Essential Oils for Pregnancy | Using Essential Oils Safely for Pregnancy

Pregnancy is beautiful yet scary, exciting yet challenging. Using essential oils during pregnancy can help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. Let’s discuss essential oils for pregnancy and how to use them safely.

When I say, “I love being pregnant,” I will get one of two completely different responses. Either the women will agree or look at me like I’m crazy and have three heads.

I absolutely love pregnancy, even though I have horrible morning sickness. So often you will hear that you will forget about all that when you see the baby, but I DO NOT agree. The morning sickness has not faded in my memory yet, but something about life inside of me makes me ok with all the “not-so-fun things” about pregnancy.

I didn’t start using oils until after my first child was born, so obviously, I didn’t have oils for her pregnancy. However,  I used essential oils during my subsequent pregnancy.  

Often I get asked what essential oils are best for pregnancy and which are safe.  

Before we begin, I always recommend checking with your healthcare provider before using any essential oils topically, such as in lotions or aromatically.

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USING ESSENTIAL OILS FOR PREGNANCY 

If you have been around this site long enough, you’ll know there are two popular ways to use these oils.

• Aromatically – There are a few ways to enjoy the benefits of EOs aromatically, with the most popular being through a diffuser. Check out my favorite diffuser blends for kids and for toddlers here.
• Topically – Always dilute through either the use of a roller bottle, such as in these 6 roller bottle recipes for kids, or mixed into a lotion.

And always make sure to use pure, high-quality oils without any additives or fillers.

WHICH OILS SHOULD YOU AVOID DURING PREGNANCY 

Most essential oils are safe for pregnancy as long as you are using high-quality, pure essential oils. Please note that the FDA doesn’t regulate essential oils, so you have to do your own research when choosing a brand of oils for yourself and your family. I talk more about the oils I use HERE.

AVOID ESSENTIAL OILS THAT CAN STIMULATE CONTRACTIONS UNTIL THE DUE DATE APPROACHES 

• Jasmine
• Clary Sage
• Myrrh

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR PREGNANCY 

First Trimester

Ahh, the glorious first trimester! How can something so tiny make you feel so tired and sick?!

By far, the best thing about the first trimester is when it’s over. Haha!

MORNING SICKNESS 

Unfortunately, I have had first-hand experience with morning sickness.

Now, I’m sure you have heard of people using ginger, and peppermint to ease nausea and upset stomach, right? Similarly to herbs, essential oils can be used for the same purpose. However, you need to know that the oils are far more potent than the herbs.

For example, one drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea. That’s a whole heck of a lot of tea when you are throwing up everything in sight!

Essential Oils for Morning Sickness

• Peppermint
• Ginger
• Fennel
• Lemon
• Orange
• Chamomile

How to Use Them

These oils can be used in one of three ways: in a roller bottle, diffuser, or topical lotion.

To diffuse: choose a few oils that suit you from the list above and add them to your diffuser. 

Topical lotion: for use as a topical lotion, follow either of these recipes and substitute the oils for the ones listed above. (my favorite being lemon, orange and chamomile)

And last but not least, we have a roller bottle. I’ve included it in the recipe below!

Roller bottle for morning sickness recipe

• 5 drops peppermint
• 5 drops ginger
• 4 drops fennel
• 3 drops lemon
• Add essential oils to a 10mL roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the bottom of the feet and stomach when feeling nauseous.

Peppermint can affect the milk supply, so I do not recommend using it this past the second trimester.

EXTREME FATIGUE

During the first trimester, you could find me in bed or in the bathroom. Growing a baby is hard work, folks, and so tiring! That first-trimester tiredness is no joke. I remember when I was pregnant with my first, when I wasn’t throwing up, I literally slept all day.

Ok, I know what you are thinking…why does she love pregnancy? Knowing that a precious little baby is growing inside of me makes it all worth it!

Essential Oils for Extreme Fatigue

• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Wild Orange
• Lemon
• Basil
• Geranium

How to Use Them

The best way to use essential oils for fatigue is aromatically and topically. Add one of these oils or a blend of these to a diffuser to feel refreshed and energized.

ROLLER BOTTLE FOR EXTREME FATIGUE 

• 6 drops peppermint
• 6 drops wild orange
• 3 drops rosemary

Add essential oils to a 10mL roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the pulse points.

For your free printable labels, visit my online resource library. 

SECOND TRIMESTER 

The glorious second trimester is not too uncomfortable yet, the morning sickness has let up, and you have more energy again. On top of feeling better, you will start feeling your baby move, my absolute favorite part of pregnancy.

The not-so-favorite part of the second tri? Rib Pain!

RIB PAIN

I have a short torso, so rib pain is in full swing by my second trimester. I was constantly stretching my arms up and arching my back to relieve rib pain; it was always the worse when I was sitting down.

