It’s the final countdown! (Do, do, do, do.) Are you singing along with me? Are you? Please tell me yes. I’m now in the last month of pregnancy and CAN. NOT. WAIT. for it to be done with. Thankfully I got myself essential oils a few years back and have been lucky enough to have these natural tools on hand for both pregnancies. I really don’t know what I would do without them! NOW, as you know, I’m not a medical professional. I recommend seeking out pure oils, and researching how to safely use them always but especially in pregnancy. Talk to a health professional too! This page by The Essential Midwife is helpful aswell.
Here’s what The Essential Midwife says about the safety of essential oils for pregnancy:
Are oils safe to use in pregnancy?
You may see mixed information out there in different books about oils safe to use in pregnancy. Please understand these books were written with all oil users in mind. They will be ultra conservative because their readers may not necessarily be using the same brand of essential oils.
The information I give in my book comes from personal experience in my midwifery practice.
I always say to follow your own intuition. You are the one who was given stewardship over your body, and everyBODY is different, so do what you feel comfortable with.
First Trimester
Ok, lets walk through pregnancy one trimester at a time. During the first trimester you may be plagued with sickness and exhaustion. Or you may not. But let’s look at some solutions anyway.
Sickness: Gah, ok. I’m the first to admit that there really is nothing in the whole entire world that cures this. In my first pregnancy I had EXTREME morning sickness where I barely left bed for months. Just the smell of most oils was enough to send me straight to the toilet. I did diffuse lemon to deodorise the air though because hello, everything smelt. Some women find inhaling Peppermint or Ginger helpful for easing nausea.
Energy: During the first trimester of this pregnancy I was sleeping 12-14 hours a day. I was TIRED. Peppermint can help wake you up and energise you! Inhale, diffuse or apply to wrists!
Second Trimester
Are you the type of person that breezes through their second trimester or are still trying to shake the first trimester off? I think I’m the latter. In the second trimester I start to experience discomfort in my back, head tension, and at times dry skin. Here’s a few essential oils for pregnancy in your second trimester!
Discomfort: Or in other words pain. If I need a gentle option, I opt for oils like frankincense and copaiba or even Aromatouch massaged into my back. For ultimate relief, I love Ice Blue Rub. A little goes a long way so use sparingly.
Head tension: Again, grab out that Peppermint! Dilute and apply to temples.
Belly oil: Is your belly rapidly expanding? You may want to start moisturising that skin in preparation for the stretching! Apparently stretch marks are genetic and you either get them or you don’t, regardless you’ll still want your belly hydrated to make the stretching easier and less uncomfortable. I like to make a belly oil with fractionated coconut oil and a selection of nourishing oils. Here’s my ultimate boujee blend:
In a 30ml serum bottle:
-10 drops cypress
-10 drops lavender
-10 drops geranium
-5 drops blue tansy
-5 drops frankincense
-5 drops helicrysum
-FCO
See some of my other second trimester faves here.
Third Trimester
Hooray! Home strait! In my first pregnancy, my last trimester was my favourite. BUT this time it hasn’t been quite so enjoyable. Pain has been ruling the show which I have been able to get some temporary relief from between oils, chiropractic care and physiotherapy but other than that, I really do just have to wait it out. Other things I’ve been experiencing include difficulty sleeping, heightened emotions and heartburn. There’s so many good options for essential oils for pregnancy so find ones that you love and work for you! Just dilute appropriately.
Sleep: Every person struggling with sleep needs a diffuser. I still like to test that it actually works every now and then and won’t put it on at night. Rookie move. I’ll have the worst sleep ever. I love to diffuse Lavender Peace or Lavender and Cedarwood at night time. MUST HAVE.
Emotions: Balance or Adaptiv! Life savers. I apply to wrists, self diffuse and put in the diffuser as well. When feeling overwhelmed, these are great to have on hand.
Heartburn: I have a few things that have helped! Firstly, doTERRA’s Terrazyme (digestive enzymes have been super helpful). Secondly, putting a drop of lemon into my water. It aids digestion too! And thirdly, drinking a little store bought kombucha each day has been super beneficial because again, it helps with digestion.
Labour
During my labour with E I didn’t use oils. I managed so fine for so long then all of a sudden when I needed the support of oils, I didn’t have the energy to communicate it. This time it’s different, I’ve planned it out!
I’ve made up a few mists and diffuser blends to make it easy. I’ve focused on oils that I personally find to be helpful for helping me to get into a calm state. I’ve picked out some of my faves like Frankincense, Wild Orange and Balance. Clary Sage is not an oil that you want to use during pregnancy. It can intensify contractions and progress labour, so until you’re ready to have baby, leave it on the shelf. Full term or in labour? GO FOR GOLD.
Early Labour Diffuser Blend
-Frankincense
-Ylang Ylang
-Clary Sage – to continue labour along
-Lavender
Calm Mist
-Balance
-Wild Orange
-Frankincense
Birth Mist
-Peppermint – to cool the body and energise
-Lavender – to calm and soothe
-Frankincense – for emotions and to calm
Sleep Blend
-Lavender
-Cedarwood
-Ylang Ylang
-Frankincense
As you can see Frankie-boy features a LOT. For labour and birth I recommend leaning into oils that you already love and that remind you of being calm and peaceful. Don’t pick oils because you hear they’re good, pick ones you personally know work for you and take you to your happy place.
Postpartum
Essential oils come in so blimen handy postpartum. There’s a range of physical. emotional and hormonal things happening that can often be supported by oils.
Peri Spray: This is for helping your perineum heal afterwards. It’s incredible! Use each time you use the loo. It can even go on c-section scars too.
-half rose water
-half witch hazel
-copaiba
-frankincense
-blue tansy
-rose
DigestZen: Just incase you need a little support! Rub on your belly!
ClaryCalm: The hormonal OG. Roll onto uterus to help it recover. In my experience it can help to bring hose hormones back into balance too.
Rose: Sweet comfort. The highest vibrating oil on planet earth. Apply to wrists and inhale!
