Top 11 Best Essential Oils for Labor

Check out these top essential oils for labor! From helping with the management of labor pain to having a comforting smell in your sacred space, essential oils are powerful tools that can help while you give birth.

Whether you have a natural birth or use medicine, labor is rough. 

During my second birth, I used essential oils and herbs which helped me to be more at ease while giving birth, I experienced less pain, and it really helped with my postpartum recovery too!

I already have a bag of different oils in my labor kit in my hospital bag for this third time around.

So I wanted to make a list of all the essential oils for labor and delivery that I used that you might enjoy during the third trimester to prepare for your own birth. I also have some roller bottle recipes you can use to further help you too!

I am not a doctor/physician, nurse, or any other medical professional. This is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. 

What are Essential Oils? 

Essential oils come from plants. There are so many amazing benefits of aromatherapy that the use of essential oils is a great alternative medicine option for those who don’t want to take traditional medicine.

The oils are extracted from the plant and used for various things to benefit us. 

Specific essential oils have been used since the beginning of time and are even mentioned in the Bible!

7 Benefits of Essential Oils During Labor

During labor, essential oils can offer several potential benefits, although it’s important to note that individual responses may vary, and pregnant women should always consult with their health practitioners before using essential oils.

Here are some potential benefits of essential oils for labor:

1. Relaxation: Certain essential oils are known for their calming properties. Inhaling these oils or using them in massage may help to relax the mind and body during labor, potentially reducing stress and anxiety.
   
2. Pain relief: Some essential oils have analgesic properties, which means they can help alleviate pain. However, it’s essential to use them cautiously and in appropriate dilutions.
   
3. Nausea relief: Nausea and vomiting can occur during labor, especially during the early stages. Various oils may help alleviate these symptoms when inhaled or applied topically.
   
4. Support for contractions: Certain essential oils are believed to help support uterine contractions during labor. However, there’s limited scientific evidence to support this claim, and caution should be exercised when using these oils, especially in high concentrations.
   
5. Emotional support: Labor can be an emotionally intense experience and some oils are often used for their uplifting and emotionally supportive properties.
   
6. Reduced stress and anxiety: Inhaling certain essential oils can trigger the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are associated with feelings of relaxation and happiness.
   
7. Aromatherapy benefits: The simple act of inhaling pleasant aromas can have a calming effect on the nervous system, making aromatherapy with essential oils a valuable tool for managing stress and discomfort during labor.

It’s important to note that essential oils should be used with caution during labor, as some oils may have adverse effects or interact with medications.

A pregnant person should always consult with their healthcare provider before using essential oils during labor to ensure safety and appropriateness for their specific situation. Additionally, essential oils should be properly diluted before use and should never be ingested.

The effectiveness of aromatherapy is varied. There is not too much research currently, and most is anecdotal. You will have to determine if the benefits are worth it to you!

How to use Essential Oils

There are two main ways I like to use essential oils to get as much of the benefits as possible. 

When you start to use oils, always do a patch test to see if you have an allergic reaction. Certain medical conditions can effect how you react to these natural oils, so be careful and talk to your doctor or a naturopath for their opinion.

A pregnant woman should be careful of her use of aromatherapy. Depending on your situation and how far along you are will determine what oils you can and should not use. Please do your research and talk to your birth partners and doula.

You should NOT do internal use of aromatherapy oils unless you are under the direction of a certified aromatherapist. Be careful because some companies will say it is totally fine, but I have learned through my studies to become an aromatherapist that it is NOT safe to internally use oils.

Topical Application

This is probably one of my favorites and most used methods of using essential oils. 

I almost always dilute especially since essential oils are so powerful you only need a little bit. 

Typically I use a carrier oil to dilute to make roller bottles.

Inhaling 

Using a diffuser in any setting can also help you get the benefits from essential oils. Aromatherapy for labor was what I used to help me be calm, relax my body, and help give me energy.

When you inhale the oil, your brain instantly activates the olfactory tract which is linked to memories. 

Inhaling essential oils brings a powerful impact on your feelings, emotions, and even your nervous system and can help you have a positive birth experience.

Aromatherapy during labor is an amazing way to get the power of the essential oils. You can bring your own small diffuser, wear diffuser jewelry, or even just put a few drops in your hands or on a cotton ball to help you get the benefits of essential oils during labor and delivery.

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Where to Get Your Own Essential Oils 

Make sure your essential oils are from reputable places so they don’t have fillers or synthetic toxins and chemicals. 

I get my essential oils from a variety of companies, including:

• Mountain Rose Herbs: They have incredibly high standards and are USDA organic essential oils. They also are the most affordable option out there and are great, especially if you don’t like MLMs. 
• Plant Therapy: Another great company that uses various testing to ensure they have quality oils. Also a cheaper option with free shipping!
• Simply Earth: Another great company that offers testing results to show the quality of their oils. I love their essential oil subscription box!

Whichever company you end up with, make sure you can understand their process clearly so you know you are getting pure essential oils. Don’t just trust the label, do your own research to find the best essential oils for you. 

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11 Best Essential Oils for Labor, Delivery, and Birth

Here are some of my favorite essential oils to use during labor and delivery. I used these ones in the delivery room and felt so much better after using them compared to my first labor and delivery. 

From helping pregnant people with the hospital smell to go away to having a burst of energy, labor pain management and more, the use of oils for labor and delivery is so beneficial for most moms!

Clary Sage

Clary Sage for labor is one of the most common essential oils you will hear of. It is a great for both labor and postpartum actually.

Clary Sage essential oil is a natural uterotonic, which means it can move contractions along. There are even studies showing how it can also release oxytocin, which also is a powerful hormone for helping with labor and delivery [source].

Oftentimes you hear stories about how moms were stuck in labor for hours on end and as soon as they used clary sage, their bodies finally went into labor.

