Aromatherapy is a holistic healing practice that uses natural plant extracts, in the form of essential oils, to promote physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. These essential oils are either inhaled or applied to the skin through massage, baths, or lotions, and are believed to stimulate areas of the brain or body to reduce stress, improve mood, relieve pain, and support overall health.
Benefits of aromatherapy in pregnancy and birth include:
- General relaxation and sense of well-being
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Alleviate physical discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea and vomiting, back ache, hip pain, swelling and constipation
- Facilitates physiological birth as it may reduce the need for medical induction by promoting labour onset at term through increased relaxation and promoting uterine contractions. It can also be used to increase contractions in a ‘stalled’ labour, reducing the need for medical augmentation of labour.
- Pain relief in labour.
- Birth recovery and transition to parenthood.
I use a tailor made blend of essential oils chosen specifically for your ailment or purpose for the treatment. I typically provide the aromatherapy in the form of massage as this offers the woman some well deserved time out for herself with the added benefit of body and mind relaxation in addition to the therapeutic benefits of the selected oils.
*There may be some contra-indications or precautions to treatments depending on your medical and obstetric history. You will be asked if any of these particular criteria apply to you prior to treatment in order to ensure the safest and most appropriate care for your needs.Click here for a list of conditions that unfortunately preclude me from treating you with aromatherapy while pregnant.