Aromatherapy and Childbirth

[Guest guest]

Marge has a some great AT info on her site dealing with eo's and labor/birth,

etc. But I want to know some of the best methods of application to help

encourage labor and to use during labor to help with relaxing, etc. This is for

my daughter who is due any time now, but she is very uncomfortable, and starting

to feel pain since she is very small and baby is big. We are using blue cohosh

too. Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

Tracy

 

*I know of nobody who is purely autistic or purely neurotypical.

Even God had some autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin.*

-Jerry Newport

 

*Some people only dream of angels; we held one in our arms.*

Remembering Jacob March 8 - 9, 1996

Our Angel: http://sids-network.org/fp/jacob.htm

 

 

[Guest guest]

My puter is up and this is the first message I saw on the list and I'm going to

answer before I continue with other things I have to rehook up around the house

and then return to the dungeon of the basement renovation.

 

Tracy, first I invite you to go back and read some of our recent earlier posts

regarding baby sizes and their relevance to labor. I am concerned that the

thought that her baby is large has been placed in her head and is now causing a

mental block to her ability to birth. I say this because you put the two

together in one sentence: " This is for my daughter who is due any time now, but

she is very uncomfortable, and starting to feel pain since she is very small and

baby is big. " She is already equating the pain with the size of her baby and

not with the acceptance of the natural work of birth.

 

Second, I am assuming you are referring to a tincture of blue cohosh but would

need further clarification as to how you are using the blue cohosh.

 

Third, I am concerned about the desire to use herbs and oils and who knows what

else all at the same time. Herbs and essential oils are two very different

animals. There is no doubt in mind that used together they can help. My

concern is that you are reading articles here and there and just taking them at

face value and do not have enough information to know how to safely or wisely

use them in combination. Case in point, Jill and I were just discussing one:

someone we know gave a mother skullcap and valerian as a tea and the mother

wound up with a migraine. This person said she knew this could be a side

effect. I don't know that I would classify a migraine as a side effect. I

would think that something very adverse is happening in the body. It angers me

to no end that those who scream about fevers being a major problem of a vaccine

or an epidural not a side effect (which is what the medical establishment calls

them) then apply the 'side effect' label to using an herb or an oil. Folks who

do that are no better than the ones they fight with (that may not be good

grammar either eh, Kathleen?).

 

Even more importantly from this rush to use everything you can find I fear that

you and your daughter are setting yourselves up for disappointment if you put

her fate in the hands of " if I take this then I will achieve that. " That

philosophy is of the managed health care we have become so accustomed to. This

managed health care sometimes has a place when we are ill. Pregnancy and birth

are not illnesses.

 

Getting back to the use of oils and/or herbs just because something is natural

does not mean you can use it however you please. In fact, you need to proceed

with even greater caution. It is natural - it will evolve according to what the

eco system is dishing out. Herbs, plants cannot be completely controlled.

Those that are to the extent that they can be you will not have access to. They

are going to the pharmaceutical companies - the most commonly used drugs in

birth come from plants: the caine group and no one here will deny their power.

The US is spending megabucks on health to help junkies. Some day I will track

down some better research that is showing a trend towards young drug addicts:

they were medicated births.

 

Labor and birth are not just about the physical process. Women need to learn

the physiological process of birth. You can go through labor physically but if

you are not ready mentally or emotionally it is going to be a long labor

requiring a lot of patience. Unless you have a doula and are under GOOD

midwifery care you will not be given the time to labor. You can be mentally and

emotionally prepared but physically you and baby are simply not ready. There is

a tremendous change going on for both mother and baby - you are about to become

two separate people and your bodies are undergoing a process that is

mindboggling starting with the most obvious: baby's lungs are going from water

to air?! That is a miracle in itself why would you want to rush that and not

allow it to happen as it must be for baby's health? There are obviously many

more miracles and you can see them if you take the time to think about them.

 

Essential oils can help in labor. I know because I've used them. However, they

are only ONE aspect of a laboring tool or technique. They need to be used in

conjunction with other tools and techniques the most important being that of

having a supportive birth setting. The references posted everywhere say this

helped or that helped. They forget to point out something very important: what

else was being done? The laboring mother was in a controlled setting. They do

not point out if other interventions were used or not used (i.e. IVs, vaginal

exams, EFM, etc.). They do not point out what other comfort measures were used

(a birthing pool? doula? midwifery or ob care? birth education? relaxation

techniques?). Last, when I see multiple oils used I wonder how they

determined/isolated the oil they are attributing a result to.

