Aromatherapy During Labor | Calming Pain Relief Steps

Labor is intense, personal, and often long. Many birthing parents want options beyond medication, or want something gentle to pair with an epidural or gas and air. That is where aromatherapy during labor often comes in.

With the right oils, clear safety checks, and a plan you build with your midwife or doctor, aromatherapy can add comfort, distraction, and a sense of control. It will not remove contractions, yet for some people it softens the edges and helps the birth room feel less clinical.

What Aromatherapy During Labor Actually Is

Aromatherapy during labor uses concentrated plant oils with strong scents to influence how a person feels in body and mind. In maternity wards and home births, midwives usually work with a small set of well known oils, prepared in low dilutions that stay within local hospital guidelines.

These plant oils are not magic and they are not a replacement for medical care. They sit alongside other comfort methods such as breathing patterns, water, movement, massage, and medical pain relief. When used with training and clear rules, aromatherapy can help some people feel calmer, slow their breathing, and cope between contractions.

Common Aromatic Oils Used In Labor

Plant Oil	Typical Labor Effect	Usual Use
Lavender	Promotes relaxation, may lower sense of pain and fear in early labor.	Diffuser, tissue near pillow, or massage blend.
Neroli (orange blossom)	Linked with lower anxiety and less perceived pain in some trials.	Inhaled from cotton pad or diffuser.
Sweet orange	Citrus scent that many people find uplifting and energising between contractions.	Diffuser in room or personal inhaler stick.
Jasmine	Often used in active labor to encourage strong, effective contractions.	Massage over lower back or bump under midwife guidance.
Clary sage	Sometimes chosen near term for its strong, earthy scent and possible effect on contractions.	Massage, bath, or diffuser only when labor is established.
Peppermint	Can ease nausea, clear a stuffy nose, or refresh a hot, tired birthing parent.	Inhaled from tissue, bowl of water, or diffuser; kept away from newborn face.
Frankincense	Grounding resin scent that some people feel helps with slow, steady breathing.	Diffuser or drop on cotton pad placed near the bed.

Hospitals and birth centres often limit which oils are allowed and how strong blends can be. Many units follow written aromatherapy guidelines that set out safe dilutions, mixing methods, and when an oil should not be used for medical reasons.

How Aromatic Oils May Help With Labor Pain

Researchers think aromatic oils work on several levels at once. Scent signals travel from the nose straight into areas of the brain that handle emotion, memory, and pain perception. Pleasant smells may lower anxiety and tension, and less tension can mean contractions feel more bearable.

At the same time, massage with scented oil adds human touch, warmth, and rhythm. Warm water with a few drops of oil can make a birth pool or bath feel soothing. Even the simple act of choosing a scent can give a sense of agency, which matters when so many other parts of labor feel outside a person's control.

Research findings are mixed. A meta analysis of trials on aromatherapy for labor pain shows benefits in some stages of labor, especially early on, but not across every study or every phase of birth. Some reviews also describe limited and low quality evidence, so claims should stay modest and honest.

What The Studies Say So Far

Small trials of neroli, lavender, and orange oil have linked these scents with lower anxiety scores and reduced reported pain in the first stage of labor. Other research, including a Cochrane review on aromatherapy for pain in labour, describes mixed results and calls for more rigorous trials before strong claims are made.

Professional bodies treat aromatherapy as one non drug option among many. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists includes calming smells alongside massage, water therapy, and movement when it lists comfort methods for birth. In short, aromatherapy is best seen as a gentle add on and not a stand alone pain relief method.

Using Aromatic Oils In Labor Safely

Safety starts with the person leading the care. Many maternity units only offer aromatherapy when the midwife on duty has completed specific training in mixing and handling plant oils. Units also keep a guideline that spells out which oils may be used, in what dilutions, and in which clinical situations they must be avoided.

For parents planning to bring their own oils to hospital, it helps to talk through ideas during a routine antenatal visit. Staff can explain what the unit allows, how strong scents might affect others on the ward, and which medical conditions rule out certain oils.

General Safety Rules For Aromatic Oils In Labor

Even natural plant oils can irritate skin or airways if used in the wrong way. Dilution, timing, and personal preference all matter. The list below summarises common safety advice drawn from maternity aromatherapy guidelines.

• Use only high quality, clearly labelled oils bought from a trusted supplier.
• Keep blends weak: typical massage blends in labor stay around 1% to 2% oil in a carrier such as grapeseed or almond.
• Never swallow aroma oils or put them undiluted on the skin.
• Keep burners and diffusers away from cords, gas, or oxygen equipment.
• Stop use straight away if the birthing parent feels light headed, sick, itchy, or short of breath.
• Avoid strong scents when the newborn first arrives, so the baby can smell skin and breast milk easily.

