Herbs, Holistics & HomeopathicsDiscuss the use of alternative therapies for pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. Be aware of who is giving advice, and never direct clients in use that is out of your scope.
What kinds of aromatherapy do you use a births (or have on hand)?
What scents?
What form(s)?
What uses?
Where do you get them?
Right now I'm thinking lavender and peppermint would be my first two picks. But I'm not sure what form to get them in. I have some peppermint massage oil, so that could probably work for the aromatherapy if needed/wanted.
I have in my Doula bag:
Clary Sage - only used during the birth to help with contractions. This is very important as Clary Sage can induce labour in pregnant women. I did use Clary sage for my daughter to try to induce labour once she was a week past her due date but whilst she loved the smell, it didn't induce labour for her.
Rose Otto - I use a proper good quality essential oil that is not diluted; very relaxing; women's oil
Ginger, Sweet Orange, Grapefruit for nausea and sickness
Black Pepper - very warming in a massage oil; soothes pain
Lavender, Tea Tree - can be applied neat to wounds but are better diluted and also diluted in a compress for a sore perineum
I have one or two others but can't think what they are.
The ones I used at my grandson's birth were Clary Sage, Sweet Orange and Grapefruit. I put 2 drops of each on separate tissues and gave them to my daughter to smell and then just left the tissue in the room. Interestingly, she liked the Sweet Orange at first to manage her nausea and vomiting but then the smell itself became sickly to her and she needed something more astringent which is why I changed to the Grapefruit. Ginger is best but some women, like my daughter, can't stand the smell of it. All the midwives loved the Clary Sage funnily enough.
HTH,
Kath
the only thing I keep in my bag is peppermint oil for nausea. I used to keep a spray bottle but after reading suggestions here I switched to the cotton ball in the ziplock trick. I've used it with each of my certifying births and all of them commented on how much it helped. Though I've read a lot about aromatherapy and I use oils quite a bit at home I'm not comfortable using anything more than that with preggie mamas.
None.
I used to carry lavendar, but it gives me migraines so I can't even be in a room when it's opened. It's so bad that I have to notify clients before they hire me that I can't be around it, so they need to check their massage oils and any lotions or room mists they wish to use if they want me as their doula.
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I think if you are planning to use EOs, you should do plenty of research beforehand. There are some really great books out there, and I find that www.essenceofjoy.com is a great source of info.
For a massage oil or creams, it should never be stronger than a 1% dilution. I usually figure 10 d per 15 ml of oil. But I find I rarely use oils during labor because of the risk of spillage. You also need to be cautious if she's going to get an epi later. Anesthesiologists HATE IT when they get there and the pt has oils/creams on her back.
You also need to be very cautious with oils if mom is on pit (no clary sage b/c you can hyperstim her), has high blood pressure and is on mag, etc. You also need to be aware of allergies and other potential issues.
I usually stick with lavender and peppermint. I also carry a small vial of a mix of clary sage, rose and jasmine, in the event I have a client who really wants to avoid pit and nothing else is working. I've only used it once.
In addition, I have two creams that I use -- one is my "labor lotion" (unscented cream to which I've added a blend of lav, rose, jasmine, and neroli, and the other is a citrus blend (unscented cream with lemon, orange, grapefruit, and lime EOs). If the client doesn't have any lotion, I will let her smell them and decide which one she wants/needs.
I bought: AroMaternity for Doulas, Roll-On Aromatherapy Birth Kit from www.birthproshop.com I haven't used it yet, but I really like the idea. Of course, I wouldn't roll it on some one, but I would roll it on a cotton ball
I carry none. Our hospital is a scent free zone.
I also find that in those small rooms the aromatherapy scents can get rather nauseating for me. I think pepermint in small doses may be ok. Sometimes I will offer mom a mint or a tick-tack, but thats about it.
Peppermint does wonders for dads who are feeling a little green around the gills - or MILs, as I discovered this weekend! (the MIL passed out twice during pushing.) I even sniff it to give me a little "pick me up" when I'm getting tired.
