Preparing for a baby involves the maintenance of your physical and psychological well-being. Pregnancy is a time of hopeful anticipation but is not without its pitfalls. The mixture of pleasure and excitement, happiness and fear, may generate uncertainty and disorientation in addition to increasing stress levels.
The process of enduring the periods of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum can have profound effects on your mental health, but small gestures can lead to significant improvements. For example, the soothing scent of a calming candle is known to have psychological as well as physical benefits.
Furthermore, soft candlelight can have positive effects on your mental state. All of this makes aromatherapy during pregnancy something to consider as part of your comprehensive care plan.
Using Essential Oils During Pregnancy
Essential oils and aromatherapy have been known for centuries to help induce states of deep relaxation by stimulating the senses. When using essential oils during pregnancy, they can help with digestion, skincare, and perhaps most importantly, sleep.
Lavender is often used for its relaxing properties and placing a few drops on your pillow before bed can do wonders to the depth and quality of sleep you experience. In addition, it can help promote entry into a proper sleep rhythm, assisting you with getting the much-needed rest you and your growing child deserve.
At Aquarius Wellness, we are well-versed in the uses of aromatherapy during pregnancy. We have several techniques to refresh your body, mind, and spirit during this remarkable time of your life.
For instance, if you associate happy memories with scents like geranium or lemon, these fragrances can reduce stress and envelop you in positive energy.
Contact us for more information about our essential oils and how our aromatherapy sessions can help you when you’re expecting.
Aromatherapy Calms Labor
The moment of going into labor could be one of the most anxiety-inducing times of your life. According to the National Institutes of Health, anxiety is the most common psychological response to going into labor and aromatherapy has been shown to help alleviate this feeling.
We know that it’s imperative to remain relaxed during labor as that can lead to a reduction in time spent giving birth and make the overall process easier. Essential oils and aromatherapy can help with staying calm during labor, and anything that helps you stay calm will likely help lessen the pain and discomfort.
Guide to Fragrances and Their Benefits While in Labor
Let’s investigate the aromatherapy and candle scents that might benefit a laboring mother.
Both lavender and chamomile have calming and pain-relieving properties. During the labor process, it is vital to remain calm, control your breathing, and try to pace the contractions. These fragrances can help with your relaxation and potentially keep your muscles limber.
A comforting fragrance with notes of coconut milk, sandalwood, and amber will ground you and make you feel at ease. It can also act as an aphrodisiac, which may be beneficial during the post-partum period. The Aquarius Wellness Signature ‘Be Calm’ Candle features this blend of natural fragrances, and should help new mothers to relax and feel supported.
According to Frontiers in Endocrinology, an inverse relationship has been found between levels of anxiety and the amount of oxytocin released during childbirth. Oxytocin is a natural hormone that stimulates uterine contractions in childbirth and lactation after childbirth. If anxiety levels are high, the oxytocin released will be low, increasing the amount of time spent in labor.
Rose encourages a decrease in anxiety levels, which is beneficial during labor since worry may exacerbate issues at a time of significant physical and emotional stress. There is also some evidence that jasmine, cinnamon, ginger, and carnation may assist with staying calm during labor and delivery.
Post-pregnancy Aromatherapy
The final stage of the birthing journey can be one of a new mother’s most psychologically demanding times in her life. Essential oils and scented candles can play a soothing and relaxing role during such a sensitive period in which household arrangements are in flux with a newborn’s entrance into the world.
Maintaining a degree of psychological balance is crucial during this time and that’s why we highly recommend aromatherapy as part of your postpartum care plan.
Injecting moments of tranquility into your day can be a crucial part of rejuvenating and re-centering one’s mental state after the stress of giving birth. These periods of self-care will, in turn, improve the care your newborn receives. Being refreshed, you will feel more present and available.
After all, don’t you deserve it after having completed such a powerful act of literally bringing a new being into existence?
Final Thoughts
At Aquarius Wellness, we are keenly aware of the monumental changes this time in your life will bring about. From pregnancy, to birth, to postpartum, the effort and energy involved in bringing a new soul into this earthly plane can at times swing to extremes: from elation, to anxiety, to accomplishment, and sadly, sometimes even to depression!
We also know how much essential oils during pregnancy can help, and our expert aromatherapists are here to assist in any way they can. We believe aromatherapy should be an essential part of everyone’s pregnancy and postpartum care plan. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re always happy to help, or if you’d like to book online now you may do that here!
As always, our wish for all of you, as stated in our mantra at Aquarius, is to:
Be Calm
Be Serene
Be Restored
In Wellness,
The Aquarius Team
