Aromatherapy for Childbirth: Essential Oils for Labour - Edinburgh, The Lothians & Falkirk

Aromatherapy for Childbirth: What You Need to Know in Scotland

Have you thought about using aromatherapy to help you cope with labour? Maybe you’ve had a massage with essential oils that left you blissfully relaxed, or maybe the smell of lavender makes you wrinkle your nose. Either way, aromatherapy is now a well-established option in maternity care across Scotland - especially here in West Lothian, Edinburgh, NHS Lothian & Forth Valley.

⚠️ Note: This blog is for information only. Always check with your midwife or GP before using essential oils in pregnancy, labour or postnatally.

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from plants. Oils can be:

• Massaged into the skin (diluted safely)

• Inhaled (diffuser, sniffy pots, compresses)

• Used in baths or warm water

The aim is to support relaxation, reduce stress, ease pain, and even encourage labour progression.

This works in two ways:

• Chemically – active plant compounds absorbed through skin or inhaled.

• Neurologically – scents interact with the limbic system (the brain’s emotional centre), influencing mood, memory, and stress response.

💡 Fun fact: Smells and memories are deeply linked. A certain perfume or the scent of cinnamon might instantly transport you to a time or place. Using a particular oil during pregnancy relaxation can trigger that same sense of calm in labour. This principle is often used in hypnobirthing too.

Aromatherapy in NHS Lothian & Beyond

We’re fortunate in Central Scotland - NHS Lothian, Forth Valley, Fife and Lanarkshire all have midwives trained in aromatherapy for childbirth.

NHS Lothian state:

“A full range of aromatherapy oils is available in the NHS Lothian hospital labour wards and the Lothian Birth Centre. Aromatherapy can help relax you and invigorate your senses to support you through your labour and birth experience.”

This means that in many hospitals across the region, your midwife may suggest aromatherapy as part of your pain relief and comfort toolkit.

Brief snap-shot of a 6 essential oils, but many more can be used during labour and birth and have different properties.

What Aromatherapy Can Do in Labour

Aromatherapy is not a “magic fix,” but studies and clinical practice suggest it can help with:

• Relaxation and reducing anxiety

• Coping with pain during contractions

• Encouraging effective uterine contractions

• Supporting labour progress (especially if contractions slow)

• Relieving nausea or headaches

• Improving rest during pregnancy or early labour

• Supporting recovery after birth

• Boosting mood and milk supply postnatally

When midwives may suggest it:

• Stress, fear, or insomnia in pregnancy or labour

• Post-dates pregnancy (using stimulating oils to encourage labour)

• Tension or backache

• Emotional support in the early postnatal period

  
  

How to Use Essential Oils

There are lots of safe, simple ways to bring oils into labour:

• Sniffy pots – a small pot with cotton wool + 1–3 drops of oil, inhaled when needed. Great for nausea or anxiety.

• Compresses – a few drops in hot/cold water, applied with a flannel to forehead, back, or bump.

• Diffusers – up to 6 drops in a diffuser to scent the room.

• Massage – diluted oils applied to shoulders, back or feet by a partner or midwife.

• Aromatic fanning – one drop on a fan or tissue, wafted gently.

⚠️ Note: Essential oils should always be diluted and used under guidance in pregnancy/labour.

What the Research Says

• Scottish Government Best Start (2017):“Health Boards should provide options for pain relief including aromatherapy, to optimise the normal birth process regardless of where birth takes place.”

• Systematic Review (2020):Aromatherapy can significantly reduce maternal anxiety and labour pain.(The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in the Management of Labour Pain and Anxiety).

• Evidence Based Birth:“At least eight randomised controlled trials found essential oils decreased pain and anxiety during unmedicated births. Aromatherapy is affordable, non-invasive, and safe when used appropriately.”Evidence Based Birth – Aromatherapy

Is It for Everyone?

Not everyone loves every scent (lavender, I’m looking at you!). The key is personal preference. Some oils relax one person and irritate another.

Midwives trained in aromatherapy will guide you in safe choices. Popular oils include:

• Lavender (relaxation, pain relief)

• Clary sage (stimulating, can encourage contractions – not used before due date)

• Peppermint (nausea relief)

• Frankincense (grounding, calming)

• Orange or citrus oils (uplifting)

Final Thoughts

Aromatherapy isn’t about replacing medical care, it’s about adding another supportive tool to help you feel calmer, more in control, and more comfortable.

Here in The Lothians, Edinburgh and Forth Valley, it’s part of the maternity units’ approach to supporting normal birth. Whether you’re drawn to lavender or prefer citrus scents, it’s worth exploring if aromatherapy could play a role in your labour journey.

Want to learn more about natural coping strategies, including aromatherapy, hypnobirthing and partner support? Join my Antenatal Course in Linlithgow or an to prepare with evidence-based tools and confidence.

I’m Joy - an antenatal teacher and perinatal therapist in Linlithgow, West Lothian. I support parents across Central Scotland to explore natural coping strategies like aromatherapy and hypnobirthing, alongside medical pain management and evidence-based antenatal education.

⚠️ Important Safety Reminders

• Always dilute oils for massage (e.g., 1 drop in 5ml carrier oil).

• Check with your midwife before use – not every oil is suitable for every pregnancy.

• Essential oils are powerful - less is more.