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Scented Childbirth – Herbal Steaming During Labor

21. January

What comes to your mind when you hear "Scented Childbirth"? For me, it's the aroma of herbs, a gentle midwife carrying boiled water into the birthing room, a doula pouring it into a prepared pot under a steaming stool, and then that sensation of warmth spreading inside the body, opening the birth canal so the baby can come out. This is exactly what pelvic steaming during childbirth is like... warm and nurturing, calming, and guiding the baby from the cozy safety of the womb into the mother’s loving arms. This can also serve as a prenatal visualization of your birth experience if you use steaming as part of your preparation.

Perhaps this vision resonates with you because you are already familiar with herbal steaming as a regular cleansing practice or a supportive method from the time when you were trying to conceive. And if you didn’t know yet how beneficial pelvic steaming can be during labor, I encourage you to keep reading so that you can request it at the hospital. Although I believe that in the best facilities, it will be offered to you proactively, as vaginal herbal steaming has become widely accepted in maternity hospitals over the past few years due to its simplicity and effectiveness.

Since 2018, at Steamy, we have trained dozens of maternity hospitals across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, enabling healthcare professionals not only to use this technique but to gain trust in it. Thanks to safe steaming tools, which we continuously develop and refine, tested herbal blends, and proper steaming procedures, using steaming during childbirth is safe, comfortable, and meaningful. Unlike in the rest of the world, it is actively integrated into maternity care in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

This progress has been supported by doulas and midwives who have attended our workshops or collaborated with us in hospital training programs. With their help, steaming has become even more widely recognized among women, who now incorporate it into their prenatal preparation and postpartum recovery. All providers trained under the Steamy brand are familiar with how to apply pelvic steaming during labor and prioritize safety, based on their knowledge of the full steaming process required for professional care of women.

Why Choose Pelvic Steaming During Childbirth?

Childbirth is a process during which a significant amount of warmth and energy leaves the woman's body. Providing warmth enhances comfort, allowing the nervous and hormonal systems to function in harmony with the birthing woman's needs. Ideally, she should not experience more discomfort than the birth process itself. In other words, everyone involved in the birth strives to ensure that the mother feels as comfortable as possible. A warm touch and kind words, complemented by herbal steam, create an atmosphere of trust in which the birthing woman can turn inward, connect with her body, and feel safe.

As you sit above the warm, fragrant steam, you can visualize your cervix opening, becoming soft and supple due to the heat. You might imagine your baby gently slipping the cervix over their head like a crown. The birth canal is warm and flexible, allowing your baby to transition smoothly from the warmth of the womb into the world.

The steam itself also helps soften the perineal tissue, making it more elastic and pliable. This is why midwives commonly apply warmth to the perineum during birth to achieve the same effect.

At What Stage of Labor Is Herbal Steaming Beneficial?

You can enjoy pelvic steaming whenever you feel the need for warmth and relaxation during labor. Your midwife or doula can help determine the ideal moment to offer it. Alternatively, you can use steaming at home in early labor when contractions are infrequent. At this stage, steaming—like a warm bath—can help you discern whether labor has truly begun or if you are experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions.

Steaming is also beneficial when contractions in the first stage of labor are too frequent but ineffective, preventing you from resting between them. Sitting above the steam at this point can slow the pace, allowing for better energy management. On the other hand, if labor pauses for a while, steaming can help gently encourage progress. However, specific recommendations on when to use steaming should always come from a trained healthcare provider or doula, as this article does not cover detailed medical guidance.

Is the Rupture of Membranes a Contraindication?

No, the premature rupture of membranes is not a contraindication for steaming. You can safely use herbal steaming even after your water breaks. If you wrap yourself in a blanket or sheet during steaming, remember that during pregnancy and labor, the belly should remain uncovered to prevent the baby from overheating in the womb.

If you are using our brand’s professional steaming tools, specifically those with Softness padding, you do not need to wrap yourself at all. Instead, you can enjoy complete freedom of movement—standing during contractions and sitting back down as needed. During this time, simply cover the steaming stool’s opening with a towel or any other cloth when not in use.

Which Herbs Are Best for Childbirth?

Together with midwife Anna Kohutová, we have created an exclusive herbal blend called Scented Childbirth, composed of raspberry leaf, thyme, shepherd’s purse, rosemary, and vervain. This blend is unique because it has been tested in maternity hospitals for many years, ensuring its safety with no reported side effects.

We have also incorporated this blend into a soft, fragrant herbal sachet made from Pegatex nonwoven fabric, making the steaming process much easier during labor. After steaming, the sachet can be placed inside a washcloth and used to protect the perineum during the second stage of labor. Alternatively, it can be used beforehand without the washcloth for warm compresses on the lower back or for a full-body massage in the shower.

How Is Herbal Steaming Prepared in a Hospital Setting?

In the hospital, the Scented Childbirth herbal sachet is not boiled. Instead, it is simply infused with hot water, which differs from the preparation method used at home before or after birth. This approach has a purpose—just like the height of our steaming tools, which are designed to allow the woman to sit down immediately without waiting for the infusion to cool. The ability to use steaming whenever the woman desires or whenever her support team deems it beneficial is crucial during childbirth. Once cooled, the sachet can be reused for a second infusion.

