Catch-all thread for essential oils, herbs, etc for labor and postpartum « Back to Group Discussions

[loveandgarbage]

Will anyone contribute to this thread? I hope so! I've been thinking a lot about what oils and herbs to have on hand for labor and postpartum. I know it's been discussed here and there on some other threads, but maybe it would be nice to have a thread for this sort of info. Here's what I'm thinking so far but would like other suggestions :)

Essential oils I plan on using during/after labor: lavender and rose absolute to promote a calm atmosphere (will use on my temples, maybe a diffuser), clary sage to help with circulation and healing, helichrysum for perineal and belly after care,

Herbs: I already have an herb blend for sitz baths and perineal care that includes comfrey, witch hazel, yarrow and rosemary. I'm also thinking of steeping some calendula and chamomile in a nice carrier oil for my belly to use when I start wrapping.

I'm also planning to make witch hazel pads to stick in the freezer.

[kellybeth]

nice thread 

i've already made my nipple cream, pads, sitz bath, perineum spray, baby cream, baby massage oil, and soothing gel. since i'm thinking of adding some of these into my shop when i reopen, i can't give specifics/amounts for some.

freezer pads:

organic witch hazel, organic pure aloe gel. i don't feel comfortable using EOs on that area until i know exactly how i'll feel.

sitz bath:

epsom salts, organic calendula, organic comfrey leaf, organic plantain leaf. i've actually started using this already and it makes me feel real nice. 

mama belly butter:

cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, meadow foam seed oil, rose hip seed oil, coconut oil, pomegranate seed oil, evening primrose oil, black currant oil, lavender EO

i'm still thinking on/blending herbs for my belly binding blend. 

[odinsmama]

My herb blend for the sitz bath has the herbs you mentioned plus calendula. I also started infusing oil with the same blend for my belly.

I actually do the herbs for the sitz bath in a peri bottle instead and keep it in the fridge, using every time I use the toilet. Cool healing wash for my aching nether regions, yes please! The sitz bath ends up being too much effort for me... Getting the temp right, sitting/squatting comfortably above it for long enough that it'll do some good. But the peri bottle was perfect for me.

I have tinctures for pp. Angelica to help expell the placenta (if it's just not coming after a long wait) and Shepherd's Purse to help stop heavy bleeding. I've not had to deal with these issues myself, but a friend just recently gave birth and passed them on to me.

My mw also gave me some homeopathic arnica for after.

I bought some herbal hemorrhoid suppositories from my mw to have on hand and I'm sure I'll need them.
Witch hazel pads are in the freezer already. Sometimes I also freeze a couple with the sitz bath herbs once they've been brewed.

And I think I happen to have fenugreek on hand, just in case we have any milk supply issues.

[etsdtm99]

hmm..  I have these herbs and bath salts for a sitz bath - last time, i used them in the regular bath tub, just filled it a few inchs and soaked there a few times a day.. 

i have earth mama angel baby mama bottom balm, mama bottom spray, and natural nipple butter..  I loved all those last time .. (the bottom balm is AWESOME for hemorrhoids)
 

I have folded damp wash cloths frozen in snack size baggies .. i probably should have added witch hazel but i didn't , its in my bottom balm and bottom spray so i apply those and then the ice pad .. 

that is the extent of my PP plan :)

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by odinsmama 


And I think I happen to have fenugreek on hand, just in case we have any milk supply issues.

i have been drinking a pregnancy tea that i make since week 20, and have started drinking my new mother tea which has fenugreek in it. i love the maple syrup taste. it has fenugreek, blue violet leaf, calendula, red clover flower, marshmallow root, and anise seed. i've had a lot of mamas tell me how much it helped their milk supply. the herbs also help maintain a healthy lymph and endocrine system and give a higher fat content to breast milk. i may freeze some tea into ice pops and bring with us.

i forgot about scents. i am really sensitive with scents and EOs, so i probably won't bring anything to the hospital with me, but i was thinking a candle. i love making candles and i'm way overdue for some candle crafting. earthier scents are grounding for me like allspice, ho wood and carrot seed. so that could be a possibility. 

[loveandgarbage]

Some great ideas!!

I might do the sitz bath in a peri bottle, too! I couldn't pee without one after my last labor, and having the herbs in there sounds heavenly.

I was thinking of buying some candles for the labor. I made some for the first time earlier this year, and while I enjoyed it, I know I just won't get around to it this time around. If this baby sticks around for a couple of more weeks I can take advantage of my coop pharmacy's 15% off day... so I'll be able to get some candles without breaking the bank. And herbs too!

[waywornwanderer]

I don't know if this exactly fits in this thread... but do any of you more knowledgeable ladies have a tried-and-true recipe for cloth wipe solution? Please and thank you!!

[kellybeth]

1 1/2 C water

1 tablespoon jojoba oil (or almond)

1 tablespoon baby soap

1-2 drops tea tree oil

i used this recipe for babies that i nannied and it was fantastic. i'll be using it for my babe, too. 

[loveandgarbage]

I used a similar recipe as kellybeth when I cloth diapered. For baby soap I used Dr. Bronner's unscented/mild.

[odinsmama]

Ds2 was rashy and I just had to use plain water for his wipes. So once he started eating solids (and had the stinky poop to go with it) we just did bath time after the daily poop.
Occasionally I'd put something else in (a little apple cider vinegar if rash was looking like yeast) if I felt we needed it, but any soap would irritate his skin if not rinsed off really well.
I liked using calendula in the water sometimes but you have to keep it in the fridge or it gets moldy. That usually ended up being too much work, hence the plain water wipes for us.

