Scents of Calm: How Aromatherapy is Helping Women During Childbirth
Reposting this article from the original source: Chesterfield Observer, By Donna Gregory Burch
Essential oils are all the rage now as people look for more natural ways to clean and fragrance their homes. But they’re also popping up in some unexpected places. At St. Francis Medical Center’s New Life Center, expecting moms are using aromatherapy during their labor and delivery.
The center began using Elequil aromatabs in March after nurses learned about how aromatherapy can benefit patients in clinical settings during a conference. Since then, the center has tripled its monthly order of Elequil’s lavender and orange/peppermint aromatabs.
“When we looked at the evidence, what we found was aromatherapy with essential oils was shown to reduce anxiety, ease depression, increase energy levels, increase healing and promote relaxation,” said Beth Lavely, St. Francis’ administrative director of women’s services. “You can even find links in the literature about it lowering blood pressure and decreasing pain.”
A 2012 Iranian study found that massages using lavender essential oil decreased the pain and duration of the first and second stages of labor. And a 2012 Clayton State University study concluded that peppermint essential oil was effective at reducing nausea in women who had undergone C-sections.
“Labor and delivery is an ideal department to have an aromatherapy initiative in place,” said Melissa J. Vibberts, senior product manager of marketing with Beekley Medical, Elequil’s distributor. “Mothers-to-be may be anxious, especially first-time mothers, ones that require bed rest or those having complications.”
According to registered nurse Lisa Townsend, some moms-to-be bring their essential oil diffusers from home to use while giving birth.
But Elequil’s aromatabs are a simple, convenient way to use aromatherapy during labor and delivery because they don’t require monitoring or refilling like diffusers. The aromatabs are essentially a rectangular sticker containing 100 percent essential oils that can be placed on the patient’s gown. Patients can control the strength of the scent by opening the tab partially or fully. There are no bottles to manage, eliminating over-pouring of oils, spillage and staining of clothing. The scent lasts for up to eight hours, but the aromatab can be removed at any time.
Lavender has been the most popular scent at the New Life Center. “It brings down the level of stress for everyone,” Townsend said. “It’s noninvasive, it doesn’t hurt, it’s not a stick, it’s hands-off. It just sort of takes the edge off and brings your stress levels down a couple of notches.” A less stressed mom usually translates into a less stressed newborn upon delivery.
After giving birth, the center uses the lavender aromatabs to help improve moms’ sleep and to help them relax while nursing.
The orange/peppermint aromatabs help quell nausea, especially in women who have delivered via C-section. They can also be used during the final minutes of labor when moms-to-be need an extra push of energy to deliver their babies. “I suspect that the use of this is on the rise,” Lavely said. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we just keep increasing the amount that we order. If the patients are having a positive experience, then it’s worth it.”
Are you located in Canada? Contact Associated Health Systems Inc. for samples of Elequil aromatabs. Email [email protected] or call our customer service at 1-877-457-8012.
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