Essential oils for pregnancy

Each pregnancy is different, I would know, after all I have been there four times and each one had its own peculiarities and similarities as well.

The pregnancy with my boys were much easier than my girls; with the boys I had a lot less nausea but with the girls I could not keep any food down for the first three months. However, I always experience constipation with every single pregnancy, go figure.

My fourth baby is the one that actually gave me the hardest time during pregnancy, I experienced fatigue, swelling during the last months, my skin broke out quite a lot the first months and not to mention it was so hard to breath.

But to be quite frank with you, I am the type of mom that hates medication especially when I am pregnant. I prefer to endure pain than to reach out to a medication that although may relieve some of the pain, it may also have an adverse effect on my baby, hence why my last three births were fully natural and totally unmedicated. You can see the water birth of my last baby right on my instagram, if you have the heart for it as it is pretty graphic.

So, my alternative to conventional medications is essential oils. Keep in mind, though, that not every essential oil is safe to be used during pregnancy and when in doubt please consult your doctor/physician about the safety of oils for yourself.

I am fortunate enough to have a friend who is very knowledgeable about essential oils and who gifted me a book called " Essential oils for pregnancy, birth and babies" which helped me tremedously with getting acquainted which oils are great during pregnancy.

My midwife is also very holistic and was also able to make essential oil recommendations and guided me which oils to use that would help me out throughout the pregnancy journey.

Below you will find a list of conditions associated with pregnancy and essential oils that may help you, as well as recipes but keep in mind to consult your doctor/physician/midwife to ensure that it is safe for you.

Essential oils for pregnancy, birth and babies

Breast tenderness

These oils may help with breast tenderness relief

• Women's blend ( Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Cedar wood, Yang Yang, Geranium, Fennel, Carrot Seed, Palma Rosa, and Vertex)

• Grapefruit

• Ylang Ylang

• Lavender

You may dilute it with a carrier oil or just apply undiluted directly onto breasts.

Constipation

These oils may be beneficial if you are experiencing constipation during pregnancy

• Digestive blend ( a blend of Anise Seed, Peppermint Plant, Ginger Rhizome/Root, Caraway Seed, Coriander Seed, Tarragon Plant, and Fennel Seed )

• Orange

• Cypress

• Marjoram

You may add two to three drops to your water or in a capsule. Another way to use it is by mixing it with a carrier oil and massaging it on to abdomen.

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Depression

Due to all the hormonal changes, many pregnant women experience depression during pregnancy. The following oils may be beneficial in up lifting the mood and emotions.

• Invigorating blend ( a blend of Wild Orange Peel, Lemon Peel, Grapefruit Peel, Mandarin Peel, Bergamot Peel, Tangerine Peel, Clementine Peel essential oils and Vanilla Bean Absolute)

• Joyful blend ( a blend of Lavandin, Lavender, Melissa, Ylang Ylang, and Osmanthus with Tangerine, Elemi, and Lemon Myrtle)

• Grounding blend ( a blend Spruce Leaf, Ho Wood Leaf, Frankincense Resin, Blue Tansy Flower, Blue Chamomile Flower, and Osmanthus Flower essential)

• Wild Orange

• Ylang ylang

• Frankincense

Diffuse blends or experiment mixing two oils of your choice. Frankincense may also be used on its own by placing one to two drops under tongue and chasing it with water.

Swelling

Many women may experience swelling during pregnancy. Here are some oils that may help reducing the swelling.

• Invigorating blend

• Massage blend ( a blend of Cypress Plant, Peppermint Plant, Marjoram Leaf, Basil Leaf, Grapefruit Peel, Lavender Flower)

• Cypress

• Lavender

• Ginger

• Lemon

Mix any of the oils or blend (two to three drops of each) and mix it with a carrier oil and massage it on to legs, ankles and foot.

You may also add three to five drops of lemon to your water once per day.

Fatigue

Growing a whole human inside of you is really hard work, so it's normal to feel fatigue during pregnancy. These oils may help you feel more at ease and relaxed.

• Invigorating Blend

• Joyful Blend

• Wild Orange

• Lemon

• Grapefruit

• Peppermint

Mix a few drops with a carrier oil and massage onto back, shoulders and back of the neck. Diffusing it is also another option.

Headaches or Dizziness

Pregnant women may experience headaches or dizziness due to hormone levels, fatigue, low blood sugar levels and other reasons. The following oils may help with relief.

• Calming Blend ( a blend of Wild Orange, Lavender, Copaiba, Spearmint, Magnolia, Rosemary, Neroli, and Sweetgum)

• Tension Blend ( a blend of Wintergreen, Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil, and Rosemary )

• Soothing Blend ( a blend of Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysum, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, and Osmanthus)

• Lavender

• Peppermint

Apply blends or single oils (diluted or undiluted) to temples, forehead and back of neck

Headache Blend

6 drops lemongrass

6 drops marjoram

6 drops frankincense

Add all oils in a rollerball and fill it up with a carrier oil of your choice. You may also add it to a capsule to take it internally.

Heartburn

It is common to experience heartburn during pregnancy as the valves at the entrance of the stomach relax and it doesn't close as usual, making it possible for acidic stomach contents to make its way up into the esophagus. To help with heartburn relief, try these essential oils:

• Digestive Blend

• Peppermint

• Ginger

• Wild Orange

Add one to two drops of the oil of your choice to a capsule or drop it under the tongue and chase it with water.

Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps may happen during pregnancy either due to changes in blood circulation, extra weight being carried or both. These oils may help to alleviate some muscle cramps during pregnancy.

• Marjoram

• Soothing Blend

• Massage blend

Mix the single oil or blend with a carrier oil and massage onto affected area.

