Essential oils when used in low dilutions are safe to use during pregnancy. Some therapists prefer not to massage with essential oils until the second trimester but there is no problem using these oils in a vaporizer or the bath.

Essential oils can help with morning sickness, lower back pain, insomnia and other discomforts that can occur throughout the pregnancy.

It is important to use good quality essential oils from a reputable company and not from a $2 shop. If you have any concerns speak to your aromatherapist.

I do not recommend using essential oils internally during pregnancy. The oils below are for external use only.

Following are some common discomforts and the essential oils that can be used to help them.

Discomfort	Essential oils
Anxiety	Bergamot, frankincense, geranium, lavender, neroli, sweet orange.
Colds	Eucalyptus, tea tree.
Constipation	Sweet orange.
Haemorrhoids	Cypress, geranium.
Headaches	Roman chamomile, lavender.
Insomnia	Bergamot, roman chamomile, lavender, mandarin/tangerine, neroli, sandalwood.
Irritated skin	Roman chamomile, lavender.
Morning sickness	Roman chamomile, ginger, lemon, mandarin/tangerine, peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange.
Muscular aches and pains	Roman chamomile, eucalyptus, grapefruit, lavender, sandalwood.
Stress	Roman chamomile, frankincense, geranium, neroli, sandalwood, sweet orange.
Stretchmarks – to prevent	Frankincense, geranium, lavender, mandarin/tangerine.
Swollen ankles	Cypress, geranium, grapefruit, lemon, sandalwood.
Varicose veins	Cypress, geranium.

Note: Bergamot, grapefruit and lemon are photo sensitive so don’t use in areas exposed to the sun.

Skin Irritation
The following oils are best avoided in pregnancy massage because of the possibility of skin irritation. They are fine to use in the vaporizer.
Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, may chang, melissa, tea tree, ylang ylang. It is also wise to avoid using old, oxidised citrus, pine, fir and spruce oils.

Blending
Massage oils, creams and lotions: Up to 7 drops of essential oils in total to 25mls or grams of cold pressed vegetable oil, aqueous lotion or cream. Don’t blend in baby oil or sorbolene cream, as the essential oils will not be absorbed into your skin.

Vaporizer: 3 or 4 drops of essential oil.

Personal inhaler: You can buy or have made a personal inhaler containing the essential oils that help with your nausea.

If you don’t have a personal inhaler take a small bottle, 5 or 10 mls is large enough and place a few cotton balls in it. Add 2 or 3 drops of essential oils and close the lid. Whenever you are feeling nauseous remove the lid, have a couple of whiffs and replace the lid. The aroma should last the length of your pregnancy.

Bath: 4 -5 drops in half a cup of full fat milk. Add to bath and swish.