Essential Oil and Pregnancy: Banish Nausea and More with These Safe Oils

Which Essential Oils Are Safe When Pregnant & Which Should You Avoid?

If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone. Many women have wondered the same thing when it comes to essential oil and pregnancy.

While I believe that essential oils can provide a number of benefits, we need to educate ourselves on their safety. Particularly when it comes to certain host factors, such as age, health status, and pregnancy.

In other words, you’re headed in the right direction!

Honestly, I’ve been curious about combining essential oil and pregnancy for a while. So I (finally) did a little research and put together this guide.

I am not a medical professional, and this information is not intended to replace medical advice.

Firstly, Is It Safe to Use Essential Oils During Pregnancy?

Yes, you can use certain oils during pregnancy. BUT! You should always be cautious and do your research on each oil before using it.

(FYI, scroll downward for a list of safe essential oils and those to avoid while pregnant!)

Based on research performed by world-renowned expert Robert Tisserand, some essential oils can be used AFTER the first trimester (12 weeks). 

He recommends using only 1% blend, or 1 drop of essential oil per 5 ml of base oil.

And while you shouldn’t ever put essential oils neat on the skin (or ingest them) at any time, it’s especially important to follow this recommendation while pregnant.

Common carrier oils include:

• jojoba
• apricot
• coconut
• sweet almond

So, which essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy, and which should you avoid?

Benefits of Essential Oils While Pregnant

We know that essential oils are safe to use after the first trimester of pregnancy. Wondering why you would want to use them while pregnant?

Here are a few of the benefits of properly using essential oils during pregnancy.

• possible reduction of nausea and upset stomach
• soothing, particularly during labor
• helpful with achy muscles
• soothing on inflamed skin
• improved relaxation and better sleep
• reduction in appearance of stretch marks
• helpful in uplifting the mood

Essential Oils Safe in Pregnancy

If you’re looking for essential oils for pregnancy nausea, anxiety, skin complaints, or various other ailments that arise during pregnancy, you’re in luck!

Here’s a list of oils that are safe to use during pregnancy, and it covers a number of different pregnancy complaints.

Lavender Essential Oil, Lavandula angustifolia

• Calms anxiety
• Aids relaxation
• Promotes a good night’s sleep
• Calms pregnancy nausea

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil, Anthemis nobilis

• Soothes irritated or inflamed skin

Mandarin Essential Oil, Citrus reticulata

• Refreshes and uplifts the mood
• Calms pregnancy nausea

Frankincense Essential Oil, Boswellia carterii

• Calms anxiety
• Aids relaxation
• Promotes a good night’s sleep

Geranium Essential Oil, Pelargonium graveolens

• Balances emotions

Essential Oils in Pregnancy to Avoid

Likewise, there are certain essential oils to avoid during pregnancy. If you’re wondering if an oil is safe to use in pregnancy, first consult the list provided above.

A general rule of thumb:

If it is NOT on the above list (which I found on Tisserand’s FAQ Page), then I would NOT be comfortable using it during pregnancy.

That said, are there certain essential oils that you should positively avoid while pregnant, during labor, and while breastfeeding?

Yes, and they are:

• wormwood
• rue
• oak moss
• Lavandula stoechas
• camphor
• parsley seed or leaf
• pennyroyal
• sage
• hyssop
• aniseed
• Basil ct. estragole
• birch
• camphor
• mugwort
• tansy
• tarragon
• thuja
• wintergreen

(FYI, I got this info from NAHA.org)

So, there you have it — the answer to your question of whether essential oils and pregnancy can be mixed.

Want to read more about essential oil safety?

If you use essential oils as a home remedy, you’ll definitely want to invest in Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. It includes over 4,000 citations and is considered the most evidence-based book on the subject.

Recommended Reading:

Is It Safe to Drink Gatorade During Pregnancy?

Diffusing Essential Oils Around Babies & Toddlers

Top 9 Essential Oil Diffuser Benefits to Improve Your Health

Get Rid of Dry Eyes in the Office with an Ultrasonic Humidifier