 

Here is why the above points are relevant: I once doula'd a mother who agreed to

pitocin (labor augmentation) but received no pain medications (that is a miracle

in itself). I used an EO blend in conjunction with a lot of mental and

emotional support and comfort techniques. The EO was just one part of the

equation. The EO blend I used in this instance is list mama Chris Ziegler's

blend. I chose it because it did not contain clary sage - an oil that there IS

research on isolating it as helpful with contractions in SECOND stage. I did

not want to take a chance on using anything that might be a muscle stimulant

considering this mama had pitocin being used on her. You must know what you the

end you desire and take the person and their environment as a whole into

consideration before employing the appropriate complementary care. Marge is

very right to point this out on her site. No amount of oils or herbs or

anything else will 'make' the baby come quicker or easier if the birth

environment is not conducive to a warm welcome to mother and baby. I have seen

mothers in bad birthing situations try every trick in the book and in my bag of

tricks and not be able to cause a faster or smoother birth.

 

Conversely, I have seen mothers do everything in their power to stack the deck

in their favor for a great (read: welcome) birth and had a long, slow sometimes

very intense way to go inspite of the use of lavender and rose and other classic

relaxation and analgesic oils. The difference is that they still viewed that

labor with awe - they did it. It would be a stretch to credit the oils alone

with the positive end. The complementary care as a whole went a long ways to

helping that birth be beautiful and not a managed birth that could have had very

traumatic consequences.

 

I almost didn't use Chris' blend because it contains jasmine. I had read that

jasmine inhibits lactation - we do not want to interfere with breastfeeding.

Thanks to Martin's course I now know that it is the jasmine flower that has been

shown to inhibit lactation. The EO as I said is a whole different world so I

went ahead with the blend in conjunction with my doula care and a very

supportive husband and parents and we had great success. You must be careful

about where you cull your knowledge from and then how you apply it.

 

I've yet to find someone who I really feel comfortable with about gaining herbal

knowledge from. If I had to choose someone I would choose Susun Weed. Then I

would check the archives here for some recommendations on decent local herbal

supplies and herbalists. Then I would go and ask Martin Watt on this list here

what he knows about any plants I wanted to consider using.

 

Your daughter needs to take a step back (and I fear she may not have the time to

reset her mind about the birth process) and remove the obstacle mentally placed

before her: her baby is big and she is small. Help her replace that thought

with labor is a beautiful event and she was made to birth. Were it not so she

would not be here. Her lineage is one of a tremendous birth history. Our

bodies were designed to birth. They had to evolve to accomplish this incredible

process. If they hadn't the human race would have been extinct long ago. Are

you giving your daughter the other aspects I've outlined above and that Marge

has pointed out at her site? Is she with a birth friendly careprovider? Will

you be at the birth? Do you both know what to expect from the physiological

process of birth?

 

If your answer is no to any of these questions I suggest that you forget about

using any oils or herbs and go out and buy Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones for a

very quick learning of the birth process and how you and she can work together

to help her have the most positive birth experience she wishes. If you have the

means let us know where you are located and perhaps myself and my dear friend

and peer on the list Jill can help you locate a doula asap.

 

All the best,

Dale

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Dale--I probably wrote my first post in as much of a hurry as I

am going to have to write this. :-P We are going to a Medieval

Christmas dinner, and I have been trying to get packed all day. I

only had a chance to read the first half of your post, but need to

clarify. I noticed someone mentioned Marge's site in a post a few

before mine, so I didn't want anyone to just refer me to a site, so

I was acknowledging that first. I am very, VERY well versed in

natural childbirth. I have had five children and had homebirths

with very qualified midwives and have studied to do midwifery

myself. (Currently on hold.:-P)

 

The problem is that Meghan absolutely does not want to go to the

hospital unless it is an emergency. Some of the laws are weird

here, and if she doesn't go into labor in the so-called prescribed

time the doctors " think " she should, they will insist that she give

birth in a hospital.

 

So we are trying to encourage labor before the hospital forces her

to use pitocin as they did before.