Who Should Be Careful With Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is not right for every birth. Some medical conditions raise the risk of side effects or make strong scents unsafe. Hospital guidelines often list these situations so midwives can screen parents at the start of labor.

When To Limit Or Skip Aromatherapy In Labor

Situation	Why It Matters	What Usually Happens
Asthma or chronic lung disease	Strong scents may trigger coughing, wheeze, or chest tightness.	Oils used with extreme caution or avoided; staff turn to other comfort methods.
Allergies or history of contact dermatitis	Plant oils can irritate sensitive skin or cause rashes.	Patch test carried out or topical use avoided; inhalation used instead if agreed.
Epilepsy or certain neurological conditions	Some strong scents may be linked with seizure risk.	Only oils cleared by local guideline used, or no aromatherapy at all.
Pre eclampsia or unstable blood pressure	Some oils can influence circulation or interact with medicines.	Medical team steers care; aromatherapy often paused.
High risk pregnancy or complex labour	Monitors, drips, and rapid clinical decisions take priority.	Any aromatherapy kept simple and secondary to medical care.
Shared labour rooms or strong scent dislike	Other parents, staff, or the birthing person may feel unwell with scents.	Personal inhalers or unscented care used instead of room diffusers.
Previous bad reaction to aroma oils	Repeat exposure can trigger the same symptoms again.	That oil is avoided completely, and records are updated.

If you are unsure whether plant oils are safe for your own pregnancy, talk with your midwife, obstetrician, or anaesthetist. Many hospitals publish patient leaflets that explain how they use aromatherapy in labour and which oils they avoid in specific conditions.

How To Build A Simple Aromatherapy Labor Plan

A short, clear plan helps everyone in the room know what you want. You do not need pages of detail. A single page in your birth notes is enough to show which scents you like, who will handle the oils, and how far you wish to go with aromatherapy during labor.

Write your ideas down somewhere you will see them during labor, such as a birth plan page, a note on your phone, or a card in your hospital bag, so your partner and staff can follow along. This simple reminder keeps aromatherapy options visible even when contractions are strong and concentration feels especially limited.

Questions To Ask During Pregnancy Appointments

Use your routine visits to get straight answers on aromatherapy rules at your chosen birth place. A few direct questions can save stress later when contractions are close together.

• Do midwives at this unit offer aromatherapy, and have they had specific training?
• Which plant oils are stocked on the ward, and in what form are they used?
• Can I bring my own labelled oils, and are there any brands the unit recommends or avoids?
• Are burners and diffusers allowed on the ward, or only personal inhalers and massage blends?
• Does my medical history mean any oils should be avoided outright?

After you have clear answers, you can write a short note in your birth preferences sheet. Keep the language simple: list two or three favourite scents, how you prefer them used, and when you would like staff to offer them. This makes it easy for a midwife who has just met you to help in the way you want.

Step By Step: Using Aromatic Oils In Labor

The steps below assume care in a unit that already allows aromatherapy and has trained staff. At home, the same steps should still be checked with your midwife so that safety rules match local guidance.

1. Start with scent choices during late pregnancy. Smell each oil at home on a tissue and keep only the ones that feel pleasant when you are tired or queasy.
2. Pack small, clearly labelled bottles in a hard case for hospital, along with a neutral carrier oil if massage is part of your plan.
3. When labor begins, tell your midwife that you would like to use aromatherapy. Share your written plan and mention any allergies or health conditions.
4. Begin with gentle inhalation: a diffuser on a low setting, a cotton pad near your pillow, or a personal inhaler you can hold and remove at will.
5. If you still feel comfortable, move on to massage blends for lower back, shoulders, or feet, always in low dilution and with your consent for each touch.
6. Switch scents or stop altogether if you feel sick, overwhelmed, or if staff need to adjust monitors, drips, or oxygen.
7. Once your baby is born, ask staff to turn off diffusers so the baby can learn your natural scent during skin to skin time. You can always change your mind about scent in the moment; if a smell stops helping, ask staff to gently switch it off and return to other comfort tools.

Scented Comfort As One Part Of Your Birth Toolbox

aromatherapy during labor sits alongside many other comfort tools. Breathing techniques, water, upright positions, TENS machines, and medical pain relief all matter. Evidence based birth resources and national obstetric guidelines treat aromatherapy as a gentle extra that can help some parents feel calmer and better able to cope.

If scent plays a strong role in your daily life, you might feel drawn to this option. If fragrances give you headaches or nausea, you may prefer to skip it altogether. Both choices are valid. The main aim is a birth room where you feel heard, where your coping tools are respected, and where safety stays at the centre of every decision.