CAUTION: Are Essential Oils Safe During Pregnancy?

DISCLAIMER: This is only an opinion following personal research. This is NOT intended to be medical advice. It is always an excellent idea to discuss this information with your healthcare provider. Any use of this information is solely the responsibility of the user and in no way is Essentially Well LLC responsible for use of said information. Please also see our disclaimer policy for any additional use of information on our site. Thank you for reading!

Essential Oils During Pregnancy

I am commonly asked about using essential oils during pregnancy.

Is it safe? Will it affect the child? Is there anything to avoid?

As always, I feel that it is imperative to start by urging you to consult with your physician prior to utilizing oils during such an important period.

I would like to share with you what I have discovered regarding the topic of essential oils during pregnancy. The main concern is whether or not any components of the essential oil will be transferred via the placenta to the child.

​Practically speaking, essential oils are very potent substances. They are, by nature, plant extracts whereby the essential properties of the parent plant are extracted. They are typically NOT pre-diluted. This is important as essential oils can produce significant effects when used properly (and worse, significant adverse effects when used improperly). 

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In general, there are some important safety tips to follow regarding using essential oils during this maternal period:

• It is common for physicians to advise mothers to avoid oils during their first trimester.
• Practically speaking, extreme caution should be utilized if considering ingesting oils while pregnant. Talk to your doctor or obstetrician about this.
• According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), there is no evidence of problems associated with using the following properly diluted oils during the second and third trimesters: benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, chamomile (German & Roman), cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, lemon, mandarin, marjoram (sweet), neroli, petitgrain, rose, sandalwood, orange (sweet), tea tree, ylang ylang.
• The NAHA recommends AVOIDING the following during pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding:
  • Aniseed, Pimpinella anisum
  • Basil ct. estragole, Ocimum basilicum
  • Birch, Betula lenta
  • Camphor, Cinnamomum camphora.
    • NOTE: Linalool (Cinnamomum camphora ct. Linalool) has no known contraindications.
  • Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis
  • Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris
  • Parsley seed or leaf, Petroselinum sativum
  • Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium
  • Sage, Salvia officinalis
  • Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare
  • Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus
  • Thuja, Thuja occidentalis
  • Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens
  • Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium
• In the International Journal of Aromatherapy an article published in 2000 reported the following: toxicity during pregnancy is almost exclusively due to pregnant women taking large, toxic doses of essential oils in an attempt to abort the fetus
• According to Ron Guba, Chrissie Wildwood, and Kurt Schnaubelt: recorded cases of miscarriage and/or birth defect directly resulting from essential oil based massage
  • Guba, R. (2000). Toxicity Myths. International Journal of Aromatherapy, Vol 10.½
  • Wildwood, C. (2000). Of Cabbages & Kings Aromatherapy Myths, part II. Aromatherapy Today, 14, p. 12–14.
  • Schnaubelt, K. (2004). Aromatherapy Lifestyle. San Rafael, CA: Terra Linda Scent.

Please consult your physician if any concerns arise! We, Essentially Well LLC, are not responsible for any action you take on information that you find on our site. Please see our dislaimer page for more information.

Remember Safety First
Please remember though its critical to be really careful when using essential oils during pregnancy. For the safety of the baby and mom, it’s important to be informed, educated, and have the resources when using essential oils. With that, there are some important things to remember.

I only use Young Living Essential Oils which are very different than any essential oils on the market. After research, I found that not all essential oils are created equal because they are not regulated.  I find this very scary because essential oils are very popular right now and can be found almost anywhere.

​Why do I only trust Young Living essential oils? 
​The reason why is Young Living's Seed to Seal promise. The Seed to Seal promise assures you that Young Living owns every part of the essential oil manufacturing process from seed, to plant, to distillation, to bottling. My husband and I have personally visited their farms in Mona, Utah several times and you will see pictures of us all over the site that were taking at various Young Living facilities. There is no other company that provides this much transparency about their process! Trust me, we have called and messaged other leading manufacturers of essential oils to ask where their farms are located so that we can take a visit and guess what... THE OTHER COMPANIES EITHER DID NOT ALLOW US TO VISIT OR DID NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR OWN FARMS WERE LOCATED! This is very important as most essential oils on the market are fragrance grade whereas Young Living essential oils are therapeutic grade. This is an important distinction, do not take it lightly!

