How Essential Oils Help Manage Labor Pain

Essential oils have been taking the world by storm lately, and for good reason. Essential oils are a fantastic way to enhance and sustain your health. My Mama's also have found them to be absolutely vital during their labor. They play a big role in relieving pain and encouraging energy and focus during labor. If you've ever been curious about essential oils and how they might benefit your birthing experience, below are some top oils for labor.
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A National Institutes of Health study focused on the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety during labor using the essential oil of orange. One hundred women were randomly assigned to either a control group that had distilled water diffused in the room during labor or to an intervention group that received diffused orange essential oil. The study found that those receiving diffused orange essential oil had lower levels of anxiety during labor.
​Stress can influence how we react to pain. By reducing stress, we can effectively ease pain – particularly when other pain management techniques are introduced. Pain management is among the core benefits of aromatherapy during labor.
Essential oils can help reduce sensations of labor pain, as well as nausea, vomiting, and headaches. A patient favorite is lavender, and it’s backed by science. A review of clinical trial data found that when lavender is used during labor as aromatherapy, women reported less pain.

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Geranium
Enhances circulation and is good for labor management techniques, which focus on breathing and pain relief.
Basil 
Used to relieve pain during labor and in turn gives you the strength needed to endure with greater ease.
Have your birth partner rub diluted Basil on your lower back to help with back labor.
Black Pepper 
Similar to basil and can be used to relieve pain in labor. This is especially helpful for back labor. Massage diluted on to lower back.
Lavender 
Great for diffusing in labor room to bring on a sense of calm.
Peppermint 
Eases nausea. Can help re-energize. Diffuse or use diluted along the spine.
Clary Sage
Uterine tonic that assists with effective contractions. It may help strengthen contractions once they have started. It doesn’t bring on contractions unless everything is already in alignment for labor. Once labor has started, you can apply a drop topically to your pinky toes at the nail bed, the inside ankle bones on both feet, and on the low abdomen every fifteen to twenty minutes or until the strength of contractions has increased. Not recommended until contractions have started or after forty weeks. Also can be used for anxiety. Calms the nervous system, relieves tension, strengthens labor, and helps with expelling afterbirth. Blends well with Geranium and Lavender.
Helichrysum 
Perineum Support. Helps to stretch tissue while minimizing discomfort and swelling