Yummy smells, good feeling herbs, and treats for during and after labor « Back to Group Discussions

[Aletheia]

I thought we might have a little discussion about some creature comforts for labor.

Firstly: aromatherapy.  I didn't use anything for the first two labors, but I'd like to consider some essential oils or candles this time around.  Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Secondly:  I had a recipe for a great post-partum vaginal wash with a few different herbs in it-- shepherd's purse I think was one.  It was lovely.  I soaked a couple of the huge post-partum pads in it, too, and froze them.  I know some folks also use honey to help heal after delivering.  I'd love to hear this group of mama's ideas on this topic.

Lastly:  I want to have some treats on hand for during and after labor.  How terrible would it be to have candy on that list, do you think?  I have a weakness for Jelly Bellies.  Do you think having candy during labor is a bad idea?  What other treats are you guys planning on having on hand?  Coconut water I know is good.  What else?

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

1) I have very minimal sense of smell, so usually don't go for aromatherapy, but I've found that sage oil is good for contemplative work, so I'll try that for the whole laborland thing. Also jasmine oil makes me happy, and I'll probably use a bit of that.

2) Curious about this as well. I've heard about witch hazel pads, but haven't looked into it.

3) Candy is great for labor! About the only thing I ate in my last labor was a bit of ice cream (I had no appetite), but I never felt hungry, never felt exhausted, and was in reasonably good shape for a 40 hour dysfunctional labor ending in a c-section. Frankly you want easily digestible sugar to maintain energy levels for something as physical as labor; marathon runners eat packs of pure glucose gel. I hope to have a nice big meal in early labor, and keep up my energy with sugary snacks during it. I'll also have non-sugary stuff out for people who aren't me, but I don't see myself eating celery or sausage or something when I'm laboring.

[Aletheia]

Hmm.  Sage and jasmine appeal to me, too, but are two smells I hadn't thought of.  Thanks for the suggestion!

And I can't wait to buy a bag of jelly bellies.  :)

If I track down the PP Pad recipe, I'll for sure post it here.  I haven't tried too hard yet. 

[AiryFairy]

1) I love essential oils and use them almost daily.  Using them during birth is a must on my list.  I have a vaporizer so that the oils are diffused into the air for inhalation.  Adding a few drops to oil for massage is also a possibility I'm leaving open.  I don't have a definite plan for which ones I will use, as I let the moment decide.  I'm thinking it will most likely be geranium, frankincense, lavender or lemon...either alone or a combination.  Geranium does the most to really calm and uplift me.  I plan on having some special candles lit, not so much for their scent as for their energy.

2) I haven't given much thought to special herbs for pain relief.  My MW has cold packs on our birth supply list which I'll be passing on because extreme cold never feels good to me and I can imagine definitely would not feel good on my more sensitive regions.  With my first, the doc gave me a big episiotomy which I never used anything more than the peri squirt bottle with water and a tylenol 500mg once.  My second, I never experienced any pain or discomfort afterwards (even delivered while on my back which is not so natural).  So I guess this time I feel confident that I can deliver without tearing.  I wouldn't be opposed to adding some herbs to my bath though, which I do on rare occasions to treat myself :)

3) I plan on having dates & figs during labor if my energy feels low.  I don't want to add extra stress and work on my body by consuming things that aren't healthy for my body to process.  Eating dates during labor has benefits that has been known far back in history.  I'll have RRL tea ready-made.  I would like to have some sort of snack ready for DH, kids and the midwives.

[Itsasecret]

I'll be birthing in the hospital this time. My plan is to have Thieves oil diffused in my room AT ALL TIMES. Not so much for labor, comfort or good vibes, but for hospital germs!

[jennyvangy]

Great ideas here.

I am going to stock up on frozen orange juice in the weeks before. I never drink juice, but I think I will be able to in labour.  I am also going to go out and buy out the local store of their young thai coconuts and spend the early parts of labour cracking them and filling the fridge with coconut water.  That I will definitely be able to drink in labour!  Other than that, I've got a pretty stocked kitchen so I'll just snack on whatever I have.

I have an after birth stitz bath that I will use, and have used the "crotch-sicles" before (pads covered in calendula/water mix and frozen).  I want to bake a birthday cake with my older boys during labour, but depending on how much time I have, that may have to be something my sister does with them after baby is born.  We will see.  I need to make sure I find a great recipe, get some powdered sugar to make real icing, and buy some ice cream I love so that I will actually enjoy it. 

Maybe I will get some Jelly Bellies as well, that sounds fantastic this time.

As far as smells, oils, candles, etc., I am not knowledgeable enough about that stuff to pick and know what to use.  I love the smells, but don't know what would be helpful or not.  Adding that to the mix might just stress me out.  I do have a diffuser with a "calming" oil that I guess I could have on hand in case I feel it would help.  I'd like to have some soothing music, but I think that having that on my list might worry me as well.  I've got my i-tunes full, so I will just skim through for whatever I feel like at the time, I guess.

My husband is very convinced that if he had only been able to get me to eat during my last labour I would have had much more energy and not ended up in a forcep delivery.  I assure him that a 54 hour labour, where I couldn't sleep at all, and I was battling against being a VBAC, meant I was going to be exhausted and have to fight about delivery.  Still, I'd like to give the impression that I will eat more (all I had was a pack of raspberries last time, which I threw up as I walked into the hospital because I was so nervous) so that he will feel better.