When choosing essential oils over traditional products, I personally want the essential oils to actually be 100% pure and a natural option. Please realize that essential oils are not regulated by the FDA, meaning they too can be full of synthetic, additives, and fragrance ingredients to act as filler just like other traditional products. 

For the essential oil bottles on the market to be labeled 100% pure essential oils, the product is only actually required to be 5% purity.

Do not buy imitation or fragrance-grade oils. Only buy 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oils. It's Young Living's promise to deliver exactly that!

I see essential oils popping up at different stores and companies simply trying to make money not concerned about quality or your wellness. Young Living stands apart from this because of their Seed to Seal commitment. By having full control over farms, distillation, and bottling we are getting exactly what we expect in every bottle.

Young Living uses Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometery as testing instruments for their essential oils. Young Living's instruments are reported to be calibrated by Dr. Casabiance, the labratory director of Natural Product Research, at CNRS labs in France.

​Through rigorous sourcing, science, and standards, Young Living is bringing the purest essential oils to families all around the world and no other company seems to match the decades of commitment and integrity. 
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When you order Young Living Essential Oils here on my site, I will be a resource to you and help you every step of the way at no added cost to you! You will receive continuing education and be apart of a larger community. The best place to start is through the Premium Starter Kit, if you do not have essential oils yet, I would be honored to help you get started.

This picture was taken in Utah where we planted Lavender on one of Young Living's farm. What other essential oil company can you do this with?!

Please Exercise Caution and Common Sense

Use caution when using Young Living Essential Oils, especially when pregnant. There are specific essential oils to avoid when pregnant listed above. Please do your own research regarding essential oil use during pregnancy and consult with your physician! 

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The tips that I would give myself if I were currently pregnant would be:

• Use only Young Living Essential Oils 
• Avoid wearing citrus essential oils in the sun for at least 12 hours. 
• Research and become informed about essential oils and pregnancy
  • Betsy Bosom's Baby Book: A Girlfriend's Guide to Using Essential Oils from Bellies to Babies (Lucy Libido) 
  • Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth, Infants and Young Children  ​
  • Oil + Glass Recipe Book
  • Essential Oil Desk Reference - this is our favorite for EVERYTHING essential oils related
  • Young Living website - Pregnancy and Essential Oils: A Guest Post by Dr. Lindsay Elmore

Maternal Care Package Ideas
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.
1. Relaxing bath salts
2. Belly Butter 
3. Foot Massage Serum 
4. Wellness Roller 
5. Lemon Roller
6. Lavender Calm Roller  

1. Relaxing Bath Salts
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.
Perfect after a long day or mamma just needs to relax, calm down, or take time for self-care. 
To prepare your bath salts:

1. Pour the Epsom salts into the desired glass jar (4 oz Glass Jar) 
2. Add 6-10 drops of essential oils to the salts. You only need about 6-10 drops of essential oil for 2 cups of bath salts. Number of essential oils will depend on the size of the jar and the person using the bath salts. 
3. I add 6 drops Tangerine and 6 drops of Stress Away.
4. Secure the lid and shake the combination of essential oils and bath salts.
5. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes if you plan on using the bath salts that day. I like to have a large glass mason jar prepared right in the bathroom.

