Are Essential Oils Safe For Pregnancy?
It is a common fact that the experience of being pregnant is a joyful and, at the same time, tedious one. It is, in fact, a life-changing experience in a woman’s life. Imagine the process of bringing a new life into the world or forming a human for months, fascinating, right? Although the benefits and joy of pregnancy can be interesting and worthwhile, we cannot neglect the trials and challenges that accompany it. Wouldn’t it be superb if there were naturally made remedies to cure the negative symptoms associated with being pregnant, like nausea, morning sickness, and stress? If you have been wondering, like so many others, if there is one, the good news is that essential oils are the way out. Pure essential oils also help to calm the nerves of pregnant women; however, ensure you talk to your doctor before using any essential oil, irrespective of whether you have been using them long before now.
Essential Oils during the First Trimester
Never use essential oils during your first trimester because they could affect your baby. It is always better to be safe than sorry; avoid aromatherapy until you have passed your first phase.
Essential Oils during the Second and Third Trimester
During this period, you only require your physician's permission to use essential oils. Seeing that your baby is developed at this point, diluted essential oils would pose no threat or harm. However, ensure you purchase essential oils from trusted suppliers like SmellACloud to avoid buying fake ones.
Safety Tips for Using Essential Oils while Pregnant
Although the general use of some essential oils is harmless to pregnant women, there are some tips to adhere to ensure safe and proper use. Let’s take a look at few:
Avoid Ingesting Essential Oils
As weird as this may seem, it is not a well-known fact that essential oils are not to be ingested; it is dangerous for regular individuals not excluding pregnant women. Lots of essential oil poses many risks to both you and your baby if taken orally. Ensure you speak with your doctor before taking any action on how to use essential oils.
Dilute Your Oils
You must never apply essential oils directly onto your body as a pregnant lady. Before applying an essential oil to your body, you would require it to be diluted with a carrier oil. There are varieties of carrier oils like jojoba, apricot, sweet almond, coconut oil and many others; find the one that suits you best and mix. Concentrated essential oils can cause irritations on your skin if applied topically; it can also cause nausea to creep in, so make sure your oils are diluted before application.
Stay Within the Dosage Limits
While limited studies show the use of essential oils is dangerous, it has been proven that the excessive use of these oils can cause damage to individuals, most especially when they are used topically. Take time to dilute your essential oils carefully while using them in the recommended dosages and not exceed them.
Oils That Are Safe For Use During Pregnancy
Rose Oil
Known for reducing anxiety drastically in individuals, it is one of the most recommended and safe essential oils for women during pregnancy. Aside from its tremendous work on anxiety levels, it helps give a good night's rest and create a calm environment. Some studies have shown that rose essential oils help immensely reduce the anxiety accompanied by delivery. Since the smell of roses is soothing and therapeutic, it is one of the best bets for aromatherapy and can be dispersed into the atmosphere with the aid of a diffuser.
Chamomile Oil
Almost everyone knows of the calming effect associated with having a cup of chamomile tea but very little know that chamomile essential oil also exists and gives off similar effects. However, there are two types of chamomile that both serve different functions. The first is the roman chamomile which is best suitable for aromatherapy because it encourages relaxation and relieves migraines. The second is the German chamomile applied topically but usually diffused with a carrier oil. After childbirth, it is used to repair the skin's elasticity and reduce stretch marks.
Lavender Oil
One of the best oils safe and effective for use during pregnancy has to be the lavender essential oil. Several types of research have shown that lavender oils help relax tense muscles that may arise during delivery or stressful occurrences when properly used. You can use this oil by placing a few drops into your diffuser and allowing the steam to disperse around the labour room while you inhale gradually. You can also opt for a massage using the diluted version of lavender oil to cool your body.
Lemon Oil
If you are not a fan of the above-listed oils, lemon oil would also be a perfect pick for you. Studies have shown that lemon oil also works well when calming tensed nerves. This oil can be diffused regularly to create a calm and soothing environment.
Oils that should not be used during Pregnancy
The number of essential oils that should not be used during pregnancy is quite large, seeing that most of them have not undergone experiments to either approve or disprove them. Some essential oils to be avoided include aniseed, rue, mugwort, hyssop, oak mass, parsley, thuja, sage, wintergreen, etc.
