Essential Oils For Pregnancy, Birthing and the New Normal (Motherhood)

DISCLAIMER: This is not a lesson on all the uses of essential oils and aromatherapy during your pregnancy; that’s what YouTube & Google are for. These are just some ideas and suggestions. Whether for personal use or use around the house, these seem to work well for my clients, who have introduced essential oils into their lifestyle.

This started out being just a little blurb about using aromatherapy during pregnancy and postpartum. However, after researching and checking some things out, I found some information that I feel you should know about using essential oils pre & post pregnancy.

I had read online that it is recommended to avoid using essential oils in your first trimester. I believe they mean by topical application or taking them orally, not in aromatherapy form. 

My suggestions are for using aromatherapy in spray or mist form ONLY. Helping you to become better centered and aware of the present moment. 

Something else I found - Don’t Ingest Essential Oils. Even if you are not pregnant, essential oils are not meant to be taken orally unless under the direct supervision of an expert or physician. Many essential oils can pose toxicity risks when ingested — for you, and potentially, your baby.

Another thing I thought was interesting - Don’t use peppermint oil on children less than 30 months old. Peppermint used on children under 30 months of age can increase a risk for seizures, or if diffused, can make the baby become agitated…and we don’t want that.

Let me also say, I don’t recommend using essential oils or scented soaps on or around your baby for at least the first 8-12 weeks. They only want to smell you.

Okay, back to my simple article…

I’m a big fan of essential oils. My favorite go-to oil is ‘Chill Pill’ a blend from Aura Cacia. My clients love Chill Pill. I use it for every prenatal massage along with a dab of peppermint. When clients come back to see me after having their baby I give them a double dose of Chill Pill.

When a pregnant or postpartum client is on the table, I plant a seed by suggesting she become aware of how good the oils smell and how relaxed she’s feeling in that particular moment. Breathing in and letting go. Releasing any tension you might be feeling or holding onto on your exhale, and associating the aroma of the oils to trigger a relaxing mind/body response.

With practice (keyword: PRACTICE), this becomes a triggered response that also works well in the labor process, helping to keep you centered and calm. This practice will also benefit you post-partum. Trust me, this is when you’ll need all the help you can get…I’m just sayin!

During your pregnancy, It is vital and necessary to keep a 4oz. spray bottle of your favorite oil blend with you and handy at all times in your mommy (self-care) toolbox.

Here’s why… say, for instance, you’re listening to someone’s horrible birth story that they just had to share with you (in some cases, you don’t even know this person).  This is the perfect time to pull out your spray and give yourself a little spritz to distract yourself while they’re still talking, and maybe give them a spray to shut them up.

Maybe you’re in a small space and you start to feel a little gassy (a common side effect of pregnancy). You pretend to feel a little faint so, you pull out your little spray bottle and start spraying yourself and everyone around you…crisis averted!

Or maybe something crazy is looping in your head. For example, looking down and realizing you can no longer see your pubes (if you have any) or your toes and then thinking, “oh shit! this has to come out of me” and it’s making you feel a little anxious. Simply whip out your spray bottle and give yourself a calming centering spritz. Relax your shoulders and jaw down and tell yourself you got this!

I can still remember standing in the shower realizing I could no longer see my pubes (we held to them in those days) or my toes and thought “OMG, this baby has to come out of me!” I hadn’t even heard of aromatherapy or anything that could have helped ease some of my anxiety about being pregnant or (even scarier) giving birth!  

With that said, it’s so easy to whip up a nice blend or you can buy sprays already blended.

Here’s an easy recipe to try at home:

Add 25-30 drops (or however many you need) of your chosen essential oil to filtered or distilled water and a tsp. of Vodka (the vodka helps stabilize the water & oil) in a 4oz spray bottle. And you’re good to go!

You should look at your little spray bottle of essential oil as a way to have a Mommy moment of feeling calm and centered. Pull yourself together and take in a nice deep breath. This is what practiced self-care looks like. 

