ESSENTIAL OILS AND PREGNANCY
This is a topic very close to my heart as many of my friends have recently given birth or are expecting. It's probably the most celebrated event in many people's lives and I am highly passionate on informing expecting mums about the safety of using essential oils and aromatherapy during their pregnancy. Having worked with several hypnobirthing practitioners and qualified birthing partners I know how nervous you may feel about using certain products or eating certain foods and I want to help you feel confident and informed about using essential oils safely.
It is completely safe to use many essential oils from 12 weeks onwards (in the second and third trimester). In fact, essential oils can become a really effective and supportive natural option for women to use for their own self-care. It’s a great time in our lives to seek more natural solutions and replace our current products with natural holistic alternatives.
At the bottom of this blog post is a long list of pregnancy safe essential oils that are categorised as safe by the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists. Feel free to use this list to double check any oils you might want to use or better yet, take out the guesswork and check out my list of products and scents that are safe for you to use.
BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL OILS DURING PREGNANCY
Using essential oils during pregnancy can be a great alternative for treating illnesses and symptoms in place of conventional medication, which is often unsuitable during pregnancy. Essential oils are natural remedies with very few side effects. When used correctly, essential oils can:
- Minimise nausea and upset stomach,
- Soothe aching muscles,
- Reduce the appearance of stretch marks,
- Improve sleep,
- Reduce anxiety during labour.
GUIDELINES TO USING ESSENTIAL OILS DURING PREGNANCY
When using essential oils during pregnancy, they should either be diffused in the air (diffuser, candle etc) or diluted into a solution and applied topically (rollerball, bath soak, massage oil etc). The dilution is key and neat essential oils should not be used on skin. Bear in mind that if you have a heightened sense of smell, start with very small amounts and see how you get on.
Choose your oils wisely. Don’t mistakenly buy fragrance oils instead of essential oils. These will have no benefit whatsoever and are synthetic. Make sure your essential oils are 100% pure and not mixed with fragrance oils or other additives.
ESSENTIAL OILS THAT ARE SAFE (12 weeks onwards)
Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Ginger, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lavender, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rose, Tea Tree, Thyme, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang.
Please note this list is not exhaustive. I have chosen the most common oils used.
SAGE & GRACE PREGNANCY SAFE PRODUCTS
- In Bloom rollerball – made specifically for use in pregnancy and labour. Contains Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Rose Geranium and Grapefruit essential oils.
- Pick Me Up Rollerball – contains Bergamot, Grapefruit and Orange essential oils.
- All Unwind products – contains Lavender and Bergamot essential oils.
- All Balance products – contains Frankincense, Ylang Ylang and Grapefruit oils.
- All Tranquil products – contains Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Lavender and Bergamot essential oils.
- All Summer Garden products – contains Palmarosa, Rosewood, Orange and Ylang Ylang essential oils.
- Botanical Bath Salts – contains Epsom salts, Lavender and Frankincense essential oils.
It's always best to consult with your midwife and/or doctor before trying aromatherapy. It’s great to check in with them on your overall health journey.