Aromatherapy in Pregnancy, Labour, Birth & Postpartum Handbook

There is so much to write about Aromatherapy; however this is just a very basic overview of aromatherapy in pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period highlighting the important things to help mums and their birth partners understand how they can use essential oils confidently and safely

Aromatherapy is the use of 100% pure essential oils, which have been extracted from roots, leaves, flowers, bark or stems of the plant.

They are not to be confused with fragrance oils that have no therapeutic benefits at all except to smell nice.

Essential oils have the power to rejuvenate your mind, body, emotions and spirit. It is based on the ancient practice of using essential oils to heal by “therapeutically” stimulating the olfactory senses, mental responses, circulatory and respiratory functions.

Aromatherapy provides benefits from stress and anxiety leading up to conception, through your whole pregnancy, during labour and birth and well into the postnatal period and beyond. Essential oils provide you with a positive sensory environment for birth especially if you do not like the smell of hospitals.

Plant essences stimulate sensory cells in the nose, which send chemical messages to the limbic area of the brain, which cause neurochemicals to be released into the bloodstream.

These essences are energising and stimulate the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural healing hormones so you may be less likely to use pain medication.

As you inhale essential oils, notice how your breathing becomes slow and full, while when you are experiencing fear or anxiety your breathing will be short and rapid.

Many of the reasons given for not using essential oils in pregnancy are based on myths, misinformation and lack of education.

There is also a lack of understanding of how the body works in pregnancy.

There are some oils that should not be used but most of these are not readily available anyway.

To read more, you can download my Aromatherapy in Pregnancy, Labour, Birth & Postpartum Handbook to give you a really good guide to using essential oils during your pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond.

Click on link – Aromatherapy Used in Pregnancy, Labour, Birth & Postpartum