method, a spray is a more convenient method of application. Applying witch hazel (hamamelis virginiana), lavender and chamomile hydrosols, with a cotton pad, can relieve hemorrhoids and aid in healing. For added relief, the cotton pad can be left in place. Some women have also found that it helps to place a pad in the freezer, with the spray applied, and using these for relief. A common chemical used to treat wounds, such as episiotomies, is Povidone-iodine. Clinical trials have shown lavender to be more effective.4

For women who have had a cesarean section, the essential oil of helichrysum (helichrysum italicum) has shown amazing results for skin regeneration and healing.5 There are a number of nutrient rich and essential oils, to help heal and decrease scar tissue, such as calendula (calendula officinalis) infused olive or sunflower oil.6 These oils can also helps with the healing of wounds, old and new scars and stretch marks.

If the baby blues have set in, postpartum depression can be helped with many citrus oils, which are anti-depressants and help with anxiety. Some of these oils include orange (citrus senensis), bermagot (citrus bergamia), neroli and grapefruit (citrus paradisii). Using the pure hydrosol of these plants help as well and can be used as a room or body spray. Aromatherapy massage has improved the physical and mental states of mothers and bonding with your baby.7

Engorged breasts can be helped with a compress of geranium, as well as a cabbage leaf being inserted into your bra. For cracked and sore nipples, calendula has amazing healing properties. For dry skin during breastfeeding, there are a number of essential and carrier oils that can be used.

Below is a summary of some of the essential oils and hydrosols, which can be used during pregnancy, and some of their benefits:

Calendula – skin irritations, minor infections, wound healing
Chamomile – muscular pain, labour, morning sickness, perineum healing
Clary Sage – muscular pain, headaches, labour
Cypress – edema, prevent stretch marks
Ginger – morning sickness
Juniper Berry – edema
Lavender – muscular pain, headaches, labour, stress, perineum healing
Mandarin – prevent stretch marks, stress, and depression
Neroli – anxiety, prevent stretch marks, depression
Peppermint – headaches, morning sickness, nausea, alertness
Witch Hazel – apply the hydrosol to hemorrhoids and varicose veins
Yarrow – apply the hydrosol for postpartum healing

There has been some debate as to whether essential oils are safe for use during pregnancy and on babies. There are some essential oils, which are not recommended for use during the first trimester such as: rose, jasmine and chamomile, to name a few. Generally though, the use of flower and citrus oils can be considered safe for use throughout the entire pregnancy. You should consult with a certified aromatherapist to be sure. It’s best to check the label for any warnings and/or directions, as they are usually printed on commercially available essential oils. Note that there are many grades of essential oils and only therapeutic grade should be used. During pregnancy, you should use a dilution of 1-3% essential oil, or 3-9 drops in 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of carrier oil. That being said, as with all alternative forms of therapy and non-prescribed drugs, especially during pregnancy and on newborns, you should consult with your health care professional before use.

Please visit http://www.aromatichealthshop.ca/Mother/cat255520_181677.aspx for details about products for pre and postpartum health.

Michelle Reynolds, CAHP
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1. Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. Carvalho-Freitas MI, Costa M. Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Dec;25(12):1629-33. PMID: 12499653
2. Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang. Moss M, Hewitt S, Moss L, Wesnes K. Int J Neurosci. 2008 Jan;118(1):59-77. PMID: 18041606
3. The use of aromatherapy in intrapartum midwifery practice an observational study. Burns E, Blamey C, Ersser SJ, Lloyd AJ, Barnetson L. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 2000 Feb;6(1):33-4. PMID: 1103365
4. Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: A clinical trial. Vakilian K, Atarha M, Bekhradi R, Chaman R. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):50-3. PMID: 21168115
5. Interactions of antibiotics and extracts of Helichrysum pedunculatum against bacteria implicated in wound infections. Aiyegoro OA, Afolayan AJ, Okoh AI. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2010 Mar;55(2):176-80. PMID: 20490761
6. Efficacy of Hypericum and Calendula oils in the epithelial reconstruction of surgical wounds in childbirth with caesarean section. Lavagna SM, Secci D, Chimenti P, Bonsignore L, Ottaviani A, Bizzarri B. Farmaco. 2001 May-Jul;56(5-7):451-3. PMID: 11482776
7. The psychological effects of aromatherapy-massage in healthy postpartum mothers. Imura M, Misao H, Ushijima H. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2006 Mar-Apr;51(2):e21-7. PMID: 16504900

