Aromatherapy Pregnancy Tips

Essential Oils for Pregnant Women

Grapefruit:

• Refreshing and energizing. May help headaches and water retention.
• May be diffused, used in a bath or compress, massaged in using Mixing Oil or Tangible Lotion or misted onto the face or body.

Lavender:

• Calms and balances.
• May be used after 12 weeks in a 1% dilution. Used in a diffuser, bath, compress, room spray, face and body mist or massaged in a mixture using Mixing Oil or Tangible Lotion.

Lemon:

• Mental energizer. May boost the immune system and help with water retention.
• May be diffused, used in a bath or compress, massaged in using Mixing Oil or Tangible Lotion or misted onto the face or body.

Orange:

• Uplifting and calming.
• May be diffused, used in a bath or compress, massaged in using Mixing Oil or Tangible Lotion or misted onto the face or body.

Tangerine:

• Has a grounding effect.
• May be diffused, used in a bath or compress, massaged in using Mixing Oil or Tangible Lotion or misted onto the face or body.

Oils to Avoid Entirely During Pregnancy

The following oils may be abortifacients, meaning that they have the potential to cause abortions or are toxic and are to be avoided during pregnancy:

Oils to Avoid During the First Trimester

Following are oils that may be emmenagogues, meaning that they may induce menstrual flow and should not be used during the first trimester.

Cedarwood	Chamomile	Cypress	Geranium
Juniper Berry	Lavender	Peppermint (only use after 20 weeks)
Rose (only use after 24 weeks)
Rosemary (avoid if blood pressure is high, only use after 24 weeks)

Safety Guidelines for Pregnant Women

• Use 1% - 1½% dilution of essential oils to mixing oils/lotions during pregnancy.
• Avoid all essential oils during the first trimester if miscarriage is a concern or has been a concern in past pregnancies.

Helpful Hints

Aromatherapy may ease the physical discomforts that pregnancy can bring, such as nausea, backache, swollen legs and ankles; and may help balance the emotional reactions resulting from hormonal changes.

Stretch Marks: Stretch marks are a common result of pregnancy. The regular use of a stretch mark massage blend may help to tone the skin and can be very effective in the prevention of stretch marks as well. Massage of the abdomen should be performed only very lightly during the first trimester. After this point it is safer and is very enjoyable to mother and child. Effective essential oils include Lavender and Tangerine.

Backache: Massage can relieve the backache caused by the extra weight that a pregnant woman must carry. An Aromatherapy massage will be uplifting to the spirits and may alleviate aches and pains. Effective essential oils would include Lavender and Geranium (during the last trimester only) used for massage or on a warm compress.

Swollen Ankles: Essential Oils may be useful when trying to relieve fluid retention in the ankles. The following blends should only be used after the first trimester:

• 3 drops of Lemon or Geranium, 3 drops of Lavender and 6 drops of Refresh added to a cool foot bath - soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
• 3 drops of Grapefruit, 2 drops of Lemon, 1 drop of Tangerine, 1 drop of Orange mixed with 30 ml of mixing oil for use as a foot and/or body massage. Mix these Oils with 30 ml of Refresh to add to a bath.

Nausea and Morning Sickness: Try diffusing Grapefruit Oil (Lavender if high blood pressure is a problem). For night time nausea put a drop of Orange Oil on a tissue and insert into pillowcase.

Varicose Veins: Varicose veins can form as a result of the strain that pregnancy puts on the legs. It is important to lie down with both legs elevated for at least 10 minutes every day. Following are some blends that may help (for use only after the first trimester):

• 3 drops of Cypress and 3 drops of Lemon added to 6 drops of Refresh for a soothing footbath.
• Elevate legs and alternate warm and cool compresses using a mixture of Cypress, Geranium, Lemon and Lavender.
• Blend 7 drops of Cypress and 7 drops of Lemon to 60 ml of Mixing Oil and massage gently from the feet up the legs being careful not to apply strong pressure over any of the varicose veins.

Sharon