Pregnancy and Essential Oils - do they mix?

Pregnancy - such an exciting time in life. You get to grown your own human from scratch and then watch them grow, learn and take on life. I’m very aware of what a blessing it is, and that not every woman gets to experience it.

Of the women that do, I also know that not all of them glow with health and vitality like the women seem to in the movies.

Hemorrhoids, morning sickness, stretch marks, hair loss, acne, oily skin… the list goes on of potential issues we face at different stages of pregnancy, none of them glamorous.

I am contacted by many women who want to use more natural remedies to support themselves with some of these issues. They want to give their baby the best possible start with as close to a chemical-free pregnancy as they can but they also don’t want to spend 9 months suffering so they’re looking for alternatives.

The great news?

There are many essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy!

However, some are not and it’s important to know the difference. And I’ll add before we go on that if you are ever in any doubt at all, please please please don’t go to Doctor Google! Contact a qualified aromatherapist for advice. There is a lot of misinformation out there and it’s really not worth the risk to your beautiful little person!

The oils are great to support things like stress and anxiety, uplifting your spirits if you’re feeling down, nourishing your skin and hair and of course dealing with the physical issues like hemorrhoids, morning sickness, constipation, venous issues etc. They are also fabulous for helping to get things moving in those last hours before delivery, supporting you during labour and with pain/contractions.

So, some general guidelines to follow:

• No oils on the body in the first trimester - you can still diffuse and inhale the oils during this time just don’t let a diffuser run for more than an hour or have more than 3-5 drops of oil per 100mls of water.

• As you can be hypersensitive while pregnant, a very low dilution of oil is best for blends during the 2nd and 3rd trimester - nothing more than 1%. And if you haven’t tried an oil before, make sure you do a spot test on the inside of your arm to check for sensitivity before using a blend. Oils to avoid

• Avoid oils with emmenagogue properties. This means they promote menstruation, which is not something you want to happen while you’re pregnant. Here is a list of the most common ones:
  

  • Basil- Ocimum basilicum

  • Black Seed – Nigella sativa

  • Carrot Seed – Daucus carota

  • Cinnamon Bark – Cinnamomum zeylanicum

  • Clove Bud – Syzygium aromaticum

  • Fennel (bitter & sweet) – Foeniculum vulgare

  • Hyssop (pinocamphone ct.) – Hyssopus officinalis ct. pinocamphone

  • Myrrh – Commiphora myrrha

  • Oregano – Origanum vulgare

  • Ravensara - Ravensara aromatica

  • Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis ct. 1,8 cineole

  • Sage – Salvia officinalis

  • Thyme – Thymus vulgaris

  • Wintergreen – Gaultheria fragrantissima

There are also some oils known to have abortafacient properties, which means they can induce abortion or miscarriage such as thuja, tansy, mugwort and pennyroyal. They are not generally available to the public and aren’t used in aromatherapy as they are dangerous for both babies and mothers.

Oils that are safe:

• Stick to the known ‘safe’ oils and just use them in the right dilution following the advice of your aromatherapist or doctor. There are a bunch to choose from including:
  

  • Bergamot - Citrus bergamia

  • Black pepper – Piper nigrum

  • Chamomile Roman – Chamaemelum nobile

  • Frankincense – Boswellia carterii

  • Geranium – Pelargonium graveolens

  • Ginger Root – Zingiber officinale

  • Grapefruit – Citrus paradisi

  • Juniper Berry – Juniperus communis

  • Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia

  • Lemon - Citrus limonum

  • Neroli (Orange Blossoms) – Citrus aurantium

  • Patchouli - Pogostemon cablin

  • Petitgrain (Orange Leaf)– Citrus aurantium

  • Rose Otto – Rosa damascena

  • Sandalwood – Santalum album

  • Spearmint - Mentha spicata

  • Sweet Orange – Citrus sinensis

  • Tea Tree – Melaleuca alternifolia

  • Ylang Ylang – Cananga odorata genuina

Always remember to listen to your body and your instincts. Never in you life is this more important than when you’re a mother so it’s good to start early!

And if you’d like the advice of a qualified aromatherapist or blends made specifically for you to support your pregnancy, contact me anytime at askme@blendsbyem.com or book an appointment and let’s talk.

I would love to support you as you bring this new little person into the world!

Most of all enjoy this time. It doesn’t last long!

Before you know it that beautiful little person will be smiling up adoringly at you and all this will be a distant memory! It really is true.

Big hugs Emx aromatherapistaromatherapyclinical aromatherapypregnancyessentialoilssafety with oils