Taking a few seconds to stop, take a breath and being aware of your posture (where are my shoulders) helps you create a true mind-body awareness. That, again, is very helpful in the laboring process.

Essential oils work directly with our brain and our limbic system. Your sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than any other sense.

Essential oils have a way of bringing you back to the present moment, feeling centered even if it’s just for a minute or two or even just a few seconds. A few seconds of calm awareness is better than no moments of calm or awareness.  

Stopping to take a few deep conscious breaths a few times during the day (where are my shoulders, don’t forget your posture) is a good habit to get into, not only during your pregnancy, but just as important for embracing the New Normal you’re about to land yourself into.  That’s when you need all the help you can get…I’m just sayin - again!

In that moment, tell yourself you’re doing a great job in keeping yourself together, even if you’re trying to convince yourself otherwise. Remember, practiced thoughts become beliefs.

Pregnancy is a great time to start believing in yourself, your body, your ability to birth your baby and your ability to navigate the New Normal you find yourself in being a new mom.

Of course, I hope you’re having as many pre/post-natal massages as humanly possible. 

Even if it’s your partner (or someone else you trust) to do the comfort measure on your back while you’re draped over your ball, these back compressions should be done every evening before you go to bed. This practice will release muscle tension built up throughout the day.  See Comfort Measure video.

Doing the comfort measure over your ball and using the heated Bed Buddy (see Mommy’s Toolbox) will add to the relaxation. Associate the warmth with how relaxed you feel. I also recommend using the Bed Buddy when you’re in labor. If you’re giving birth at the hospital, the Nurses station always has a microwave available.

When it comes to your home environment, please don’t be using the toxic air fresheners and plug-ins you find at the store.  It’s easy to make your own air fresheners and you get to create your own blends. 

Having an oil diffuser is a good idea (remember no Peppermint we don’t want to piss anyone off) but not necessarily needed. All you need is a spray bottle, a drop of Vodka and some good oils. A simple spray bottle can be just as effective at diffusing scents into the room. You can find every size spray bottle at one my favorite stores, the dollar store.

And speaking of the dollar store, those of you who know me, know how much I love that store and the wonderful dollar store fascia blaster (the best parting gift ever). The dollar store, however, is NOT the place to buy your essential oils. I mostly buy my oils at Whole Foods. I like the Aura Cacia brand or the Whole Foods brand, but there are many reputable companies online where you can buy them also.

For the home, you can buy an air freshener blend or mix up your own. 

Here’s a room spray recipe I just whipped up.

8oz spray bottle
Filtered water
1Tbs. of Vodka

I used ten drops of the following:
Lemon
Rosemary
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Bergamot  

Create and enjoy!

p.s. It’s a good idea towards the end of your pregnancy to start transitioning all your products that have fragrance, including laundry detergent and fabric softener to fragrance free and using them for the first few months postpartum. You don’t want to overload your baby with a combination of different scents that are on you and around the house. They only want to smell you.

Here’s a list of safe oils to use during pregnancy. Whether in spray form or using a diffuser or adding a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball just to inhale, these scents will help calm and relax your mind.

Essential oils that are safe for use in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy include:

Bergamot, Roman chamomile, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Mandarin, Neroli, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Rose Otto, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Sweet orange, Tea tree, Ylang ylang, Peppermint

Oils to AVOID:

Aniseed, Basil, Birch, Camphor, Clary Sage, Hyssop, Mogwort, Oak Moss, Parley Seed or Leaf, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Tansy, Tarragon, Thuja, Thyme, Wintergreen, Wormwood

Have you made any essential oils yourself? How has it helped you, or a friend, during pregnancy? 

Comment below!

#dontforgetaboutmommy #whatareyoutellingyourself  #learnedhelplessness  #INeedAMassage  #YouGotThis #BreatheInBreatheOut #DontForgetAboutMommy