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Essential Oils for Labor Pain

Before childbirth, I’d only had a few experiences with intense pain. The worst was when I severed my pointer finger in the hinges of the bathroom door of a Dairy Queen in north Texas. I must have been in shock at first because I don’t remember feeling anything as I walked to my parents with my bloody, decapitated finger extended out in an E.T.-like gesture. I did feel a terrible aching pain shortly after, but it had nothing in common with the pain I would experience during natural childbirth. Leading up to my first labour, a lot of worries popped into my head about how I would handle the pain; my way of coping with this was to distract myself and replace the worried thoughts with more positive ones. I feel that it would have been wise to learn about pain management rather than to begin labour with misconceptions, which likely served only to increase pain and lengthen labour. I had three misbeliefs about labour pain. First, I’d read that movement accelerates labour so I made the assumption that relaxation slows labour down! Because of this I stressed and ultimately exhausted myself with too much activity. I walked, crawled, played tennis, and vacuumed my house during my first labour! I could have progressed more and saved my energy by also sitting in a warm Lavender bath and receiving a massage! Second, I had thought that any kind of vocalisation was helpful for managing labour pain but later learned that high-pitched sounds make the pain worse, while low-pitched moans lessen it greatly. Another misconception I only learned once I was finished having my three babies was that Clary Sage makes contractions stronger and I thought that meant it would also intensify pain! I know now that Clary Sage is the most sedative of Essential Oils and that it works to make contractions more effective while relieving pain. A key concept about pain that underlies all of my misconceptions is that tension magnifies the perception of pain and relaxation diminishes it. By the time I was on my third labour I had fully embraced the intensity I felt during labour and was grateful for the contractions and for the work that they were doing to bring my baby into the world. I was better at relaxing and able to moan in a deeper tone, probably because these things are acts of acceptance. I had reframed the concept of labour pain with the understanding that you can’t avoid the intensity of birth, you just have to go through it! My resistance to childbirth pain had only served to drag it out. With my third labour, I surrendered to the experience using the mantra, “Bring it on!”. When I met my baby I cried over him in love and gratitude and thanked him for being so easy and joyful to birth! ​

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In hindsight.... ​

Essential Oils, especially when combined with complementary therapies such as massage or hydrotherapy, can significantly reduce the perception of pain during labour. Some Essential Oils work because they facilitate relaxation, which reduces the perception of pain; stress and tension make the pain worse! Other Essential Oils are thought to work by stimulating analgesic opiate receptors in the brain. Driving oils, like Black Pepper, Peppermint, and Siberian Fir help further by pushing the oils deeper into the body; this action is particularly helpful for back labour and nerve pain. Toward the end of term, I recommend making a simple blend without carrier oils. Store the blend in a small, dark glass container with a tight-fitting lid to have on hand to dilute and use with different types of applications during the labour. The method of application chosen will have some of its own benefits. Topical applications involving touch can help to improve the hormonal effects of oxytocin while reducing tension. Aromatic applications and baths calm the mind, boost energy, and promote relaxation. ​

Nutrition ​

Choose simple foods that are easy to prepare and digest during active labour. Some options include miso soup, brown rice with boiled eggs, fruit with nuts or nut butter, or simply ice chips made with a natural electrolyte drink. ​

Essential Oils​

The following Essential Oils are useful for labour pain: Bergamot**, Black Pepper (low dose), Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon*, Peppermint+ , Roman Chamomile, and Rose. Include Lemon* or Peppermint+ when there is pain with nausea or vomiting. Use a driving oil (Black Pepper, Peppermint , or    Siberian Fir   (Abies sibirica )   in the blend to help the oils to penetrate more deeply into the body. Keep blends simple, for example, a labour blend could be Bergamot** (3) and Black Pepper (1) or Peppermint+ (2), Frankincense (1), and Lavender (2). Other citrus oils* may be added to the oils listed above to improve the balance of the blend. ​
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** Strongly photosensitising- Avoid direct contact with the sun for 12-24 hours. 
* Photosensitising- Avoid direct contact with the sun for several hours. 
+  These oils may reduce breast milk production in some women. 

Applications

During labour higher concentrations may be necessary and are acceptable to use as long as there are no problems with skin sensitivity. See Dilutions & Concentrations chart (pages 15-17) and Safety Guidelines (pages 18-27). There are many types of applications that are helpful for labour. Direct inhalation (from the bottle, a nasal diffuser or ​   handkerchief) is preferred to diffusion because it allows the labouring mother to control how much aroma she receives. Many women find relief by inhaling Essential Oils between contractions. Topically, oils may be applied via massage, by bath or foot bath (but not birth tub), or by a hot or cold compress. A crockpot may be used to keep water hot in cases where repeated application with a compress is desired; make sure to replace the lid on the pot to keep the volatile oils from evaporating between uses. ​

Precautions

Do not add Essential Oils to a birth tub (or to a labour bath after membranes have ruptured). It is best to avoid Clary Sage, Jasmine, Myrrh, and Rose in pregnancy until the health care provider has indicated that the mother is ready to begin labour. Once regular contractions are established, monitor the use of Clary Sage to prevent contractions from becoming too frequent or intense. 

e-Courses

​Essential Oils for the Birth Kit© is a complete online training course developed for health professionals, moms-to-be, and essential oil educators who would like to learn how to safely and effectively apply essential oils during each phase of maternity and in infant care.

These e-courses are beautifully presented in a series of eight colorful modules accompanied by audio-visual recordings.

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Featured Publications

Below is a list  of  published educational material by Stephanie McBride

Essential Oils for Maternal Wellness​

Essential Oils for Pregnancy

Essentials Blends for The Birth Kit

Birth Kit Essentials

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