Childbirth Recipes

The recipes to be used for childbirth and later are as follows:

•Fear and anxiety: in essence burner use a blend of three drops each of clary sage and frankincense and three drops of either lavender or chamomile.



Make a compress during labour by using two small soft towels and placing them across the lower abdomen and/or vaginal area. Use the towels alternatively to retain warmth. To two pints of warm water add 15 drops of any of the oils of cajeput, clary sage, jasmine, lavender either singly or in combination.

•For father: make a bath of four drops of clary sage, four drops of sandalwood or vetivert, three drops of ylang ylang if you want to put father to sleep or four drops each of bergamot, chamomile and geranium. Prepare a ‘pep up’ bath for father by mixing four drops each of peppermint, eucalyptus and grapefruit.

•During labour: you can implement the aromatherapy program very easily at home. If you are delivering in the hospital, you can ask the midwife and nurses to let you bring your essence burners, compresses, massage oils and music system in the delivery room.



You can ask your family member to massage your shoulders, neck, arms and hands and legs and feet. Get a very soothing rub on the hips and lower back. Use frankincense or lemongrass in essence burner to purify the air and ensure that your baby arrives in the surroundings free from negative energies. Prevent the nervousness by putting some clary sage or lavender on a pillow or on a cotton pad and hold it under the nose repeatedly.

•Pain relief: make a pain-relieving massage oil or lotion by adding two drops of chamomile or lavender, three drops of cajeput and two drops of peppermint to 50 ml base oil. You can use warm compresses to relax the muscles and thus easing pain.



Take two soft towels of flannels and soak one of them in two pints of warm water with 15 drops of clary sage added. Squeeze it and place it on the lower abdomen. Repeat with the alternate towels to keep the abdomen warm. You can also place lavender or jasmine compresses over the pubic area for extra pain relief. Using four drops of either frankincense or lemongrass or to drops each of sweet orange and vetiver in an essence burner will fortify the mind and spirits.



You can also inhale clary sage and lavender from a cotton pad during labour.

•After the birth: continue your aromatherapy treatment. For the women suffering from post-natal depression will find a great solace in aromatherapy treatment. Keep the newborn baby away from the high doses of essential oils. In the initial stages you are sensitive. So it is highly recommended that you keep away from strong, stimulating oils.



Also if you are breast feeding avoid strong, stimulating oils. Use the oils of chamomile, cypress, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, neroli and sandalwood. The number of drops used should be kept bare minimum. Use two to four drops in bath and four to six drops in a massage oil.

•Breast-feeding: since the essential oils are absorbed in the body, do not use more than two to three drops in a bath and six to eight drops in 50 ml base oil. Use the oils of chamomile, cedarwood, bergamot, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, mandarin, neroli, rose, sandalwood and ylang ylang.



Drink plenty of water if you are breast-feeding and using essential oils. Make a massage oil of  ten drops of either fennel or dill to 50 ml base oil and apply to the breasts to increase the milk flow. Clean the breasts before feeding. For engorged breasts try ten drops of geranium in 50 ml base oil.

•Restore energy levels: use the combination of two drops of frankincense and two drops of rosemary.

•Post-natal depression: add four drops of cypress and two drops of sandalwood to 50 ml base oil and massage on the abdomen and the solar plexus region. You can also use the oils of jasmine, clary sage, rose, melissa and sandalwood on the pillow while sleeping or in the essence burner. These oils can be used either singly or in an essence burner.