Many other moms use clary sage to induce labor when they are past their due date and under the direction of their doctor.

My second labor was too fast so I didn’t personally have a chance to use clary sage for this, but I used it for postpartum and for my painful periods.

It is not safe during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.

Lavender

Known for its calming and soothing properties, lavender essential oil can help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety during labor. It’s often used in aromatherapy or massage to create a peaceful atmosphere.

Lavender oil has properties that can help reduce pain perception and promote relaxation during labor. It truly is a powerhouse oil I always keep in stock at my house!

Calming Blend

You want to be calm and relaxed when you are in labor. Here are a few of the best essential oils for labor and birth that helped calm me down tremendously and reduce my anxiety levels.

The calmer you are, the less stress hormones you have, thus helping you with your perception of pain. So you definitely want to be relaxed, and using essential oils is a good idea and easy natural remedy to do just that!

This amazing calming blend does exactly what it says. It is my all time favorite oil to help with my emotions. 

Having anxiety about labor and birth, I used this oil on the way to the hospital and throughout our hospital stay. The nurses always loved coming in our room because it smelled so good!

This also worked great for diffusing during the hospital stay.  It is my favorite blend for peace and is an organic oil that is super affordable and uses your sense of smell to help keep you relaxed.

It includes lavender, clary sage, tangerine, vetiver, ylang ylang, and blue tansy. All of which are great essential oils for anxiety.

It is also one of the best essential oils for moms and kids.

Learn how to harness the powerful effects of essential oils for your anxiety with my comprehensive ebook, “Calming Anxiety with Essential Oils.”

Tangerine 

Tangerine is a big part of the peace and calming oil. I love this one because it has a way to relax and energize you all at once. All citrus oils do that as well. 

I loved using any citrus essential oils for labor because they brought me so much peace but also the energy I needed to push through.  

I use tangerine essential oil for my toddler tantrum roller bottle because it is so effective at calming my little ones down! It’s another calming essential oil to use while giving birth.

Chamomile

Both Roman and German chamomile essential oils are known for their gentle sedative properties, which can help ease anxiety while you give birth.

Chamomile essential oil also has gentle analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate labor pain too!

I like adding a few drops to my pain roller bottle because it helps relax me and eases my pain too!

Ylang Ylang

Ylang-ylang essential oil has a sweet, floral scent that can help uplift the mood and reduce stress and tension during labor.

It is one of my favorite smells, because it reminds me of Hawaii. It is so relaxing to me, I made a perfume with it!

Pick Me Up Blend

Labor is extremely draining whether you have a fast birth or a long one. 

This Pick Me Up blend has just enough ginger to smell fresh and give you a quick boost in energy. 

With the ginger it can also relax your nausea as well. 

Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil has analgesic properties that can help alleviate pain and discomfort during labor. It’s also useful for reducing nausea for some people too.

Peppermint oil contains menthol, which has a cooling effect and can help numb pain. It’s particularly useful for relieving muscle aches and headaches.

I didn’t personally use peppermint, because I know it can cause issues with breastfeeding. But, some have success with it.

Helichrysum

Helichrysum essential oil has strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for reducing pain and inflammation associated with labor.

I absolutely love using helichrysum! But, I don’t ever buy the essential oil; it is way to expensive for me. Instead, I buy a 4oz bag of the flowers and make an infused oil with it to use as my carrier oil for my roller bottles.

It is a lot cheaper and much more efficient!

Copaiba   

Labor is painful. I love to use essential oils for pain because they are so soothing and are generally a lot safer than drugs.

Especially if you are trying to go for a natural birth, these help keep your pain levels down during labor. 

I love copaiba essential oil for many things, all dealing with pain ranging from teething babies to back pain and headaches. 

Copaiba essential oil works with your body’s natural response to pain to heal faster. It also kinda numbs the pain for the time being. 

I used this daily during the early labor at home and during labor as well. I also have it in my pain relief cream to help with muscle tension too.

You can also learn more essential oils for back pain that I used during labor as well.

Black Pepper

Black pepper essential oil has warming and analgesic properties that can help relieve muscle tension and pain during labor as well.

I also know that black pepper can enhance all the other essential oils it is used with, so I love including it in my blends to help me boost the other oils.

It is quite powerful, so I typically only use a drop or two.

Labor Essential Oil Roller Bottle Recipes

Here are a few roller bottle recipes I used while giving birth to help with energy, relaxation, and pain relief.

Labor Pain Roller Bottle

• 1 drop black pepper
• 4 drops copaiba
• 2 drops chamomile
• 3 drops lavender
• Fill the rest with helichrysum infused oil

I rubbed on my lower back for less pain.

Relax While Giving Birth Roller Bottle

• 4 drops tangerine
• 2 drops lavender
• 4 drops ylang ylang
• 2 drops chamomile
• Fill the rest with carrier oil of your choice

I use on my wrists, behind my ears, and on my neck. Use anywhere you can smell it to help you relax!

Energize Me Roller Bottle

• 5 drops citrus oil of your choice
• 4 drops ginger
• 1 drop black pepper
• Fill rest with carrier oil

Labor Progression Roller Bottle

• 10 drops clary sage essential oil
• Fill rest of bottle with fractionated coconut oil

I would rub on my inner ankles as that is a powerful spot to help with contractions. I also will rub on my inner wrists and breathe in as well.

Essential Oils During Labor FAQs 

Essential Oils For Giving Birth Wrap-Up

There are various ways to use essential oils for labor and delivery, they make for a great natural remedy to use while giving birth.

Be sure to include these oils in your birth plan and enjoy the benefits that come from them. I loved using these for my labor, I hope you do too!

Ready to get started with essential oils? Try out any of these incredible essential oil subscription boxes!