My
interest in aromatherapy and labor began that day when I experienced for myself
the aroma of the laboring mother. I
began to wonder just how aromatherapy could help the laboring mother and even
more importantly how aromatherapy should not interfere with the natural hormones
of the laboring mother. Since that
day other birth care providers have told me that they too have sometimes
experienced the oxytocin effects and have smelled birth.
We have rejoiced that we are more aware of that signal that a baby’s
entry is imminent.
In
Mind Over Labor, Carl Jones writes “Giving
birth involves your whole being: body, mind, and emotions.
Mind and body cannot be separated during labor.”
What
I would not be without in my birth bag today is my supply of neroli and rose
otto. These can and should be
used very lightly so as not to interfere with a newborn’s hypersensitive
olfactory system as he/she bonds with their mother.
Both will promote calm and the centering needed to allow the effects of
the emotional journey of labor and birth to be productive ones for the mother
and her baby.
It
is difficult for some to limit themselves to just two or three simple (but oh so
precious) oils. It is our desire to
‘do something’ that may lead us to believe that there must be so many more
tricks and blends to use for every situation in labor. The truth is natural birth is very effective - as effective
as each of those oils alone. Natural
birth is also powerful and something to be in awe of when you realize all the
physiological changes occurring in the two separate beings – as powerful as
those three oils combined in a synergistic blend.
Treat
a special mother-to-be in your life. Blend
your own or get yourself to an experienced aromatherapist for the gift of a
massage or diffusing blend for an expectant mother’s birth bag.
And
yes, that sleeping father did wake up in time to see his beautiful baby girl
enter the world in a beautiful water birth at the Brooklyn Birthing Center.
-
Dale Bernucca, Independent Childbirth, is a birth educator and professional
labor assistant of six years. She
provides care to expecting mothers in Connecticut while her partner, Jill
McDanal serves the women of Alabama and neighboring states.
Safety and information regarding the oils in this article were further verified in Plant Aromatics, Martin Watt, available at www.av-at.com.