Essential Oils for Rib Pain

• Cypress
• Peppermint
• Marjoram
• Frankincense
• Grapefruit
• Lavender

How to Use Them

The best way to use essential oils for aches and pains is topically. First, dilute the oils in coconut oil and apply them to the ribs as needed.

 STRETCH MARKS

During the second trimester, a lot of moms are starting to think about stretch marks. Stretch marks are very common with pregnancy and will fade over time. You can use lotions and oils to help fade them quicker.

Essential Oils for Stretch Marks

• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Rose
• Helichrysum
• Patchouli

How to Use Them

There are several ways to use essential oils for stretch marks. Use this stretch mark cream, or follow the roller bottle recipe below.

ROLLER BOTTLE FOR STRETCH MARKS  

• 6 drops frankincense
• 5 drops lavender
• 4 drops rose
• 2 drops helichrysum
• 2 drops patchouli

Add essential oils to a 10mL roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the area of concern.

THIRD TRIMESTER 

HOMESTRETCH! Three words for the third trimester:  exciting, anxious, and painful.

At this point, make sure you are not using any peppermint oil so that you don’t have any issues with your milk supply!

PREGNANCY ACHES AND PAINS 

By now, you are getting pretty big, and you can’t imagine getting even bigger. I remember looking down around 36 weeks and thinking, how could I possibly stretch anymore? Around this time, my back and feet would start hurting, and I would have the occasional sciatic nerve pain.

Essential Oils for Pregnancy Aches and Pains

• Frankincense
• Copaiba
• Helichrysum
• Camphor
• Ylang Ylang

How to Use Them

We’ll be using the oils topically for the aches and pains. If you are trying to cover a larger surface area, add 3-5 drops of essential oil to 1/4 cup of coconut oil and massage into the area of concern. You can also add the essential oils to a lotion or make the roller bottle recipe below.

ROLLER BOTTLE FOR PREGNANCY ACHES AND PAINS  

• 6 drops frankincense
• 3 drops helichrysum
• 2 drops ylang ylang

Add essential oils to a 10mL roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the area of concern.

MAMA’S ANXIOUS FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS 

As I would get closer to each of my children’s arrival, I would have feelings of excitement and anxious feelings. Trying to plan how or when it will happen and going through all the what if’s can be exhausting and scary.

Essential Oils for MAMA’S ANXIOUS FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

• Lime
• Bergamont
• Lemon
• Lavender
• Frankincense

How to Use Them

The best way to use essential oils for stress, anxious feelings, and emotional support is aromatically and topically.

For aromatic use, diffuse any combination of these oils in a diffuser or inhale straight from the bottle when feeling stressed or anxious.

For topical use, apply oils to the bottom of the feet, down the spine, and back of the neck.

ROLLER BOTTLE FOR MAMA’S ANXIOUS FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS  

• 4 drops lime
• 4 drops bergamot
• 4 drops lemon
• 3 drops lavender
• 3 drops frankincense

Add essential oils to a 10mL roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil and apply as needed.

LABOR AND DELIVERY 

When the time comes, I find myself questioning the contractions. Is this really labor? When should I call the midwife? When should I go in? Those were the most exciting and terrifying times of my life.

JUMPSTART CONTRACTIONS  

Yes, there are oils to help start labor. However, I don’t recommend using them unless you are already in labor. Or you are late, and your doctor or midwife approves. These are the oils you will want to avoid until the due date approaches.

ESSENTIAL OILS TO JUMPSTART CONTRACTIONS 

• Clary Sage
• Myrrh
• Jasmine

How to Use Them

The best way to use essential oils to jumpstart contractions is topical. Dilute 1-2 drops of each oil in a tablespoon of a carrier oil and apply to the wrists and abdomen as well as on the uterine and cervical reflux points under inside ankle bones.

RELAXING OILS FOR LABORING 

In my opinion, the key to a good birth is relaxation. I use the Bradley method to help with labor. The more you relax through the contractions, the more effective they are and less painful. When I am in labor, it looks like I am sleeping; I lay still and relax my entire body. Essential oils can be extremely helpful with that.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR RELAXING 

• Lavender
• Frankincense
• Copaiba
• Cedarwood
• Sandalwood
• Wild Orange

How to Use Them

The best way to use essential oils to help you relax during labor is topically and aromatically. Have your birthing partner massage you with oils to help you relax.

You can have a diffuser going with your favorite relaxing blend in your birthing room. Have your birthing partner put oils under your nose while you are having contractions.

If you labor in the bathtub or have a water birth, add a couple of drops of lavender to the bathtub to help you further relax.

And, of course, keep your eye on the prize; a precious baby will be in your arms in no time.