At once both fascinating and exhilarating, pregnancy can be a roller coaster of highs and lows. As the pregnancy advances, the multitude of changes happening in a woman’s body can include an influx of hormones, morning sickness, acne, breast growth and tenderness, fatigue, faster heart rate and breathing rate, an increased appetite and natural weight gain.[1]

Mothers-to-be, especially in the later stages of pregnancy may also face mood changes, anxiety, stress, frequent waking at night, exhaustion, muscle pain and body discomfort, swollen legs and feet, heartburn, gas and bloating. Luckily, essential oils can be an incredible vehicle for assisting these issues especially when it comes to mood, sleep, inflammation and swelling, nausea and pain relief.[1] Read on to find out how.

Are Essential Oils Safe During Pregnancy?

According to the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, the safety of essential oils comes down to the individual use of essential oils “in order to avoid potential adverse effects.”[2] According to aromatherapy expert Tony Burfield, “although many essential oils are potentially hazardous materials if handled in the appropriate manner, the risks involved in their use can be very small.”[2] 

Therefore, when used correctly, essential oils during pregnancy can help in a multitude of ways - one such example is by stimulating the limbic system – the emotional center of the brain – to even out stress hormones and emotions. According to experts, stress reduction care is important for pregnant women to decrease obstetric complications and children's health problems after birth.[3]

Below are other benefits of using essential oils while pregnant:

• Minimize nausea
• Relieve pain from achy muscles and pain during labor
• Reduce swelling in the legs and feet
• Tone the skin
• Improve sleep
• Reduce anxiety and stress 
• Protect the elasticity of the skin

On the subject of toxicity and pregnancy, NAHA states, “Toxicity during pregnancy is almost exclusively due to pregnant women taking large, toxic doses of essential oils, notably pennyroyal and parsley seed.”[4] 

As with any complementary therapy, there are a number of major points that should be kept in mind. 

• Any essential oils that you apply topically or breathe in will most likely cross the placental border and be introduced to your growing fetus.
• The first trimester is a very critical stage in the development of a fetus and we recommend abstaining from essential oil use during the first 3 months of pregnancy.[5] 
• The second and third trimesters are considered the safest period of time for using essential oils.
• Essential oils are super concentrated. It takes a lot of plant material to make a small bottle of oil. Using essential oils sparingly during this time and at a maximum of 1% dilution for topical applications is highly advised. 
• According to The Mayo Clinic, “Pregnancy can increase sensitivity to smell, and some women can find aromatherapy overwhelming. It may even trigger symptoms, such as nausea.”[8]
• Never use essential oils undiluted or “neat” topically. There is rarely an occasion that this is necessary. Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil or an unscented cream to avoid skin irritation.
• Never ingest essential oils unless under the guidance of a doctor and a trained aromatherapist. There isn’t enough research to conclude how the internal use of essential oils will affect the fetus.
• If you are unsure about using essential oils during pregnancy, please speak with your doctor first.
• Essential oils may be contraindicated for those with pregnancy complications.[9]

The following essential oils should always be avoided during pregnancy due to their volatile compounds: 

Aniseed, Birch, Blue Cypress, Carrot Seed, Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Costus, Fennel, Hyssop, Myrrh, Oregano, Parsley Seed & Leaf, Pennyroyal, Rue, Sage, Sassafras, Spanish Lavender, Tansy, Thuja, Tarragon, Wintergreen and Wormwood.[6,7]

Edens Garden’s Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend contains an array of essential oils that provide everyday pregnancy support. Let’s look at the essential oils found in this spectacular blend and their properties.

Anti-inflammatory: Clary Sage, Lavender, Peppermint, Chamomile- Roman, Rose

Emotional centering & soothing to the mind: Cedarwood, Bergamot Mint, Chamomile- Roman, Clary Sage, Lavender, Tangerine, Rose

Expanding breath: Bergamot Mint, Cedarwood, Peppermint

Muscle relaxation and pain relief: Bergamot Mint, Cedarwood, Chamomile- Roman, Clary Sage, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose 

Uplifting & reduce negativity: Tangerine, Bergamot Mint, Clary Sage, Rose, Lavender, Peppermint

Sedative: Cedarwood, Chamomile- Roman, Lavender, Rose

What Essential Oil Is Good For Pregnancy Nausea?

There are numerous studies on essential oils for nausea and some results have been mixed in regard to Peppermint itself.[10,11] However, when combined with the citrus oil of Lemon, together they pack a punch to reduce nausea. Tangerine is an excellent substitute in this blend for Lemon as it contains very similar chemical properties.[13,14]

What Essential Oils Help Pregnancy Headaches?

