by Patricia Hughes

Aromatherapy offers numerous benefits both during pregnancy and during labor. In pregnancy, aromatherapy is effective for reducing some of the common discomforts of pregnancy. When you are in labor, using essential oils can be helpful for relaxation and pain relief. Aromatherapy helps create a comfortable environment for labor.

Essential oils that are beneficial during pregnancy include lavender, chamomile, rose, ylang ylang and jasmine. Some essential oils are beneficial for morning sickness. Our sense of smell will be more acute during pregnancy. Sometimes cooking odors or other household odors can trigger nausea. Aromatherapy can help reverse this effect. Citrus oils such as orange, lemon and grapefruit are safe and effective for nausea.

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by Patricia Hughes

The final stage of pregnancy can cause anxiety for many women. Fear of labor is real. A study done in Sweden in 2001 showed that fear resulted in more medication used in labor. The study was done on first time mothers and showed that more drugs were needed for women who exhibited fear before and during labor. Fear can take many forms, such as the fear of the unknown, pain or fear that results from hearing horror stories from friends or family about difficult labors.

Fear of labor has gained attention in recent years. In the year 2000, an article in the British Journal of Psychiatry addressed this fear. It is known as tokophobia, or the fear of childbirth. This fear is now classified as a psychiatric disorder. The study discussed in the article showed that fears resulted in an increase in night mares and panic attacks.

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What are some of the early signs of labor? Are you ready? After 9 months it all comes down to this. Most women are both excited and a little nervious at the same time. During pregnancy, the greatest fear of a woman who has never conceived a child before is labor pain. Many pregnant women are afraid that they will miss the signs of labor, making them unprepared for their child’s delivery. The amazing thing about pregnancy and the female body is that no pregnant woman can miss the early signs of labor because her body will provide her with clues to tell her that the start of labor is approaching.

For some women, labor only lasts a few hours, while others experience more than a day of labor. Although this part of pregnancy is the most dreaded time, many women say that it is as rewarding as it is a scary experience.

Majority of women experience the early signs of labor weeks before the actual delivery. These signs will help the mother to prepare her body for the approaching delivery. If this is your first pregnancy, expect the early signs of labor to occur weeks before the estimated schedule of your delivery. Otherwise, you can expect these signs to be present a few hours before delivery.

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Ready, set, go!! Just the thougt of pregnancy and labor can be hard work, and a little bit scary if this is your first time! If we were contractors we’d raise our rates because labor required in pregnancy is so intensive! Some women avoid the whole process by going the route of the Caesarean, more commonly known as the C-section. C-sections have their own set of complications to consider that might be comparable to or even worse than pregnancy and labor.

Preparing for pregnancy labor is possible and although you can’t avoid it completely, some success in dealing with it is possible.

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by Patricia Hughes

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by Patricia Hughes

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