The use of essential oils during pregnancy is a controversial topic. Aromatherapy can help to ease the discomfort and conditions whenever the application of essential oil at a low dosage and appropriately. Please note that some oils are good and some to avoid during pregnancy. Safety is always our top priority.
Aromatherapy helps minimize the various discomforts of pregnancy, such as nausea, backache, and swollen legs or ankles.
Avoid ‘emmenagogic’ essential oils (i.e. they induce menstrual flow). e.g. Lavender, Clary Sage, Chamomile but these essentials are safe to use from middle to late pregnancy.
Avoid massage at this delicate time.
From the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy, expectant mothers should massage their tummy and hips daily to increase the elasticity of the skin.
Lavender can only be introduced with well-dilution from the sixth month of pregnancy onwards.
The use of essential oils together with appropriate forms of massage by a skilled therapist can help ease the discomforts of pregnancy and provide a sense of nurturing that will comfort the mother at times she is likely to be feeling rather fragile.
Change position regularly so to avoid getting cramps or impeding the blood flow in any part of the body for too long. The recommended dilution is 1% or less, for all skin applications (via massage or compress).
To avoid stretch marks, the expectant mother should massage oil into her own tummy and hips each day from the fifth month. Only employing the highest quality therapeutic essential oils, and avoiding phenol and ketone components would be safer for massage.
Pregnant women have raised melanin-stimulating hormone levels, therefore are more likely to burn in strong sunlight. Therefore the use of undiluted expressed oils is not permitted.
Do not use essential oils with high content of Phenol, or Ketone. Never use Dill and Parsley Seeds which may strong enough to trigger miscarriage. (rich in dimethyl ether, and apiol) in an attempt to abort the fetus.
Frequent Urination - Sweet marjoram, Cypress, Neroli
Back Pain/ fatigued muscles - Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Ginger, Lemon, Marjoram Sweet
Constipation – Black Pepper, Chamomile Roman
Frequent Urination - Sweet marjoram, Cypress, Neroli
Haemorrhoids - Cypress, sandalwood, Sweet Orange (Resting with the legs raised and so is the avoidance of constipation)
Heartburn - Sandalwood, Lemon, Chamomile Roman, Petitgrain
Insomnia – Ylang Ylang
Morning sickness/Nausea - Ginger, Petitgrain, Sweet Orange, Mandarin
Oedema (swelling) - Grapefruit, Lemon, Petitgrain , Bitter orange (massage of the legs)
Varicose veins - Cypress, Lemon, Sandalwood, Sweet Orange
Stretch Marks – Chamomile Roman, Mandarin, Frankincense
Stress – Bergamot, Frankincense, Petitgrain, Ylang Ylang.
Essential oil: Mandarin(1%) Neroli (2%)
Base oil: Rosehip (contains 30 - 40% of gamma linoleic acid which is very beneficial to the skin) or Hazelnut oil (rich in Vitamin E).