Thread: essential oils?

i know i have a little time still, but i'm interested in learning more about using essential oils in labor. those of you who have used aroma therapy, what do you do with the oils (defuser, massage, etc)?

i remember talking about EOs in our bradley class before our first, but i don't remember what i should do with them. help!

Last time, I sometimes listened to my Hypnobabies with lavender oil in my scent diffuser (I have a little, battery operated one) and I brought the diffuser with me to the hospital, but didn't end up using it there. I did end up putting a few drops of the oil in my bathtub at home when I soaked in there before heading to the hospital. I have also heard of people putting the oils on cotton balls and sniffing the cotton ball.

I'm not sure I'd want to take on the responsibility of trying to remember what to use & how & when & all that when I was dealing with labor. My midwife did use some essential oils during my labor with Weston but I'm not sure what they were. Once was when she was doing a stimulation massage on some acupressure points; another time was when things were really intense, she put a drop on each temple & I was suddenly I felt like I was surrounded by peace & love.

Ooohh, I've never done this myself... but it sure sounds nice from what you ladies are describing!

thanks for the thoughts! i agree that i probably won't want to be the one worrying with using them correctly, but spacers, you got me thinking that it might be a good "task" for DH. with my last labor, i think when i had a job for him (timing contractions, for example), he was a much better support person -- he's so task-oriented as it is

i've been using lavender in the bath at home, and am considering a water birth. however, at our required water birth class last night, the RN recommended NOT putting the EO in the birthing tub, but i can't remember why right now. i'll have to figure out something else if i want to use it!