A huge part of my personal health regimen is based on natural remedies and essential oils. As an illness prevention model, we reserve monthly budget to maintain our collection of essential oils. It makes perfect sense that I would utilize them throughout pregnancy and labor. So, here’s a little intro to essential oils for labor and delivery. Let me know if you have any questions at all!
Keep up with the rest of the pregnancy, his birth, and my journey back to work after fourth trimester on my Instagram. Please pop in and chat with me!
Disclaimer: First, I am not a doctor or medical professional. Second, the key to natural remedies is a close connection to and awareness of your own condition and body. Be sure to try small amounts of an essential oil at first and do your research to understand the properties of each oil. Pay very close attention to your reaction to each oil. Avoid overuse of any essential oils.
Why Essential Oils?
Essential oils are a huge blessing in my commitment to natural labor. My now-husband was treated for spinal alignment from a car accident by raindrop treatments. As a result, he was healed. In fact, I was so impacted that I got trained in the practice and began to offer the service to friends and church family. Not long after that, essential oils helped me cure my horrendous adult acne. Lastly, as a previous drug addict, I avoid chemicals or drugs.
Facts about Essential Oils and their powerful impact:
- Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from the most natural source.
- People have been using essential oils since the earth began.
- Multi-faceted impacts of essential oils range from cosmetic to dietary to emotional to physical to spiritual.
- Direct access to all worldwide plants and seeds is impossible. Essential oils provide in-home access to precious, global resources.
Based on these facts, the source of essential oils is extremely important to keep those facts pure. See the end on what brand I use and why.
How to Use Essential Oils for Labor & Delivery?
I’m extremely cautious with essential oils during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Each person’s body and level of health are different. Considering my disclaimer at the beginning, essential oils can be extremely effective to treat many pregnancy and birth related symptoms. Here are some examples:
- Morning Sickness/Nausea
- Sleep Difficulty
- Stretch Marks – while this is highly likely, I avoid the use of skin-remedy essential oils when I’m pregnant or nursing
- Muscular/Alignment
- Immune/Mood Boost
- Calm/Pause Early Contractions
- Increase Contractions & Dilation
- Pain/Tension/Stress Relief
- Reduce Swelling/Blood Loss
- Reduce Blood Pressure
- Postpartum Healing
- Milk Supply and Nursing Support
In the next section, I’ll share the oils that I have in my personal birth bags. Most of these oils are all applicable to all stages of pregnancy and birth, but I’ve highlighted where I personally plan to use them below:
Helichrysum
Top of my list, Helichrysum oil stops excessive bleeding, supports circulatory functions and reduces scarring. It’s a very powerful oil. During my first postpartum, I used it for 72 hours on my pads, lower back and tummy. It’s beneficial for skincare in the early stages after trauma, while the skin is healing.
Relevant Stages: ALL – Pregnancy, Early Labor, Active Labor and Postpartum
Thieves
This has been a crazy time with the COVID-19 crisis, where immunity and cleanliness is found to be tried and true. The story of Thieves is spectacular, in that a group of thieves robbed the dead bodies from plague but their essential oil blend protected them in the act.
So thieves and purification is my daily diffuser blend, running all day and night.
Relevant Stages: Pregnancy
Geranium
Geranium oil is one of my personal favorites! Not only does the aroma refresh me, but its a powerful oil. Experts declare that this, like frankincense, is somewhat of a miracle worker. Among many medicinal uses, this oil is helpful with hormonal rebalance, tissue and cell regeneration. The “Ref Guide 4 EO” app states, this oil “is one of the best to stimulate circulation, which in turn facilitates easy breathing. It has a contractive effect and helps pull together dilated tissues, so it is healing for the uterus and endometrium after birth.
Geranium also “may balance the sebum, which is the fatty secretion in the sebaceous glands of the skin that keep the skin supple. This oil is good for expectant mothers as a cleanser for oily skin and to liven up pale skin.” So keep in on hand for those sleepless nights 🙂
Relevant Stages: Pregnancy and Postpartum
Lavender
Lavender calms and soothes emotionally and physically. It’s probably the most popular oil and has been known to “work wherever there is a need.” I’ve often been told, “Put Lavender on it,” in regards to any concerns.
My overall focused use for lavender is calming and scarring, as it works effectively in direct application and aroma. Great to use a couple drops in an epsom salt or regular bath.
During early labor, rub Lavender on tummy to stop and ease contractions.
Relevant Stages: ALL – Pregnancy, Early/Active Labor and Postpartum
Frankincense
While I mention specific uses for this middle eastern holy oil, Frankincense is an unlimited powerhouse oil! Many believe this is miracle worker of all oils, as it penetrates deeply into the brain. Experts believe this oil can regulate hormones. Historically, through potential folklore, its been known to treat cancer and tumors.
Like Lavender, I would consider Frankincense a universal remedy — I never let my bottle go empty. This powerful oil is mentioned FIFTY-TWO times in the Bible.
Relevant Stages: Early/Active Labor and Postpartum
Purification
Honestly, Purification is my favorite fragrance. It’s a blend of Citronella, Lavandin, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Myrtle, and Tea Tree. This blend is not for application during pregnancy, but diffuse it during all stages of pregnancy, labor and postpartum. It’s a cleansing and invigorating aroma that kills bacteria, mold and fungus.
Relevant Stages: Pregnancy
Clary Sage
This essential oil is known to kick labor into gear. Combined with Fennel and Jasmine, it’s the natural version of Pitocin. So make sure to avoid use before you are ready for delivery.
Relevant Stages: Active Labor
Jasmine
This will be my first birth with Jasmine essential oil. Historical uses suggest that Jasmine stimulates uterine contractions. My last labor really could have used it though. So, I’m going to sure to have it on hand this time around. `
Relevant Stages: Active Labor and Postpartum
Valor
Valor is a blend of Black Spruce, Blue Tansy, Camphor Wood, Geranium, and Frankincense. This blend is helpful in alignment, thus its important for mothers during labor and newborn babies.
Apply a few drops to a laboring mama’s hips and inner/outer feet. Blend one drop up and down the spine of a newborn to help ensure proper alignment.
Relevant Stages: Early/Active Labor and Postpartum
Patchouli
Patchouli made it to my pregnancy-related list because one whiff of this oil will curb nausea. It’s also powerful for use in skin tone and recovery.
Relevant Stages: Pregnancy
How to Use Oils by Stage of Labor
Why Young Living?
First of all, the extraction and packaging process is extremely important. When you pay for an essential oil, that’s all you should get. Be weary of labels that don’t have ingredients or have other carrier oils that dilute the oil. Young Living has a fully vetted supply chain and manufacturing process. Their essential oils are precisely extracted from natural farms in their country of origin. Crazy enough – you can even go visit the farms!
Young Living’s ethical and sustainable processes will keep the supply of natural resources healthy and long-living. If you want to sign up as a new member with Young Living, here are recommendations:
- Pick the Basic Starter Kit.
- Click “Yes” to enroll in Essential Rewards (cancel at any moment with no penalties).
- Click “Customize Your Kit,” which leads you to create your first monthly order.
- Your first monthly order only needs to be one to three of the oils from the labor related essential oils below.
- If you don’t know what to do, my recommendation would be to pick Lavender and Purification. If you’re dealing with nausea, Patchouli is a good investment.
- Honor the person who introduced you to essential oils by enrolling under their code. Ask for their sponsor/enroller ID. (If it’s me, then yay! Put 1997465 in the sponsor/enroller ID)
- Then once your first order goes through, change your next monthly order and build up your labor bag and medicine cabinet!
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