 

We also understand that babies will not come before the are

done " steeping " . I only wanted to know if it would be more

effective for her to inhale the EO's, or use them in a low % balm.

 

I may not have been any clearer, but I have got to run. Already 15

minutes late!

 

THanks a bunch!

Tracy

 

, " Dale Bernucca "

<dbernucca@c...> wrote:

> My puter is up and this is the first message I saw on the list and

I'm going to answer before I continue with other things I have to

rehook up around the house and then return to the dungeon of the

basement renovation.

>

> Tracy, first I invite you to go back and read some of our recent

earlier posts regarding baby sizes and their relevance to labor. I

am concerned that the thought that her baby is large has been placed

in her head and is now causing a mental block to her ability to

birth. I say this because you put the two together in one

sentence: " This is for my daughter who is due any time now, but she

is very uncomfortable, and starting to feel pain since she is very

small and baby is big. " She is already equating the pain with the

size of her baby and not with the acceptance of the natural work of

birth.

>

> Second, I am assuming you are referring to a tincture of blue

cohosh but would need further clarification as to how you are using

the blue cohosh.

>

> Third, I am concerned about the desire to use herbs and oils and

who knows what else all at the same time. Herbs and essential oils

are two very different animals. There is no doubt in mind that used

together they can help. My concern is that you are reading articles

here and there and just taking them at face value and do not have

enough information to know how to safely or wisely use them in

combination. Case in point, Jill and I were just discussing one:

someone we know gave a mother skullcap and valerian as a tea and the

mother wound up with a migraine. This person said she knew this

could be a side effect. I don't know that I would classify a

migraine as a side effect. I would think that something very

adverse is happening in the body. It angers me to no end that those

who scream about fevers being a major problem of a vaccine or an

epidural not a side effect (which is what the medical establishment

calls them) then apply the 'side effect' label to using an herb or

an oil. Folks who do that are no better than the ones they fight

with (that may not be good grammar either eh, Kathleen?).

>

> Even more importantly from this rush to use everything you can

find I fear that you and your daughter are setting yourselves up for

disappointment if you put her fate in the hands of " if I take this

then I will achieve that. " That philosophy is of the managed health

care we have become so accustomed to. This managed health care

sometimes has a place when we are ill. Pregnancy and birth are not

illnesses.

>

> Getting back to the use of oils and/or herbs just because

something is natural does not mean you can use it however you

please. In fact, you need to proceed with even greater caution. It

is natural - it will evolve according to what the eco system is

dishing out. Herbs, plants cannot be completely controlled. Those

that are to the extent that they can be you will not have access

to. They are going to the pharmaceutical companies - the most

commonly used drugs in birth come from plants: the caine group and

no one here will deny their power. The US is spending megabucks on

health to help junkies. Some day I will track down some better

research that is showing a trend towards young drug addicts: they

were medicated births.

>

> Labor and birth are not just about the physical process. Women

need to learn the physiological process of birth. You can go

through labor physically but if you are not ready mentally or

emotionally it is going to be a long labor requiring a lot of

patience. Unless you have a doula and are under GOOD midwifery care

you will not be given the time to labor. You can be mentally and

emotionally prepared but physically you and baby are simply not

ready. There is a tremendous change going on for both mother and

baby - you are about to become two separate people and your bodies

are undergoing a process that is mindboggling starting with the most

obvious: baby's lungs are going from water to air?! That is a

miracle in itself why would you want to rush that and not allow it

to happen as it must be for baby's health? There are obviously many

more miracles and you can see them if you take the time to think

about them.

>

> Essential oils can help in labor. I know because I've used them.

However, they are only ONE aspect of a laboring tool or technique.

They need to be used in conjunction with other tools and techniques

the most important being that of having a supportive birth setting.

The references posted everywhere say this helped or that helped.

They forget to point out something very important: what else was

being done? The laboring mother was in a controlled setting. They

do not point out if other interventions were used or not used (i.e.

IVs, vaginal exams, EFM, etc.). They do not point out what other

comfort measures were used (a birthing pool? doula? midwifery or ob

care? birth education? relaxation techniques?). Last, when I see

multiple oils used I wonder how they determined/isolated the oil

they are attributing a result to.

