Essential oils and midwifery: an interview with a midwife

We are aware that scent therapy is used in many healthcare settings. But the fact that they are also used during childbirth by the midwife herself is less well known! Increasingly, women are coming to us themselves to ask which scents they can use during labour. In this way, they want to create an intimate and safe atmosphere in which they can achieve the greatest feat of their lives.

A few years ago, we got in touch with Lieve. At the time, she was training to be a midwife and was very interested in how essential oils work during labour. We had a long and pleasant chat with her to help her gather information for her dissertation on the pain-relieving effects of aromatherapy.

We were given a copy of her thesis and were deeply impressed by her expertise and her fresh perspective on this topic. That is why we asked her for an interview, so that she can inspire other midwives too.

Let me introduce myself

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Could you briefly introduce yourself?

“My name is Lieve Canjels and I work as a midwife in primary care at the Meander midwifery practice. No two working days are the same: from consultations during surgery hours to assisting with births and making postnatal visits. My passion lies in supporting women during one of the most special moments in their lives: the birth of their baby!”

How did you find De Groene Linde?

“Whilst writing my dissertation on the pain-relieving effects of aromatherapy during childbirth, I came into contact with De Groene Linde. I was looking for reliable information and high-quality products, and that’s how I found them. I visited their premises and was able to experience first-hand the range of essential oils they produce. Since then, I have been using their products with great pleasure and confidence, both in my work as a midwife and in my personal life.”

How can you use essential oils to target your audience?

“I use aromatherapy during labour to create a pleasant and familiar atmosphere. Scents can do a great deal to promote a sense of security and relaxation, and can also help with pain relief. Essential oils can make a difference both physically and mentally during labour.”

Do you have a favourite product?

“My favourite product range from De Groene Linde is, without a doubt, the New Mom’s range. The room spray ‘Delivery Day’I like to use this to create a soothing atmosphere in the room, and I use the massage oil to massage pressure points during labour. I also work with fragrance blends I’ve created myself; these scents are very well received and make the moment even more special!”

Would you like to share another success story or a lovely moment about using the oils?

“I’d like to share a lovely moment when the oils really made a difference. During labour, the expectant mother was tense and in a lot of pain. Her dilation was progressing slowly, which made it even more difficult. So I sprayed the room spray around the room and helped her with breathing exercises. Gradually, a sense of calm and relaxation returned, and she was able to accept what was happening. After that, the labour went smoothly and she gave birth to her first baby beautifully. It was special to see how the combination of scent and breathing had such a positive impact on her birthing experience.”