What Essential Oils Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?

There are many things you need to avoid during your pregnancy. Therefore, you may be nervous anytime you want to use any kind of product. In this article, we will help you answer the question: Do you have to worry about using essential oils during your pregnancy?

Keep reading this article to know which ones are safe for you. At the same time, we will let you know which ones you should avoid during pregnancy.

Benefits of Essential Oils for Pregnancy

You can get therapeutic benefits from using essential oils during your pregnancy. They can help you decrease common ailments and calm anxiety. Here are some benefits you can get if you use essential oils properly:

  • Soothe achy muscles
  • Minimize nausea as well as upset stomach
  • Improve sleep quality
  • Relieve irritation related to hemorrhoids
  • Decrease anxiety during labor
  • Decrease the stretch marks
  • Improve skin elasticity

How to Use Essential Oils While Pregnant

You haven’t to use these oils during the first trimester since it is the most important period during pregnancy. Here are some protocols you should keep in mind in your 2nd or 3rd trimesters:

Avoid Ingesting Essential Oils

You should avoid ingesting them even when you are not in your pregnancy. You only should take them orally if you are under the direct supervision of a physician or an expert.

You can get toxicity risks for you and your baby when ingesting many essential oils.

Pay Attention to Aromatherapy

According to most medical experts, pregnant women can choose aromatherapy as a safer option. It means you should use them in an essential oil diffuser instead of applying these oils directly to your skin.

Dilute Essential Oils

To use essential oils topically, you should consider using a carrier oil. This is important. As you know, these oils are very concentrated.

Therefore, they may irritate your skin if you apply them directly without diluting them. There are some common carrier oils you can use, such as coconut, jojoba, apricot, and sweet almond.

Safe Essential Oils while Pregnant

Lavender Oil

This oil is the most promoted choice. It is commonly used for pregnant women. Well, it is a great aromatherapy treatment. You can use it once you get stressed. Moreover, this oil can help to relieve your labor pain.

Add a few drops of lavender oils to a portable diffuser. Then, bring it with you to the hospital. This way can help you relax your mood. However, you should not inhale the steam directly. Otherwise, it can irritate your nose.

Rose Oil

You should also consider rose oil. It can relieve anxiety as well as encourage calm. Just like lavender oil, it can easy anxiety during delivery. Moreover, it is excellent for aromatherapy uses. We recommend you to add it to a diffuser.

Chamomile Oil

Chamomile is divided into two types. You can use each type for a different purpose. If you want to encourage relaxation, you should use roman chamomile.

However, you can use it topically with a carrier oil. This way is to reduce stretch marks. Also, it can help to repair the elasticity of the skin.

Geranium Oil

If you are looking for an essential oil to reduce anxiety while pregnant, you should not miss geranium essential oils. It is an excellent option for labor and delivery.

Lemon Oil

Another oil you can use is lemon oil. It helps you to handle nausea and vomiting while you’re pregnant. This oil ensures to decrease the frequency of vomiting.

Other Oils

There are therapeutic benefits of additional essential oils. They include:

  • Ginger
  • Pomegranate
  • Bitter almond
  • Patchouli
  • Argan
  • Cypress
  • Fennel
  • Cardamom
  • Frankincense
  • Myrtle essential

Essential Oils to Avoid While Pregnant

There is a larger list of oils to avoid during pregnancy compared to safe ones. The reason is that you can get a toxicity risk from them:

  • Sage
  • Aniseed
  • Rue
  • Wormwood
  • Birch
  • Oak mass
  • Mugwort
  • Hyssop
  • Tansy
  • Parsley
  • Tarragon
  • Thuja
  • Wintergreen
  • Pennyroyal
  • Camphor

Conclusion

You can reduce some common symptoms of pregnancy, like nausea. Also, they can help relieve anxiety during labor. It is essential to use them based on the recommended amounts.

Also, you should work with your physician before starting to use essential oil. Hopefully, our article is useful for you.