Anyone using essential oils?

ak215

I've been thinking about using essential oils for a while, but it is so overwhelming. I am wondering if anyone here has been using them during their pregnancy to help with aches/pains/nausea/etc. I'd love to hear your success stories and tips! Thank you!

j.marie

I use them all the time. My new fave is Ylang Ylang. It helps with hormone balance and libido. I used a lot of lemon, and orange for nausea.

dtspmama

I use lemon or mint for nausea, and it has worked really well for me!

ak215

Thank you for your responses! I'm curious how much lemon is safe to take in a day. I am having a very hard time with fluids and I was thinking a little lemon oil in water might really help.

TinyDancer51510

Buy the book Gentle Babies. It's all about using oils in pregnancy and beyond and it's a short read so not too overwhelming.

danasphillips

Please be very cautious about ingesting oils, especially while pregnant. I would honestly avoid it. I use our diffuser with my favorite oils to help with smells/nausea.

ak215

Yes, I am doing a lot of research before I start using and will definitely only use very pure oils. Some OTC oils are not pure and are full of synthetic chemicals, which I will be avoiding for sure. Thank you!

sjames2

Make sure you get very pure oils. Most, if not all oils in stores are not pure and you do not want to ingest those. However pure oils are ok to ingest. There are also certain oils to avoid during pregnancy. I have an essential oil book that has a chart in the back that explains safe and not safe. I also just ordered Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth, and Babies by Stephanie Fritz. She also has a Fb page The Essential Midwife.

jem8407

I have used essential oils for a long time and still use many now. The only ones I truly avoid are clove as it warms me too much and peppermint as it is know to decrease and dry milk supply.
I use lavender and chamomile for calming/bedtime, any citrus for uplifting, ginger for nausea, eucalyptus for breathing or when I am congested, and ylang ylang for comfort.
I use many more but I never ingest them. Even DoTerra oils can be ingested but I steer clear during pregnancy.

jfritschie87

Check out Doterra essential oils. They are a bit pricey but totally worth it. I use oils in everything from making my own household cleaning supplies, beauty products, bath products, and holistic medicinal use.

dc072175

Disclaimer - I don't sell these products BUT I use DoTerra "Serenity" to help me sleep at night and I also use peppermint to see if I can alleviate headaches without pain meds. I also put it in my water to change it up!

Emott13

It's way safer to buy some peppermint leaves and lemon juice to add to your water for nausea rather than essential oils. They're super concentrated and small enough particulates to pass through the placenta even when used on skin (is what my doc said). Obviously consult your own doctor, but I wouldn't trust anyone other than a medical professional. Even oils that are intended for pregnancy are high-concentration, and typically only approved for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding because they haven't been proven to cause miscarriage/preterm contractions or reduce milk supply. Essential oils are kind of a new fad that hasn't been studied much with regards to effect on foetal and infant development. Basically what I was told was: they might be safe, but there hasn't been enough study to prove it yet. What we do know is that they do reach the foetus, so use at your own risk.

leap_frog

I've been using peppermint, lemon, lavender for sinus headaches since I am only taking Tylenol. Worked ok today!

WhitMathis

I wouldn't ingest oils while pregnant, or ever but that just me. I have used peppermint on my temples for headaches and it has helped. Lavender for rest and relaxation. I also like lemon, lavender, and peppermint in the diffuser to help with headaches, nausea, and sinus issues. If you don't want to buy expensive oils but want good quality look at Plant Therapy or Edens Gardens both are 100% pure for much less money. Best of luck!

SummerOH

I'm not comfortable ingesting oils while pregnant, but my sister did with DoTerra ones.  I second WhitMathis - Plant Therapy has excellent oils for very reasonable prices on Amazon.

Mainly I diffuse them, add to bath water, or rub them on my soles or pulse points (usually diluted with a carrier oil). I have a little oil diffuser at work, too. Citrus oils (lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot, lemongrass, or a combo) help exhaustion and nausea and lavender and vanilla help me relax in the evening.  I like Plant Therapy's Calming the Child.  Bonus - you can use it later with the baby, too!