Healthytalk8 Essential oil during pregnancy is a highly controversial matter, however, some believed that it is safe during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is one of the life stages which brings lots of hormonal, physical, and physiological changes to your body.
EO is made from plant seeds, where oil is extracted by putting a tone of weight on seeds, instead of heat and any chemical additives.
Essential oil is recommended during pregnancy, and also during periods, which relieve discomfort, and pain, and promote sleep.
However, not all EO are safe, some EO should not be used during pregnancy, which may also interact with babies’ health.
Essential always be dilute with a carrier oil like coconut oil, etc because direct EO on the skin may lead to irritation and redness.
So today’s topic will tell you about essential oil during pregnancy.
Is EO safe?
Contents
Essential oils (EOs) are generally safe, and many oils have generally recognized as safe.
However, some essential oil rich in anethole are unsafe so this should be avoided during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in certain cancers.
Essential oils come in different scents and qualities.
Certain essential oil is safe to use however certain during pregnancy is not recommended.
Also, the use of aromatherapy is suggested during labor, with no significant reported side effects in the mothers and neonates (2).
Check Out – Essential Oil: How To Use For Multiple Purposes, And With Safety
Benefits
The essential oil comes with several health benefits, not only during pregnancy but also become a key for your issue lock.
By used properly, certain essential oil brings lots of benefits from mind to physical health including:
- boost feel-good neurotransmitters in your brain like dopamine and serotonin, which elevate mood.
- reduce anxiety, stress
- help in minimize nausea and stomach issues
- excellent for skin and hair health
- improve sleep
- bring positive vibes
- may work as a pain suppress
- reduce fatigue
- have an anti-inflammatory effect
- reduce the appearance of stretch marks
- help reduce irritation and swelling associated with piles
EOs is highly concentrated and is made by the steam distillation process, where steam the plants until the oil present in them vaporizes.
Uses of essential oil during pregnancy
Essential oil is commonly used in enhancing mood but can it really helpful in pregnancy-related issues let’s see:
For insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, where a person faces difficulty in falling asleep, which affects women more than men.
Some research tells that aromatherapy on sleep quality in different periods of life might be useful for the improvement of sleep quality in postpartum women.
A study on Korean female students found that Lavender oil aromatherapy for insomnia treatment significantly reduces insomnia.
Other studies showed that lavender essential oil improves sleepiness during wakefulness.
EOs including lavender, basil, juniper, and sweet marjoram are shown to improve overall sleep and well-being in older patients (3).
Check Out – Pregnancy Insomnia: Causes, Complications, Ways To Sleep Better
For anxiety
Aromatherapy is believed to be effective in order to relieve tension or feelings of anger during the waiting time.
The majority of the studies showed a positive effect of aromatherapy in reducing women’s anxiety during the first stage of labor.
other studies have shown that lavender oil significantly reduced anxiety during the first stage of labor.
For pain
Lavender oil aromatherapy was also reported as a successful and safe complementary therapy in the reduction of pain in pregnant women.
Studies have shown that aromatherapy with massage decreases stress and enhances immune function during pregnancy.
Also reduce body tension and emotional stress (4).
Several studies indicate that aromatherapy is effective in relieving pain and anxiety during pregnancy which is labor and childbirth.
Helpful in nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are the most common complaints about 50 to 80% of women experience it (5).
According to a study, 40% of women have used lemon scent to relieve nausea and vomiting.
And 26.5% of them have reported it as an effective way to control their symptoms (6) (7).
In other studies, mint has been used to reduce morning sickness during pregnancy in 41% of cases.
Several studies tell that lemon and peppermint EO could reduce mild to moderate severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
For headache
Headache is the most common illness compliant in medical science (8).
Some studies show the ability of peppermint oil in treating migraine headaches by relaxing muscles and relieving pain.
Others study light that inhalation of lavender EO may be an effective and safe treatment in the acute management of migraine headaches.
Check Out – Best Yoga Asanas To Minimize Headache To a Great Extent
For fatigue
Several studies check that performing aromatherapy using essential oils also reduces fatigue to a great extent.
Which containing linalyl acetate or linalool is believed to be utilized for relieving fatigue in women even in everyday life (8).
Studies have shown that lemon and peppermint EO is effective in relieving nausea, and fatigue among pregnant women.
Check Out – Can Meditation Treat Fatigue? If Yes, So How? And More
Best of Best essential oil for pregnant ladies
There are many essential oils that are considered safe during pregnancy, but their safety also depends on how you use them.
Here is the best essential oil for pregnant ladies which include:
- Rosemary
- lavender
- bergamot
- eucalyptus
- black pepper
- eucalyptus
- ginger
- juniper
- peppermint
- grapefruit
- pomegranate
- geranium oil
- sandalwood
- frankincense
- lemon
- tea Tree
- Ylang Ylang
- sandalwood
Check Out – Best Essential Oil For Your Skin Types And How To Use Them
The oil that should be avoided
The use of methyl salicylate-rich essential oils containing them, by any route, should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.
The list of Essential oils is significantly larger than those that are safe for use during pregnancy which includes:
- Cinnamon oil
- bark oil
- sage
- basil
- jasmine
- wormwood
- oak mass
- clove
- fennel
- mustard
- nutmeg
In human and animal studies, camphor-rich oils should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Based on the available information, consumption of thujone-rich oils should be avoided in pregnancy.
Safety protocols for using essential oil
During the 1st-trimester essential oils should be avoided because you don’t which EO exposure is fatal for the fetus.
So make sure to consult your healthcare specialist or Eo specialists that will give you perfect EO according to your skin or condition.
During the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, keep the safety protocols in your mind and avoid them are:
Don’t consume it
Ingestion should be avoided during pregnancy (due to emmenagogue effects) and breastfeeding (9).
Inhale essential oil fragrance, open an essential oil bottle, and take a deep breath for a few minutes, make sure not to swallow it.
Many EO can bring toxicity risks for both mother and unborn baby.
Don’t use it directly on the skin
Always remember that essential oil should be mixed with carrier oil first. but why?
EO is highly concentrated, so direct contact with skin may lead to irritation or redness, but how to know which one is good for me?
Take a few drops of EO and mix with a carrier oil and apply it on a small part of your neck or soft skin part and then leave it for 24 hours.
If you feel any irritation and redness then that EO is not good for you.
Common carrier oil includes:
- Coconut
- avocado
- jojoba
- olive
- flaxseed
- rosehip
Do not use any EO on your pets or children without consulting a doctor’s advice, doing so can be quite dangerous.
Avoid overdose
Everything whether it is food, exercise, or essential oil, and yes definitely overdose might disturb a baby’s health.
However, EO is safe for both mother and child, but when it is in limit.
BOTTOM LINE
Essential oil is prepared from the extract of the different-different part of the plant. such as roots, fruit, stems, and flower.
During pregnancy, there are several EO that are considered safe, but some should be avoided.
Essential oil is highly concentrated so, always remember to dilute it with a carrier oil.
