It’s been nine long, grueling months. In fact, it’s been longer than nine months. And you’re ready to get this baby out. You’re ready to meet your little guy or gal, but you have a problem: He or she just isn’t cooperating.
If you are a certain number of days past your due date, most doctors will want to induce you. But did you know there’s a way to induce labor naturally using centuries-old remedies like essential oils?
Before resorting to the traditional methods of inducement, try these five best essential oils to induce labor and get the show on the road.
EOs For Pregnancy and Morning Sickness
First, let’s talk about pregnancy…
There are countless reasons to use essential oils, including before and after your baby is born. You know all the symptoms (or at least some of them) that come with being pregnant – depression, morning sickness, heartburn, restless leg syndrome, the list goes on.
And these aren’t easy symptoms to deal with, especially considering you have to be extra mindful about what you put inside your body when trying to remedy them. Because it’s the most common pregnancy symptom, we’ll start with morning sickness.
As you probably know, it’s name (morning sickness) is somewhat of a misnomer. Does it really only occur in the mornings? Not necessarily. The nausea and fatigue that comes from morning sickness can hijack your entire day.
To counter the effects of morning sickness, here are a few general lifestyle changes you can implement:
- The more the better, but aim to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Eat smaller, more frequent, portions of food throughout the day.
- Use acupressure wristbands to curb nausea ([amazon link=”B001F731N0″ title=”Sea Band” /] is a preferred brand).
- Take your prenatal vitamins and natural pregnancy-approved supplements.
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In addition to these lifestyle changes, there are a number essential oils for morning sickness. Lemon, frankincense, ginger, and wintergreen can work well, but our favorite is peppermint. Not only can peppermint help with nausea, it can reduce fatigue and boost mental and physical energy.
Here are two ways to apply it:
- Run three drops of peppermint through a diffuser next to your bed to combat morning nausea.
- Rub two drops of peppermint, diluting with a carrier oil, on your temples and neck to increase energy.
Induce Labor With These 5 Essential Oils
1. Rose
Rose oil can open and expand the pelvis, helping the baby to pass through. In addition, rose can rejuvenate tired skin, soften ligaments, and cleanse the uterus.
2. Clary Sage
When it comes to the miracle of childbirth, clary sage is an essential oil that should only be used to induce labor. It is not recommended to use during pregnancy. That being said, if you’ve passed your due date and the topic of induction has surfaced, clary sage is an oil that can push things along naturally.
3. Jasmine
Jasmine can induce uterine contractions to push along the process of labor. Like clary sage, it is not recommended to use jasmine during your pregnancy. Jasmine can strengthen contractions in a natural way while providing natural pain relief.
4. Lavender
Lavender oil is a natural sedative and pain reliever. It’s relaxing qualities can help keep you calm (or, at least, calmer) during the beautiful chaos of child labor.
5. Ylang ylang
Like lavender, ylang ylang promotes calm and relaxation during labor. Moreover, it can decrease your blood pressure and slow rapid breathing.
4 Important Things to Know
Yes, essential oils are natural. But that doesn’t mean they are safe for everyone and in every situation. Just like herbal supplements, and some other natural remedies, essential oils are very potent.
We always recommend consulting with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils to induce labor. Have them check the product you are using to ensure the safety of you and your baby. Here are four things to consider when using EOs during pregnancy and labor:
- Not all are safe for pregnancy: There are several oils recommended to induce labor that should not be applied during pregnancy (i.e. jasmine and clary sage). And while these oils can be used after birth (on your own body), some are not safe for babies. By the way, we do not recommend inducing labor before your due date.
- Dilute, dilute, dilute: We can’t stress this enough. If you are applying essential oils topically (rather than through a diffuser), it’s extremely important to dilute with a carrier oil. Mix your chosen oil with almond, coconut, or a different carrier oil before applying.
- Be conservative: As we’ve emphasized, essential oils are very potent. Typically, all you need is a drop or two when applying topically. If you are diffusing, you shouldn’t need more than three to four drops.
- Check the product label: Not all brands are created equal. There is a difference between “pure” essential oils and “fragrance” oils. The latter typically contains additives. Again, check the product label to ensure that the oil truly is – natural.
Sidebar: Outside of essential oils, here are a few additional natural products you can use during and post-labor:
- Pain: [amazon link=”B07BBSM6J6″ title=”T-Relief Pain” /] and [amazon link=”B00B5HQKQK” title=”Tiger Balm” /]
- Anxiety: [amazon link=”B00014FGTK” title=”Nerve Tonic” /] and [amazon link=”B003NQFT3G” title=”Stress Mint” /]
- Depression: [amazon link=”B010HEQN7C” title=”5-HTP Mood & Stress” /]
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Essential Oils For Post-Labor
Once your baby comes out of labor, for a moment you might have the feeling, “Phew, my job is done.” Then you realize you have a tiny human to devote your life to. To protect, to love, to care for. While it’s a beautiful thing, it can be a lot. Well, keep using those essential oils!
Stress, depression, sleep issues – and on and on. There are a multitude of “symptoms” you have to fight when caring for a baby. According to the American Psychological Association, up to one in seven women experience postpartum depression. As much joy as your child will bring you, anxiety and rollercoaster emotions are inevitable.
Here are two ways to “diffuse” (no pun intended) those post-labor emotions:
- Dilute and apply two drops of lavender to your wrists, neck and behind your ears. This topical application provides short-term, but immediate relief.
- Diffuse three drops of lavender and three drops of orange to create a peaceful and more calming environment. This application offers sustained, longer-term benefits.
Other oils to consider for depression and anxiety are frankincense, ylang ylang, and vetiver.
We hope you found all of this information useful.
So with all that said, congrats and good luck on your journey!