[AnahataChakra]

I like this thread! 
-I have super strength arnica(i just learned that it is really important to not touch the homeopathics to just dump them in mouth??)

-super calm magnesium for before and for afterpains

-gonna go get some sage to smudge our house with today(to prepare the house and me)

-jasmine oil and epsom salt bath I have been doing almost every night since 36 weeks

-sitz bath

-candles and a few baby and my items(amber baby necklace) for my little alter to look at in labor

-my placenta encapsulation tools all ready and washed with motherwort to add in

-I need to get some butt balm or comfrey gel it was heavenly last time but it had parabens in it hoping to find one without this time

-coconut oil for baby butt and my nipples(to prevent thrush) I might also get some oregano oil to put on nipples if thrush starts to show its nasty head!

-moxa stick for my belly and afterpains

-red meat like whoah until my placenta is done I just stocked up today.

hmmm I think that is it and I totally went off topic sorry

oh I need some lavendar oil I have no idea where mine went..

[odinsmama]

Originally Posted by AnahataChakra 


-I have super strength arnica(i just learned that it is really important to not touch the homeopathics to just dump them in mouth??)

Yep, I pour them into the cap of the container, so I can see how many I'm getting, and then from cap to mouth.

[typebug]

I'm sending my DH out to get a few oils for the diffuser for labour time. I've got Lavender already and I saw Rose suggested. Hit me with a few more! I've never done a lot of aromatherapy and this diffuser is a new thing in my home. 

[loveandgarbage]

Lemongrass-- uplifting

Peppermint-- uplifting, energizing, and can help with nausea (I plan to have my bottle close just to smell if I start feeling yucky)

Sage-- cleansing

Rosewood-- balancing (this is endangered so might be hard to find)

Jasmine-- calming

Those are some of my favs!

[typebug]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

Lemongrass-- uplifting

Peppermint-- uplifting, energizing, and can help with nausea (I plan to have my bottle close just to smell if I start feeling yucky)

Sage-- cleansing

Rosewood-- balancing (this is endangered so might be hard to find)

Jasmine-- calming

Those are some of my favs!

Thank you so much! 

[HouseofPeace]

didn't know where to update this- but wanted to mention what's been good around here!

when (after my fun 12 hour labor) things got serious my midwife checked out my little bottles of Wishgarden herbal tinctures.  She got really excited I had purchased the Wombstrings (per sweetestday) and got that out for me.  she was putting droppers of that in my mouth right after the birth.  my placenta left some membrane behind and i bleed pretty heavily w/out membrane, but this was certainly something to keep an eye on as she is 2 hours away and coming back days after the birth instead of hours like she usually does.  So, used that for the first 2-3 days.  Already bleeding has eased a lot and i don't think i need to take it.  (passed membrane yesterday and bleeding really eased up afterwards)

After Ease has been better for my afterpains than any pill yet.  I've used a hot water bottle, magnesium baths, and am almost out of the After Ease.  Since my uterus is 5th baby, i ordered more that should be here in 2 days (i really really hope) since i forgot to order it earlier. 

Magnesium calm drink- don't know if it's helping w/ afterpains, but my bowels have been comfortably soft and it seems to be helping w/ everything.  

And used the homeopathic arnica since after the birth and recovery has been really blessedly easy.

not doing the wrapping yet or the essential oils.  that's on the schedule for soon though.  just up and down w/ baby a lot and just now feeling less foggy and more ready to do more for my body now that things are easing up in the bleeding front.

[loveandgarbage]

Glad you're feeling pretty good HoP. I couldn't find a specific after pains herbal tincture around here, so I bought separate ones that include some of the same herbs in after ease. If I'm not having a baby tomorrow I'll see if I can pick up the other ones too-- like crampbark. Glad it's helped! I also plan on doing the calm drink and arnica.

[sgsnyder]

I wish I had something to contribute, but I wanted to say THANK YOU for starting this thread - it's awesome! It inspires me to choose some nice things to restock or find, and I'll be back with anything I learn. I just wish I could have/do everything mentioned!

[odinsmama]

Updating regarding the cloth wipes.... I've been using plain water and my hands are horribly dry.  Going to mix up a small batch of the recipe listed on here and see how it goes.

as a mom of boys who now has a little girl, I'm just not used to having delicate girl bits right there with poop and diaper creams!  Eek!  ;)

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by odinsmama 

Updating regarding the cloth wipes.... I've been using plain water and my hands are horribly dry.  Going to mix up a small batch of the recipe listed on here and see how it goes.

as a mom of boys who now has a little girl, I'm just not used to having delicate girl bits right there with poop and diaper creams!  Eek!  ;)

yup!  my hubby and i thought the same thing! boy bits are so much easier to keep clean.  (foreskins included)

did a wrap today- smeared my body w/ homemade cream and geranium and cedarwood essential oils- (thanks, Jean for the recipes!) and had husband saran wrap me.  (he was a little baffled but is being agreeable so went along w/ it) and put on my squeem for 2 hours.  i saw some abs under that afterwards.  i tried the belly bandit but it was a M and was too large already, so sending it back for a small.  it did increase my bleeding a bit and passed more clots.  but i noticed a difference in my skin and will do 4 hours tomorrow (hopefully).  today was too busy- too many visitors, too much stuff being done by me, and i don't think that helped the bleeding.  i did find being bound uncomfortable- but not terribly so.  honestly, the 10 min after unwrapping, when my body looked only 4-5 months pregnant, was pretty amazing and made me feel better about my shape.  my boobs are currently erupting from my 34H bra, so having any shape under that is very encouraging!