>

> Here is why the above points are relevant: I once doula'd a mother

who agreed to pitocin (labor augmentation) but received no pain

medications (that is a miracle in itself). I used an EO blend in

conjunction with a lot of mental and emotional support and comfort

techniques. The EO was just one part of the equation. The EO blend

I used in this instance is list mama Chris Ziegler's blend. I chose

it because it did not contain clary sage - an oil that there IS

research on isolating it as helpful with contractions in SECOND

stage. I did not want to take a chance on using anything that might

be a muscle stimulant considering this mama had pitocin being used

on her. You must know what you the end you desire and take the

person and their environment as a whole into consideration before

employing the appropriate complementary care. Marge is very right

to point this out on her site. No amount of oils or herbs or

anything else will 'make' the baby come quicker or easier if the

birth environment is not conducive to a warm welcome to mother and

baby. I have seen mothers in bad birthing situations try every

trick in the book and in my bag of tricks and not be able to cause a

faster or smoother birth.

>

> Conversely, I have seen mothers do everything in their power to

stack the deck in their favor for a great (read: welcome) birth and

had a long, slow sometimes very intense way to go inspite of the use

of lavender and rose and other classic relaxation and analgesic

oils. The difference is that they still viewed that labor with awe -

they did it. It would be a stretch to credit the oils alone with

the positive end. The complementary care as a whole went a long

ways to helping that birth be beautiful and not a managed birth that

could have had very traumatic consequences.

>

> I almost didn't use Chris' blend because it contains jasmine. I

had read that jasmine inhibits lactation - we do not want to

interfere with breastfeeding. Thanks to Martin's course I now know

that it is the jasmine flower that has been shown to inhibit

lactation. The EO as I said is a whole different world so I went

ahead with the blend in conjunction with my doula care and a very

supportive husband and parents and we had great success. You must

be careful about where you cull your knowledge from and then how you

apply it.

>

> I've yet to find someone who I really feel comfortable with about

gaining herbal knowledge from. If I had to choose someone I would

choose Susun Weed. Then I would check the archives here for some

recommendations on decent local herbal supplies and herbalists.

Then I would go and ask Martin Watt on this list here what he knows

about any plants I wanted to consider using.

>

> Your daughter needs to take a step back (and I fear she may not

have the time to reset her mind about the birth process) and remove

the obstacle mentally placed before her: her baby is big and she is

small. Help her replace that thought with labor is a beautiful

event and she was made to birth. Were it not so she would not be

here. Her lineage is one of a tremendous birth history. Our bodies

were designed to birth. They had to evolve to accomplish this

incredible process. If they hadn't the human race would have been

extinct long ago. Are you giving your daughter the other aspects

I've outlined above and that Marge has pointed out at her site? Is

she with a birth friendly careprovider? Will you be at the birth?

Do you both know what to expect from the physiological process of

birth?

>

> If your answer is no to any of these questions I suggest that you

forget about using any oils or herbs and go out and buy Mind Over

Labor by Carl Jones for a very quick learning of the birth process

and how you and she can work together to help her have the most

positive birth experience she wishes. If you have the means let us

know where you are located and perhaps myself and my dear friend and

peer on the list Jill can help you locate a doula asap.

>

> All the best,

> Dale

>

>

[Guest guest]

Okay..had to check that the printer is working so I had an excuse to see if

you'd gotten other help.

 

See below!

 

-

 

 

 

Hi Dale--I probably wrote my first post in as much of a hurry as I

am going to have to write this. :-P We are going to a Medieval

Christmas dinner, and I have been trying to get packed all day.

 

That dinner sounds intriguing. Where? Who? Share!

 

I only had a chance to read the first half of your post, but need to

clarify. I noticed someone mentioned Marge's site in a post a few

before mine, so I didn't want anyone to just refer me to a site, so

I was acknowledging that first. I am very, VERY well versed in

natural childbirth. I have had five children and had homebirths

with very qualified midwives and have studied to do midwifery

myself. (Currently on hold.:-P)

 

Then the other half is me preaching to the choir!! LOL

 

The problem is that Meghan absolutely does not want to go to the

hospital unless it is an emergency. Some of the laws are weird

here, and if she doesn't go into labor in the so-called prescribed

time the doctors " think " she should, they will insist that she give

birth in a hospital.

 

I know you meant that the other way around....Meghan absolutely...THE PROBLEM

IS some of the laws around here...