Nausea

Nausea is usually the number one complaint amongst pregnant women, especially during the first trimester. There are a few essential oils that help alleviate the feeling of being nauseous and here are a few of them:

• Lavender

• Sandalwood

• Ginger

• Cardamom

• Peppermint

• Fennel

Mix a couple of drops lavender, sandalwood or ginger with a carrier oil and massage onto abdomen.

Add a drop of cardamon to back of neck and ears to help ease the nausea feeling.

Add three to five drops of fennel. ginger or peppermint into capsule and chase it with water. This is best done when taken on an empty stomach.

Add one or two drop of ginger and/or lemon to water with honey.

Morning sickness blend

10 drops peppermint

10 drops cardamom

30 drops lavender

Add it to a rollerball and fill it up with carrier oil. Massage on to abdomen and/or back of the neck and ears.

DIY Nausea Spray Mix

20 drops Peppermint

15 drops Lemon

5 drops Wild Orange

Add the oils to a 4 oz amber bottle with distilled water and spray whenever feeling nauseous.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

While pregnant your pee will contain more sugar, proteins and hormones which can cause Urinary Tract Infection. Here is a great DIY that can help alleviate the discomfort of UTI:

UTI Capsules

4 drops Cassia

4 drops Oregano

4 drops Protective blend (a blend of Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower)

4 drops Thyme

Add all oils to a capsule and drink every hour until you have seen improvement. Continue to take it three to four times a day to ensure the infection is gone.

Yeast Infection

The increase of estrogen in your body while pregnant can deregulate the ph levels in your vagina and cause an overgrowth of yeast. This DIY yeast infection suppository may help alleviate symptoms.

DIY Yeast Infection Suppository

30 drops of oregano

40 drops lavender

40 drops of tea tree

Mix the essential oils with a cup of full fat coconut oil until the mixture is well blended. Test it out on the back of your hand to ensure there is not skin sensitivity. Add the mixture to a suppository shaped silicone mold like this one and place it in the freezer.

Pop one out whenever you are ready to use it and insert inside the vagina. It is best done at night time before going to bed so you can stay laying down as the mixture will start to melt and may cause some leakage.

Also, place a towel under yourself in the case that the mixture melts down to avoid staining your bed sheets.

Backaches

Backaches are a common complaint during pregnancy because your muscles start to relax the ligaments in your joints of your pelvis as well as weight gain. To help with some relief, try the following massage oil:

10 drops Soothing blend

15 drops lavender

10 drops Marjoram

10 drops rosemary

15 drops wild orange

Add the oils to a 4oz amber spray bottle and fill it up with a carrier oil of your choice. Massage the blend on to back.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks can happen during pregnancy because as your body grows, the hormones soften the fibers in your body making it more prone to stretch marks. The following oils may help with the prevention of stretch marks.

Anti aging blend

(a blend of frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, myrrh, helichrysum and rose)

Mix anti aging blend with a carrier oil and massage on to belly and side and any other area prone to stretch marks.

Stretch mark oil recipe

10 drops of Cypress essential oil

5 drops of Geranium essential oil

10 drops of Lavender essential oil

10 drops of Wild Orange essential oil

10 drops of Citrus Bliss essential oil (invigorating blend)

Carrier Oil ( Coconut oil, Almond oil, or any other carrier oil that you prefer )

In a 4oz amber glass bottle, add the essential oils and then fill it up with your carrier oil of choice. Close it up, shake well so the mixture is well blended.

Group B Strep

Group B Strep is a common bacteria found in the intestines or lower genital tract and while it may be harmless to healthy adults, it can be very dangerous to newborn babies. If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with Group Step B, here are two DIY's that may help you:

Group B Strep Capsule blend

4 drops lemon

4 drops melaleuca

4 drops oregano

4 drops protective blend

Add it to a capsule and take on to three times a day.

Group B Strep Suppository

15 drops lemon

15 drops melaleuca

9 drops oregano

Mix it well with a half cup of coconut oil, add it to a suppository silicone mold like this one and take it to the freezer. Whenever you ready to use, just pop one out and insert it into vagina. Best done at night time.

Skin Conditions

The increase in level of hormones may cause skin conditions in many pregnant women. From acne to hyper pigmentation, every woman experience is different. Here is a blend that may help with skin conditions.

Skin Blend

10 drops roman chamomile

10 drops geranium

10 drops lavender

10 drops sandalwood

Add oils to a 4oz amber bottles and fill it up with a carrier oil.

Sleep Problems

From discomfort to fetal kicking, these are just some of the reasons why many pregnant women may have issues with falling or staying asleep. The following oils may help you relax and enhance sleep.

Lavender

Roman Chamomile

Calming Blend

Bergamot

Frankincense

You may diffuse the oils or apply it directly to the bottom of feet.

Sleep Enhancement Blend

5 drops bergamot

5 drops roman chamomile

5 drops frankincense

5 drops lavender

Hemorrhoids

The increase weight of baby and fetus may cause the veins in the pelvis to swell leading to possible hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can be very painful and cause discomfort. This hemorrhoid blend may help with some relief.

Hemorrhoid blend

4 drops cypress

4 drops helichrysum

2 drops peppermint

2 tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil or witch hazel

Mix the the oils with the coconut oil or witch hazel and apply directly on to affected area.

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These are just a few recipes, blends and information but the Essential oils for pregnancy, birth and babies hold a lot more information.

In this book you will also find essential oils that can help with getting pregnant, postpartum and so much more. You will also find out which oils are not safe during pregnancy and after as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys using essential oils, especially midwives.

Keep in mind that every one is different and some people may experience sensitivity to certain oils, so always consult your doctor/physician before consuming and using essential oils.