By Lori Mork

There are a lot of tips and tricks out there that claim to help to lessen a woman’s discomfort while in the birth process. If we’re being honest, most of them are probably placebos (I’m TOTALLY cool with placebos if it helps though!). 

Most of the time, implementing comfort tools results in the birther feeling more in control because they are actively “doing something” to provide relief. In my experience, it’s a really good way of distracting the birther so they aren’t hyper-focused on sensations coming and going – and this is, I believe, part of the success of those tricks.

With that being said, I do have one tried, tested and true birthy comfort tool that you probably haven’t heard about and that I absolutely swear by. 

(Disclaimer – this actually comes from an old trick back when I taught SPIN classes.)

ESSENTIAL OILS 

When I would teach a grueling, intense sweat session of indoor cycle, class would be wrapping up, cool down happening, stretching, closing the class – the participants eager for what was to come. I would open up the fridge and inside were COLD TOWELS soaked in WATER and just a kiss of ESSENTIAL OILS. This MADE THE CLASS! People still comment to me to this day about this little class finisher that took it the class above and beyond. I swear people came to the class JUST FOR THAT COLD TOWEL AND SCENT.

In labour these smells can also help in so many ways. Here are my top 5 essential oils:

LAVENDER – promotes relaxation and calm, and eases muscular tension (has been linked to pain reduction)

PEPPERMINT – can ease nausea, can give you a burst of energy and improves focus, helps with blood circulation, can help with dizziness.

BERGAMOT – can help reduce pain and has a calming effect. lowers anxiety, improves feeling of well being.

GRAPEFRUIT – or SWEET ORANGE – antidepressant (mood lifting), refreshing and energizing, promotes feeling of positivity.

CLARY SAGE – can increase release of oxytocin, lowers cortisol (stress hormone which can stall labour progress), decrease stress and anxiety, promotes strong and healthy contractions.

How to use during labour:

I don’t recommend diffusing unless you used it during pregnancy and know you like the smells and are used to them. Once you diffuse it into the air it’s harder to get rid of if it ends up not working for you during the moments of labour. This often happens. You might have enjoyed it before labour, but labour brings on a whole new level of sensations or likes. 

Instead, I recommend using drops of oil on cotton balls, or make up pads. 

Or my favorite method:

ON TOWELS

WARM AND COLD OPTIONS

For COLD:

Place 4-5 medium sides hand towels or larger wash clothes in a bowl or container. Begin adding cold water and some drops of one of the oils. (about 20 drops I usually use). Just enough water to cover the towels and water absorbed. Place the container in the fridge and use it as needed in early labour at home. This can also be done at the hospital but harder to keep the towels nice and cold. A neat trick for bringing to the hospital is to FREEZE the towels in the water oil mixture, then take out when heading to the hospital and it’s usually defrosted nicely when needed once settled and in more active labour. 

For WARM/HOT:

The Crock pot method is a favorite. water and towels in the crock pot. Take out a towel and ring out once cool enough to manage then use right away. Feels amazing on the face and pressed into the eyes. Also amazing on the lower back. 

Happy Birthing!

Lori