 

Can I Use the "Birth Canal Relaxation" Herbal Blend If I Still Have Some Left from My Prenatal Preparation?

Yes, this is possible. Ideally, it should be used during early labor or postpartum, alternating with the Postpartum Recovery blend.

What If My Chosen Hospital Does Not Support Herbal Steaming or Have a Steaming Stool, but I Still Want to Use It During Labor?

Have you already inquired about steaming during your hospital tour and been told they do not support it? Try recommending our website to the head midwife or ward nurse! 😊

Then, coordinate with your doula to ensure she brings the necessary herbs and a steaming stool. If you do not plan to have a doula present at your birth, you can rent a steaming tool from certified providers of women’s herbal steaming who offer rental services. Alternatively, you can purchase your own steaming stool and incorporate steaming into your regular postpartum care routine.

In some hospitals, steaming tools may be available, but they might not provide the Scented Childbirth herbal blend. In that case, you can order it from us before birth, along with a washcloth to protect the perineum.

Are There Any Medical Contraindications That Would Prevent Me from Using Herbal Steaming During Birth?

Since steaming during labor is a one-time procedure, even women who suffer from gynecological infections or herpes can use it—provided they are not in an active phase of the condition.

If you have experienced vulvovaginal varicose veins or hemorrhoids during pregnancy, we recommend using steaming during labor only if you have already tried it during prenatal preparation and did not experience pain during or after the session.

If you are experiencing bleeding during labor, let medical professionals assess whether steaming is appropriate based on the cause of the bleeding.

However, the following conditions are not contraindications for steaming during labor:

  • A positive Group B strep (GBS) test
  • Hypertension
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Anemia
  • Rupture of membranes
  • Blood clotting disorders or the use of blood-thinning medications

How Can This Look in Practice? A Few Case Studies…

We thought it would be useful to share real-life cases where herbal steaming played an important role during childbirth. That’s why we reached out to private midwife Martina Lukács, who says she has only the best experiences with steaming for her clients.


 

The first case Martina shared with us was a first-time mother who was very afraid of childbirth. She met her late in pregnancy and did everything she could to help her relax and build confidence. According to Martina, this woman was also very tense (which is common for this type of birthing person).

Labor started at term, around 7:30 PM, when the client called Martina to say something was happening. She wanted to go to the hospital immediately, as she was afraid to stay home. Within an hour, they met at the birthing room. Martina massaged her lower back and offered her herbal steaming. The client agreed. She enjoyed the steaming, but after about 40 minutes, she started feeling nauseous. She said she was about to vomit, but Martina recognized it as the Ferguson reflex. Shortly after, around 11 PM, she gave birth to her beautiful first baby.


 

The second birth story involves another very anxious woman, 37+ weeks pregnant, frightened, and also a first-time mother. She contacted Martina early in the morning, saying her water had broken. However, contractions had not yet started. Since Martina had a morning shift at Vsetín Hospital, they agreed to meet in the birthing room so she could begin supporting her right away.

At 6 AM, they met. The woman only had mild waves of discomfort in her lower belly. The doctor examined her and noted that the labor might take a long time because her cervix was still firm and barely dilated to a fingertip.

Martina settled her into a room and offered her herbal steaming. First, she massaged her sacrum and warmed her lower belly. The woman also requested an enema. She started steaming around 8:30 AM.

After about 30 minutes, her contractions strengthened, and a little later, she felt strange pressure in her rectum. Martina suddenly thought, “Could she already be fully dilated?”—but after such a short time, it seemed unlikely. However, to everyone’s surprise, her birth canal was indeed fully open!

This anxious and fearful woman had relaxed so beautifully during the steaming session that just 1.5 hours after starting, she gave birth to her first child.


A Few Final Words and a Wish for a Beautiful, Scented Birth…

 

On behalf of the entire Steamy team, I wish you a smooth, fulfilling birth experience, ending with a healthy baby in your arms. This is why we have been raising awareness about herbal steaming for years—among healthcare professionals and the general public alike.

But beyond birth, I also wish for you to continue caring for yourself. Too often in our culture, self-care stops after childbirth. I encourage you to stay connected to your body even in the postpartum period and to honor your need for rest and attention, just as you did during pregnancy.

After birth, we can sometimes get caught up in a whirlwind of endorphins and newborn care, forgetting that we remain deeply vulnerable. Inside the uterus, a wound the size of the placenta is healing—and it deserves rest, warmth, massage, raspberry leaf tea, and, once your postpartum bleeding has stopped, postpartum steaming. This practice supports healing, cleansing, lactation, and uterine recovery.

If you have any questions that this article did not answer, feel free to reach out to me via email at monika@steamy.cz

 

With love,

 

Mgr. Monika Valová  

 

 

P.S. Feel free to share and distribute this article as you wish, but always with a full reference to our website and proper credit to the author. Thank you!

Women’s herbal steaming does not replace medical care; it is a supportive practice for women’s health.

 

© All rights reserved, Steamy®.cz 2025
Photo: Milada Brumovská

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