[AiryFairy]

I love the birthday cake idea!  I'm sure the girls would love that too :)

[lalazap]

Putting coconut water on my labour shopping list ... 

I found some yummy fruit kebabs in the Asian section of the frozen food aisle that I would like on hand for labour. Just chunks of mango or a long wedge of pineapple on a skewer and frozen. So delicious.

I'll also keep making a big batch of pregnancy tea (RRL, alfalfa, nettle, oatstraw, soon will start adding partridge berry) every couple of days and will try to drink that in labour, maybe with some added calcium-magnesium for efficient muscle contraction and some maple syrup for energy.

A nice blend for postpartum pads is shepherd's purse, uva ursi, comfrey, thyme and lavender - steep loose herbs to make a strong infusion and then strain well. Drizzle over pads and freeze (don't put too much liquid on pads or they freeze as rigid blocks that are not so comfy!) You could also use the steeped herbs as a compress if you wrap them in several layers of cheesecloth or muslin.

[Fern5Fern]

I like the birthday cake idea too.

I love lavender, so I'll probably use it during labor, but you guys have inspired me to experiment with some other scents as well.  

I had lemon italian ice when I was in labor with DD, which was OK but kind of acidic when I threw it up later.  Anything I eat during labor I have to be willing to see again.  I remember wanting orange gatorade during labor with DS and begging for it, but I was at a hospital with a no eating or drinking policy.  I will probably drink gatorade this time too, although it isn't the healthiest, my years of marathon training made it my go to drink when I need energy, plus I don't mind throwing it up.  Dates and figs sound good, but might involve too much fiber for my tummy, honey in tea might appeal too.  

[Aletheia]

Originally Posted by lalazap 

I'll also keep making a big batch of pregnancy tea (RRL, alfalfa, nettle, oatstraw, soon will start adding partridge berry) every couple of days and will try to drink that in labour, maybe with some added calcium-magnesium for efficient muscle contraction and some maple syrup for energy.

A nice blend for postpartum pads is shepherd's purse, uva ursi, comfrey, thyme and lavender - steep loose herbs to make a strong infusion and then strain well. Drizzle over pads and freeze (don't put too much liquid on pads or they freeze as rigid blocks that are not so comfy!) You could also use the steeped herbs as a compress if you wrap them in several layers of cheesecloth or muslin.

lalazap-  Yes!  That's the blend I used after L's birth. Thank you!  And... for those expected a second kid, I have to say cal/mag was SO helpful after the birth for after-birth pains.  They were significantly strong-- as strong as some of the early labor contractions, and given all you've just been through, really not easy to deal with.  I had to use labor-coping techniques just to get through some of them.  But my MW had me taking quite a bit of liquid cal-mag right from the birth to take the edge off, and it really did help-- for the first 2 days postpartum.

[flavorfull1]

I didn't get to eat with DS's labor- dilated too fast and throwing up a lot. But I did get to drink some gatorade which i loved going down but was sad to see come up during contractions.  I don't even remember noticing smells but I am not a big smell in addition to pain person. I do love candles but I had some fragrance free ones. I honestly didn't even really notice those by the time I got into the room with them.

I loved loved loved my RRL tea mix in the fridge for days after labor.  I just added honey and lemon and that was enough. Aletheia- I will definitely keep in mind the cal-mag as I am not looking forward to anything being harder than it has to be postpartum!

The dates sound awesome. I am trying to approach this labor assuming it won't be as fast as the first and plan out things to eat again.  I had all of these easy to digest foods planned and didn't get to eat any of it or do any of my early labor things.  Candy sounds great too but there was no way I wanted candy in labor.  I am a sour and bland food person when I am in races/competition and it was pretty much the same for labor except that I was throwing up too.

[Rasa]

Hmmm...the throwing up thing may complicate this idea, but I can't get the idea of pie out of my head.  I'll have to have it pre-made in the freezer (finding a GFCF pie with no notice won't be happening) and even if I don't eat it, I'll probably enjoy it in the postpartum days!

RRL tea will definitely be in my fridge--sounds so good right now.  Wish I could eat peanut butter, for some reason, that sounds awesome (and other nut butters/sunflower butter never fulfills the same craving.)

I didn't get to eat last time, but was in the hospital having a stupid induction (it was mine, so I can call it stupid), so hoping to be able to enjoy eating at home this time ;-) to keep up energy for a home birth.

[Aletheia]

What sort of pie?  I think that makes a difference.  :)

I'm totally going with the Jelly Bellies.  

In early labor I did oatmeal with DS1, which is a good complex carb for the long haul.  Unfortunately, it didn't stay with me for the long haul, but it is easy enough coming back up.  ;)

[moss]

during labour i think i'd probably want something really easy to digest, like a coconut milk/raspberry smoothie.  i have no doubt that at a certain point i'm going to vomit everything though.  I was reading about vomiting during labour and that it helps relax sphincters elsewhere in the body and helps labour progress.  i thought that was interesting

I'm also interested in the recipes for peri-washes/pad soaks.  sounds like a really good idea to promote healing :)