If you’re looking for a natural way to soothe common pregnancy discomforts, essential oils are becoming an increasingly popular treatment. But as with any natural remedy, it’s important to use them with caution and to consult your physician before beginning an essential oil regimen while pregnant.
In the first trimester, experts recommend avoiding most oils, as they may cause uterine contractions that can adversely affect the pregnancy. However, there are some safe options during the second and third trimesters, including lavender, chamomile, ylang-ylang, which are known to relax and ease tension. And many women find that peppermint oil helps reduce nausea and vomiting.
When used in a properly diluted formula, most essential oils are safe to use and have been shown to have positive effects on the pregnant woman. Some common pregnancy symptoms that can be relieved with essential oils are back pain, swollen ankles and feet, nausea and sleep problems.
Most essential oils can be applied to the skin directly, or diluted in carrier oil and then added to a massage cream or lotion or inhaled using a vaporiser. Some can also be diluted and added to a bath or used as a scent in a diffuser. But no matter how an essential oil is used, it is never recommended that they be ingested orally as they could potentially be harmful to the mother and baby.
Once absorbed into the body, they are thought to be metabolised by the liver and can alter into chemical compounds that may have an impact on the health of the mother and baby.
Some of the most commonly used essential oils during pregnancy include ginger, lemon, marjoram (sweet), ylang-ylang and chamomile. Others include benzoin, bergamot, frankincense, neroli, orange and tea tree.
There are a number of essential oils that should be avoided when pregnant, due to the risk of thujone (an oil component thought to increase the heart rate and cause contractions). These include aniseed, ajowan, borage, buchu, calamus, carrot seed, cinnamon bark, costus, elecampane, fennel, horseradish, jaborandi, mugwort, pennyroyal, oak mass, parsley, rue, thuja, wintergreen and yarrow.
It is important to note that the FDA does not regulate or monitor essential oils, so you are responsible for ensuring you are getting high-quality, reputable products and following proper application methods and dilution rates. It is also recommended to always test an essential oil on a small patch of skin before using it during pregnancy.
Ultimately, it is essential to work with your healthcare team and an experienced aromatherapist when using essential oils during pregnancy. Ultimately, they can help ease common pregnancy discomforts such as nausea and swollen ankles, while helping to support the health of the mother and baby. It is important to inform your healthcare provider and an aromatherapist of any symptoms that are unusual for pregnancy, as this can indicate serious medical conditions like preeclampsia. Then they can work with you and your healthcare team to manage those concerns in a safe and effective manner.
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