 

 

So we are trying to encourage labor before the hospital forces her

to use pitocin as they did before.

 

We also understand that babies will not come before the are

done " steeping " . I only wanted to know if it would be more

effective for her to inhale the EO's, or use them in a low % balm.

 

In that case...inhalation is the most efficient use of EOs. However, never

underestimate the power of touch. A softening balm or healthy carrier oil for a

relaxing massage or hitting some acupressure points (see an earlier post this

weekend from me regarding an acupressure e-pamphlet) is another great laboring

tool - the two together? Awesome! The particular spot I have found that has

stimulated labor in combination with other things and/or has kept labor steady

is that point at the top of where the buttocks meet. Could be that my hands

seem to 'know' that spot as other women have reported success with other points

that don't seem to work when I apply them.

I've had equal success with skipping herbs and tinctures and instead eating

spicy food or eggplant parmigiana and a glass of red wine and great sex.

 

I may not have been any clearer, but I have got to run. Already 15

minutes late!

 

Have a great time!

 

THanks a bunch!

Tracy

 

Welcome and I'm sorry for the lecture that was unwarranted for you. Thank you

for putting my mind at ease as to what was going on!

 

Dale

 

 

[Guest guest]

> I've had equal success with skipping herbs and tinctures and

instead eating spicy food or eggplant parmigiana and a glass of red

wine and great sex.

>

 

Thanks for the extra info, Dale. The above is actually effective

from what I have heard too . . . and much funner! ;-)

 

Meghan really could use some clary sage to inhale to help her

along. I mixed a bit of it with a drop of rose oil, and a little

lavender to help " sweeten " the smell for her, so I am going to give

that to her to diffuse. I am hoping if she starts now, the combo

will help her during labor to relax her a little.

 

Take care,

Tracy

[Guest guest]

Tracy,

 

Good luck to your daughter I hope the delivery is speedy and all goes

as smoothly as possible!

 

During my L & D's I used a blend of herbal tinctures - Black & Blue Cohosh

& Squaw Vine .. along with drinking copious quantities of red Raspberry

Leaf Tea (did the tea part throughout my whole pregnancies). I used an

aromatherapy blend that I diffused in the room while I was in labor, and

during the intense parts, sniffed it right up close, and also had an AT

blend I used for massage (but I kinda got to the point I didn't want

massage Don't forget how relaxing certain kinds of music can be

 

I agree with Dale's other suggestions too .. they may sound kinda silly,

but they have been known in more than one occasion to work! (See my next

post)

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

 

 

decemberrose1996 [rubberjunkie]

 

 

> I've had equal success with skipping herbs and tinctures and

instead eating spicy food or eggplant parmigiana and a glass of red

wine and great sex.

>

 

Thanks for the extra info, Dale. The above is actually effective

from what I have heard too . . . and much funner! ;-)

 

Meghan really could use some clary sage to inhale to help her

along. I mixed a bit of it with a drop of rose oil, and a little

lavender to help " sweeten " the smell for her, so I am going to give

that to her to diffuse. I am hoping if she starts now, the combo

will help her during labor to relax her a little.

 

Take care,

Tracy

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

What a great idea, aromatherapy during childbirth!

 

This is not aroma therapy, but I have been told

it works even when applied by someone without

training.

 

Apply reflexology pressure to the heels.

The reflex to the uterus is on the inside of the

heel.

 

If you cup the woman's heels in your hands

the tips of your middle fingers will almost naturally

rest in the right place.

Exerting steady pressure is strengthening and

soothing during labour, or so I have been told.

One of my regulars used it on her daughter-in-law.

 

Here is a link to a foot map and to the

best, most scientific research site outside of China.

 

Interactive Foot Maps A Gift from DK Publishing. to Celebrate the Release of

Reflexology, Health at Your Fingertips. ... Enjoy. Barbara and Kevin.

Reflexology Research Project. ...

www.reflexology-research.com/maps.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages

 

 

May your labour journeys may smooth and fruitful.

 

Ien in the Kootenays

**************************************

You ought to be Thankful,

a Whole Heaping Lot

for the places and people

you're lucky you're not!

~Dr Seus

who is this Kootenay person anyway?

http://www.greatestnetworker.com/is/ien

***************************************