Aromatherapy Guide for New Mothers

You're a new mother. You've got all kinds of things to worry about. Will your baby get enough sleep? Enough food? Will you do all the right things? Should you take your child out in the cold or just not go anywhere today? Does that fever require a trip to the doctor? What formulas are healthy enough to substitute breast milk? There are so many things going on inside your head, it's probably hard to relax. Aromatherapy is one way to help you relax as a new mother.

One thing to take into consideration with aromatherapy is potential allergy concerns. If you are allergic to a certain scent, avoid purchasing that product. For instance, if you are allergic to flowers, you may wish to avoid floral scented aromatherapy products, or even products that contain a floral ingredient as part of another scent. If you expose yourself to something you're allergic to and have an allergic reaction, it's going to defeat the purpose of relaxing with the aromatherapy. If you're allergic to a certain ingredient that might be used in an aromatherapy product, make sure you look at the ingredients of the product before you make your purchase.

Allergic reactions can come in many forms. If you use an aromatherapy product that you are allergic to, you would generally have the same reaction to it that you would to the regular product. Flowers may make you break out in hives, so a floral aromatherapy product may do the same thing. Other reactions could include a runny nose and sneezing with watery eyes, or having trouble breathing. If you experience trouble breathing, use an inhaler or seek medical attention if you continue to have problems. With nasal reactions, try a nasal spray or over the counter allergy medicine. You have to worry about the seriousness of your allergic reaction as well. If you have a slight allergy, you may still be able to use the product.

Here are ten aromatherapy products you can use:

1. Bath milk. One product by Forever and Ever is Primrose and Geranium Bath Milk. This product is designed to calm and sooth, as well as to help circulation. The product includes essential oils, such as Geranium, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense. It can be found on the Not on the High Street website listed in the links section.

2. If you're looking for a product to use right before delivery and during delivery, try Organic Labor Oil by Essential Care. This is 100% organic oil and can be used by vegans. You'll also find this on the Not on the High Street website.

3. Scented candles. Any scented candle can work to soothe the new mother. Choose a scent that relaxes you. Any spicy scent or floral scent would serve this purpose, or a fresh sky scent. Avoid a berry or cherry scent, as these tend to stimulate rather than relax. You can find scented candles at stores like Walmart and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

4. Skin cream. Try a skin cream or lotion with a soothing scent. Use one that moisturizes and is safe for infants. Then, you can use it on yourself and your baby.

5. Baby oil. You can find organic baby oils all over the internet. The website listed for products 1 and 2 carries this product as well.

6. An oil warmer. The oil warmer warms your oil before you use it on your body or just indulge in its scent. There are even ones that plug into your cigarette lighter in your car. These are available on the e-scent-ials website listed in the resources.

7. Spa crystals, available at e-scent-ials, are natural bath salts. You put them in your bath to help you relax. The bath oils contain either a blend of wood scents, lavender, or geranium crystals, for instance.

8. The next three items are also available at the e-scent-ials website. The first is herbal soaps. These are an awesome aromatherapy product. You wash your hands and body with them, and the scent stays with you on your body. They also are gentle, with natural ingredients. This gives you an alternative to regular soap.

9. Natural shower gel. The gel contains coconut, olive oil, aloe and rosemary. There are then scents from patchouli, lavender, tangerine and other fragrances. The shower gel is also all natural, and provides soothing relief while bathing.

10. Natural herbal bath tea. You hang the tea bag from the faucet, so that the aroma fills the room as the bath is drawn. There are five herbs in each bag, including chamomile, rosemary and lavender.