Your guide to Essential Oils for Pregnancy
Throughout your pregnancy you are a very important person, as this is a wonderful time for you to be selfish and take the best of care for yourself and your growing baby. Your state of health mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually mirrors directly onto your baby and basic things such as what you’re breathing in and putting on your skin should also be taken into consideration.
The average woman uses up to 12 personal care products per day, and we’re covering ourselves in perfumes and deodorants every few hours sometimes. The skin is the body’s largest organ and its job is to protect internal organs and the baby that’s growing inside. It is porous organ and while the skin provides our bodies with a barrier, it is also absorbent and therefore it’s important to feed your skin with the right nutrients that are really pure, just like food. Would you eat substances containing lead, sodium lauryl sulphate or aluminium or even your perfume spray? If you apply these to your skin they can penetrate into the underlying tissue and will eventually reach the blood stream – which most conventional and gimmicky products and perfumes do, and potentially cause adverse reactions or even do the opposite to what they say on the label. The fact that these toxins can be absorbed through the skin and can potentially harm your baby, I think, this is a good reason to avoid these kinds of products, especially during pregnancy.
This is the perfect time to make the jump to using pregnancy safe natural skincare, cosmetics and personal care products or even better – eliminate completely and/or just rely on simple skincare products and aromas for your body and home which you can make yourself. Not only will it benefit you and your growing baby but also your wallet.
You can make your own face and body treatments using pure essential oils and a little vegetable oil such as Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil and Olive Oil. Essential oils should always be diluted, and more so throughout your pregnancy and breastfeeding. There are some compounds in certain essential oils that have hormone like behavior because of their molecular structure and although there is a lot of essential oil brands out there and in my aromatherapy certification studies*, I have learned you should be very careful about the essential oils that you are using, as they can be very potent. Think of essential oils like a drug, it contains the pure essence of plant x10 the strength in fact, hence why some essential oils can have an emmenagogue action, which promotes and regulates the menstrual flow, and should be avoided during pregnancy.
*Please note I am not a medical professional, please consult with your health-care practitioner before using any essential oils before during, after pregnancy and throughout breastfeeding.
Essential Oils to Avoid:
Bitter Almond, Aniseed, Angelica, Basil/Sweet Basil/Lemon Basil, Black Pepper, Bachu, Camphor, Cassia, Chamomile/Blue/German, Cinnamon, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Clove, Cumin, Fennel/Sweet Fennel, Fir, Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper/Juniperberry, Lemon, Lemongrass, May Chang, Marjoram, Meslissa, Mugwort, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Oregeno, Parsley/Parsleyseed, Pennyroyal, Peppermint/Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Tansy/BlueTansy, Thyme, Tea Tree, Wormwood, Yarrow.
As I mentioned previously, there’s so many essential oil brands out there these days. Please be aware of MLM (Multi-level Marketing) companies who sell essential oils. Why?
- There is no independent, industry standard that is known as “therapeutic grade.” “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” (or “CPTG”), “100% pure therapeutic grade”, and “therapeutic quality” ever in the history of Aromatherapy, so buyer beware!
- By selling Essential Oils doesn’t give the seller the right to dish out medical advice, which is happening more and more and this is dangerous.
- Essential Oils should NEVER EVER be ingested, because they can burn the lining of orifices and cause severe reactions.
- Not only do these companies love taking your money but farmers are forced to use chemicals in their soils to keep up with the demand and therefore, the quality is degraded and/or are replaced with synthetic oils that mimic the real deal.
- Organic does not necessarily meant that it’s organic, there are so many oils that cannot be certified organic because a lot of these plants are grown in third world countries who cannot afford to be certified organic with the USDA. Organic or not it’s up to you to know who you’re buying from and if you can trust their suppliers.
- If that’s not enough, think of the environmental impact it’s having on farming if trees, plants and flowers: Essential Oils such as Sandalwood, Rosewood and Frankincense are becoming extinct due to unsustainable harvesting methods.
- Fragrance oils and essential oils are NOT the same thing. As a rule of thumb, if you see the word “fragrance” or “fragrance oil” or even “perfume” on anything, you can assume this is synthetic and NOT natural. (Even if it says natural fragrance).
My advice would be to buy from a supplier who is on the small size and not a large corporation, and these suppliers are usually owned by an aromatherapy practitioner or essential oil specialist.
Essential Oils Considered Safe to Use:
Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Grapefruit, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Mandarin, Neroli, Sweet Orange, Spike Lavender and Rose Otto.
Essential Oil Brands Recommendations:
Massage During Pregnancy:
To be safe, do not use any essential oils during the first trimester of your pregnancy and never use essential oils on babies younger than three months old. Once you are over the safety mark, you can start taking warm relaxing baths and receiving pregnancy massages by a therapist who is qualified in this field. They should only be using Roman Chamomile and Lavender with about 2 drops per 20ml of carrier oil such as Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil.
To Ease Your Mind During Pregnancy:
To keep stress away with a healthy scented atmosphere or to purify the air from germs and viruses add 2 drops Neroli, 2 drops Sweet Orange and 3 drops of Roman Chamomile in an electric vaporiser with 15 minutes increments. Your nose is so much more sensitive during pregnancy you want to avoid aromas that may make you feel nauseas.
Morning Sickness/Nausea:
There is nothing worse than morning sickness and you cannot go past the power of pure Lavender Oil. 1-2 drops of Lavender Oil and Geranium on a tissue and breathing it in can help alleviate that yucky feeling.
Stretch marks:
Boobs, bum and belly are most susceptible to stretch marks, and once formed they’re impossible to get rid of. The good news is prevention is better than cure and the most amazing oil you use is a 1-2 drops of Lavender oil and Neroli to 20ml of carrier oil such as Jojoba, Grapeseed and/or Coconut oil and Wheatgerm oil which is really really thick like pure Vitamin E, and you may want to do this over an old towel. Twice per day and use gentle sweeping motions around these areas.
Pain Management & Labour:
Labour can be painful for most, and women are now opting for natural birthing techniques which can help with managing pain naturally and creating a calm environment for mother and expecting baby. Whatever your birthing plan, you cannot go past a pregnancy massage therapist to provide you with nurturing and loving strokes. Your therapist should know that pure Jasmine oil can help dull uterine pain and strengthen contractions during labour, but should not be applied to the birting pool as these oils are too potent for your new baby. Clary Sage oil is known to strengthen the respiratory and muscular systems in labour while facilitating regular and effective contractions to speed up the process. Use 10 drops of Lavender oil with 10 drops if Peppermint oil diluted in 60ml of pure water to create a calm mist preventing nausea and bringing clarity instead.
Hi my name is Teisha, I’m a qualified Master Aromatherapist, and Natural Therapist specialising in Clinical Nutrition and Herbal Therapy, I’m also the creator and founder of INDAH est. 2008 which is now recognised globally as a favorite organic health and beauty brands.
In 2014, along with my husband we opened doors to one of Melbourne’s most unique Holistic Performance centres, called TOTAL REFORMATION where I utilise my training from the worldly recognized C.H.E.K Institute as a Holistic Lifestyle Coach and certified personal trainer.
Making pure products and perfume is my passion. I hope you enjoyed my piece on Essential Oils for Pregnancy, you can find out more at indah.com.au and download my eBook The Beautiful Way.