Peppermint is one of the best oils for tension headaches and pain relief and verified by a number of studies.[10,11.12] Peppermint aids the expansion of breath. Deeper breath brings the relaxation of the Vagus nerve which in turn calms stress.[15] 

To approach a headache from a different angle, oils that help you relax and de-stress support Peppermint in Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend. These include Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Chamomile- Roman, Rose and Lavender essential oil. 

In a study on Chamomile- Roman,[16] it was found that this soothing oil encourages deep relaxation and reduces the severity of migraine attacks. 

Is Peppermint Oil Safe To Use During Pregnancy? 

According to aromatherapist Robert Tisserand, “There is no indication that peppermint oil carries any risk in pregnancy.”[17] However, as with all other essential oils, the method we encourage is moderation. 

Research shows that Peppermint is completely safe for adults to use at a 1% dilution topically or inhaled for nausea and headaches. 

Is Lavender Essential Oil Safe For Pregnancy?

From reducing anxiety during labor to helping with sleep and keeping you calm, Lavender essential oil is safe for use when properly used. Inhale it from a cotton ball or tissue or better yet with an on-the-go essential oil inhaler. 

Lavender is also beneficial for reducing pain & inflammation when used at a 1% dilution in massage oil. Try also using it when soaking your swollen feet at the end of a long day (see the recipe below). 

How To Use Essential Oils During Pregnancy?

1. Inhalation: To test your essential oil tolerance, uncap the bottle and take a whiff. Or place one drop of a single oil or a blend such as Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend onto a cotton ball or a folded tissue and place it under the nose for inhalation. 
   
   
2. Foot Bath: Swollen feet? No problem! Soak your feet for 15 minutes in a foot bath by mixing these ingredients in a bowl for aromatherapy benefits:
   
   
• 4 drops Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend
• ½ cup of Epsom Salts
• 1 tbsp of Castile soap
• To soften feet add ⅛ cup baking soda (optional)
  
  
3. Aromatherapy Massage Oil:  Grab your partner, follow these linked videos and have them give you a very light aromatherapy foot massage and leg massage every night if you can! Use a diluted carrier oil blend to help improve your circulation, move lymphatic fluid and avoid varicose veins. 
   
   
• Blend the following in a 4 oz Amber Glass Bottle with a Pump: 
• 4 oz Jojoba Oil
• 20-32 drops of Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend
  
  
4. Diffuse: Feeling stressed out and need to calm your mind? It's best to follow your diffuser's instructions but as a general rule, fill up your diffuser with distilled water and diffuse 6 drops of Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend in 100 ml of water.

When the time comes, do not forget to keep close at hand the aromatherapy massage oil for gentle low back massage during your delivery. It will help to relieve and ease aches and calm anxiety. Complement the use of essential oils with yoga practice, during meditation and with relaxing breathing techniques which can all help reduce stress throughout pregnancy and childbirth. 

Once your baby arrives, it’s best to avoid using essential oils entirely due to babies’ ultra-sensitivity to aromas and stimulants in the environment. Read expert advice on essential oil safety with infants here. 

SOURCES:

1. Changes to your Body During Pregnancy https://familydoctor.org/changes-in-your-body-during-pregnancy-first-trimester/
2. Safety Information https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/#other
3. Stress reduction care is important for pregnant women to decrease obstetric complications and children's health problems after birth. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3804257/
4. Burfield, T. (2000). Safety of Essential Oils. International Journal of Aromatherapy, Vol 10.½
5. Using Essential Oils Safely During Pregnancy https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/essential-oils-for-pregnancy#safety
6. Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7956842/
7. Is it Safe to Use Essential Oils While Pregnant? https://www.webmd.com/baby/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-while-pregnant
8. Essential Oils and Pregnancy https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/essential-oils-and-pregnancy
9. Evidence of Essential Oils during Pregnancy, Brith and Postpartum https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-essential-oils-during-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartum/
10. Effect of Aromatherapy with Peppermint Oil on the Severity of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Single-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled trial https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5960050/
11. Essential Oils and Pregnancy - Mayo Clinic News Network https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/essential-oils-and-pregnancy/#:~:text=Some%20women%20have%20had%20success,Lavender%20and%20rose
12. Peppermint Oil https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2007/0401/p1027.html
13. Research: Lemon Oil for Morning Sickness https://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/lemon-oil-morning-sickness/
14. The Effect of Lemon Inhalation Aromatherapy on Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005434/
15. The Vagus Nerve: Your Secret Weapon in Fighting Stress https://www.allied-services.org/news/2020/june/the-vagus-nerve-your-secret-weapon-in-fighting-s/
16. Potential Effect and Mechanism of Action of Topical Chamomile (Matricaria chammomila L.) Oil on Migraine Headache: A Medical Hypothesis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987714003077
17. New Research: Peppermint Helps with Pregnancy Itch https://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/peppermint-pregnancy-itch/#:~:text=The%20severity%20of%20pruritus%20in,carries%20any%20risk%20in%20pregnancy.