Essential Oil Therapy, Pregnancy & Labour

Essential Oil Therapy for a natural and healthy pregnancy – Part 1

22 Comments

 

More and more pregnant women and new parents are looking for natural alternatives to prescription drugs. Although conventional medicine and medicines can be helpful in more extreme cases, for the more common ailments associated with child birth and parenting, natural alternatives like Essential Oil Therapy can prove to be just as, if not more, effective. Below are just a few ways that Essential Oil Therapy can help with a more natural pregnancy and childbirth.

Prenatal

Massaging yourself with nourishing carrier oils and the essential oils of neroli (citrus aurantium) and mandarin (citrus reticulata) during your pregnancy may help to reduce the chance of getting stretch marks, and alleviate dry, itchy skin. Be sure not to forget to massage your breasts and thighs, along with your growing belly. In an attempt to prevent striae gravidarum (stretch marks), a treated group who used a massage ointment was two thirds less likely to develop stretch marks, vs. a controlled group who was one third less likely to development stretch marks.1

If you are suffering from headaches and migraines, using essential oils can be a good alternative to conventional pain relievers. Essential oils such as peppermint (mentha piperita), chamomile (anthemis nobilis) and lavender (lavandula angustifolia), among others, in a carrier oil, can be used in a roll-on applicator, and applied to the temples and nape of the neck.2

The essential oils of peppermint, chamomile or ginger (zingiber officinalis) can be effective in relieving the nausea associated with morning sickness. Ginger  has been found to be more effective than vitamin B6 for relieving the severity of nausea and just as effective for decreasing the number of episodes.3 Ginger was also found to be as effective as dimenhydrinate  in treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.4 Pieces of dried ginger can be chewed or the capsules taken internally. Peppermint and/or chamomile tea can be drunk to ease nausea. Simply inhaling peppermint and ginger essential oils can ease the nausea for many women.

A warm bath with essential oils added, can soothe your sore muscles, help you to relax, and be emotionally uplifting as well. Research has confirmed that the mother’s emotional state affects the child, both pre and post natal. Massage yourself, or even better, have a partner massage you, to help with sore muscles, relaxation, strengthening the emotional bonds and help prevent fluid retention in your legs and feet.

For years, many midwives have recommended massaging your perineum daily during the last six weeks of pregnancy, to help reduce the chances of tearing or having an episiotomy. Three trials, involving more than 2,000 women, concluded that prenatal perineal massage reduces the chances of perineal trauma, mainly episiotomies, and ongoing perineal pain.5

A resource on how to perform the massage can be found at: http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,midwife_46dl,00.html

For inflammation, acne and other skin issues, toners with lavender and chamomile hydrosols are soothing and calming to the skin. Many women see changes in their skin and some develop acne, similar to when they were in their teens.

Please visit http://www.aromatichealthshop.ca/Mother/cat255520_181677.aspx for details about products for pre and postpartum health.

Please look for Part 2, in using essential oils for Labour and Postpartum.

Michelle Reynolds, CAHP
_____________________________________________________________

1. Attempt of preventive treatment of striae gravidarum using preventive massage ointment administration. Wierrani F, Kozak W, Schramm W, Grünberger W. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1992;104(2):42-4. PMID: 1609525
2. Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental algesimetric headache parameters. Göbel H, Schmidt G, Soyka D. Cephalalgia. 1994 Jun;14(3):228-34; discussion 182. PMID: 7954745
3. Comparing ginger and vitamin B6 for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial. Ensiyeh J, Sakineh MA. Midwifery. 2008 Feb 11. PMID: 18272271
4. A randomized comparison of ginger and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Pongrojpaw D, Somprasit C, Chanthasenanont A. J Med Assoc Thai. 2007 Sep;90(9):1703-9. PMID: 17957907
5. Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma. Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD005123. PMID: 16437520