Using the bath salts:

1. Sprinkle at least 1/2 cup of your prepared bath salts into the tub as it's filling. Then relax and enjoy. ​

**For more ideas and recipes read "Never Shower Again with out Bath Salts"

2. Belly Butter
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.
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Ingredients for Whipped Body Butter:

• Gentle Baby, Frankincense, and Lavender. Gentle Baby has a blend of citrus essential oil, avoid wearing in sun for 12 hours.
• Vitamin E
• ¼ cup Shea Butter
• ¼ cup Cocoa Butter
• ½ cup Coconut Oil (solid)
• ½ cup almond oil or grapeseed oil
• Double broiler (or use a pot of water and a glass measuring cup)
• Glass Jars- I typically use 2 ounce or 4 ounce

To prepare Belly Butter

1. First set up your double broiler with water or set up your pot of water and hang a glass measuring cup inside. 
2. Turn the heat on low to medium heat 
3. Add  Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, and Coconut Oil to measuring cup or double broiler. They may melt all together in the measuring cup. It’s important to stir regularly and keep away from high heat, do not boil these ingredients, allow them to melt slowly. 
4. Once they are melted, remove from the heat. I actually pour the ingredients into a new mixing bowl because so it's easier to whip with the mixer later.
5. In the mixing bowl, add about 20 drops of essential oil, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E. 
6. Once all ingredients are added, place the mixing bowl in the refrigerator to solidify. 
7. I personally check on the ingredients to make sure it's beginning to harden. Once the ingredients solidify, use a mixer to whip the ingredients. 
8. If the cream becomes too hard, just set on the counter to soften before mixing. I have found that the cream doesn’t have to be hardened completely to create a perfect belly butter. 
9. Once whipped to a fluffy butter you can transfer it into glass jars by using a spoon or butter knife 

3. Foot Massage Serum
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.

• A common belief is to avoid massaging the ankles due to reflexology or meridian points located on the lateral ankle that correspond with the uterus. The longstanding belief is that this will induce labor. I found no evidence that this is true. Consult with your physician on this!

Ingredients for Foot Massage Serum  

• Young Living Lemon, Cypress, Tangerine Essential Oils. Please use caution with Lemon and Tangerine in the sun due to photosensitivity.
• Fractionated coconut oil
• 2 ounce dropper

To prepare Circulation Massage Oil 

1. Add Young Living Essential Oils to dropper bottle, I added about 10 drops of each, 30 drops total. 
2. Fill the rest  of the 2 ounce dropper with Fractionated coconut oil 

**Add this combination to Epsom salts for a relaxing bath or foot soak

4. Wellness roller
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.

Ingredients for Wellness Roller

• Young Living Thieves, Lemon, Frankincense Essential Oils 
• Fractionated coconut oil
• 5 ml roller bottle

Preparing the Wellness Roller 

1. Add 20 drops total of essential oil into the 5 ml roller bottle (example - 6 drops Thieves, 7 drops Lemon, and 7 drops Frankincense ) 
2. Fill the rest of the 5 ml roller bottle with Fractionated Coconut Oil 
3. Put the roller ball on the bottle
4. Apply on feet and spine before bed for support.

5. My Heart's Burning Roller 
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.
​Avoid wearing in the sun for 12 hours

Ingredients for My Heart’s Burning Roller     

• Young Living Lemon or Copaiba Essential Oils 
• ​Fractionated Coconut Oil 
• 5 ml Roller bottle

Prepare My Heart’s Burning Roller 

1. Add 20 drops total of Essential Oil to the 5 ml roller bottle (Use Lemon or Copaiba) 
2. Fill the rest of the 5 ml roller bottle with Fractionated Coconut Oil 
3. Put the roller ball and cap on the bottle 
4. Apply on chest or bottom of feet.

6. Lavender Calming Roller 
Please consult with your physician prior to using any of these ideas.
What an excellent time to encouraging peace

Ingredients for Lavender Calm Roller

• Young Living Lavender Essential Oil 
• Fractionated Coconut Oil 
• 5 ml Roller bottle

Prepare Lavender Calm Roller 

1. Add 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil to the 5 ml roller bottle 
2. Fill the rest with Fractionated Coconut Oil
3. Put the roller ball and cap on the bottle 
4. Apply on wrists, behind the ears, on spine or feet at anytime. 

**Add Rose Petals for a beautiful touch** 

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​*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Please see our disclaimer.