Written by Johanna Carl - dōTERRA well-being advisor - Updated on Jul 25, 2024
By Johanna Carl – dōTERRA wellness consultant
I can already imagine the wide eyes of some reading the title of this article and thinking – just as I did until a few years ago – that essential oils were forbidden for children and pregnant women!
Essential oils are concentrated, powerful, and very effective essences, and if you are an expectant or new mother (whether breastfeeding or not), you may want to avoid absorbing medications and synthetic molecules as much as possible – for your well-being and that of your baby.
Know that if this is the case, you can absolutely turn to essential oils to manage your pregnancy ailments or other everyday troubles.
Several things must be taken into account if you want to use essential oils safely and effectively.
THE QUALITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL
When using a plant essence on yourself or your child, it is essential to ensure its impeccable quality.
Personally, all my concerns were dispelled when I discovered dōTERRA essential oils and was able to test their effectiveness.
These essential oils meet an extremely strict label involving more than 60 tests for each batch of essential oil: this rigorous control guarantees not only a truly pure essence (where many other labels – even organic – allow additives) but also excludes adulterated essential oils (in which some active components are replaced by synthetic molecules undetectable with "standard" quality tests) or contaminated ones.
THE CHOICE OF ESSENCE USED
There are many essential oils suitable for expectant or new mothers that can support you and your baby during this important period of your life.
I am sharing here some usage suggestions for common pregnancy ailments.
These tips are taken from the book "Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth and Babies" by Stéphanie Fritz, midwife.
★ In case of nausea, you can diffuse or inhale directly from the bottle of lemon or ginger essential oil. Keep the bottle in your pocket so you can take it out whenever necessary.
★ If you have digestive discomfort, the dōTERRA digestive synergy (ginger, peppermint, tarragon, fennel, caraway, coriander) after the first trimester of pregnancy will relieve cramps and digestion difficulties.
★ If you have high blood pressure, you can apply 3 drops of ylang-ylang diluted in vegetable oil to your bath water or apply a drop of lavender on your heart, soles of your feet, and palms of your hands.
★ Do you have disturbed sleep? Apply a few drops of lavender under your feet before falling asleep or diffuse the dōTERRA calming synergy (lavender, sweet marjoram, Roman chamomile, ylang ylang, white sandalwood, and vanilla bean).
★ To prevent stretch marks or to promote their healing after pregnancy, you can massage the dōTERRA anti-aging synergy (frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, myrrh, helichrysum, and rose) - after the first trimester of pregnancy - on the affected areas.
Dilute it to be able to massage a large area of skin.
★ If you tend to have swollen legs or water retention, you can massage yourself with the dōTERRA invigorating synergy: wild orange, lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, clementine, and vanilla help decongest and refresh the legs. Also remember to drink plenty of water!
★ If you want to prepare your perineum, you can massage or simply apply a drop of Roman chamomile and/or geranium essential oil diluted in a little vegetable oil in the hollow of your hand.
The day of delivery:
★ If your contractions are not effective: apply clary sage essential oil on your little toe (at the base of the nail), inside your ankles, and lower abdomen every 15 minutes until the strength of the contractions increases.
If labor is interrupted, you can add myrrh. Sage will restart contractions and myrrh will make them more effective.
★ Are you choosing a physiological birth? The dōTERRA grounding synergy (black spruce, ravintsara, blue tansy, frankincense, German chamomile, osmanthus) will help you calm down between contractions and ride the waves feeling grounded, connected to yourself and your baby.
★ When the baby's head is passing, you can massage the perineum with the following blend:
- 20 drops of helichrysum
- 20 drops of frankincense
in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
This blend will reduce bruising, swelling, and any possible bleeding.
★ Feel free to diffuse an essential oil you love during your delivery!
Just like music or your partner's sweet words, this scent will contribute to your well-being, create your "bubble," and thus produce oxytocin, an essential hormone for bringing your baby into the world.
And what a gift to welcome your little one with a sweet and pleasant scent that will help make this moment a rich sensory experience!
The scent of the essential oil you have chosen will be anchored in your limbic brain, the seat of emotions.
Later, smelling this scent may bring you back to the memories of the first moments with your child and will become an integral part of your story!
Supporting postpartum and breastfeeding or non-breastfeeding
★ in case of baby blues or postpartum depression, consider diffusing citrus essential oils or synergies: citrus fruits are known to soothe the heart, improve mood, and bring sunshine. However, get support to get through this difficult period!
★ after childbirth, you may have difficulty urinating. To relieve yourself, pour a drop of peppermint into the toilet bowl before going.
The refreshing effect will relieve you!
★ you can make a soothing spray for the perineum that calms and softens. In a 50ml glass bottle, mix 20 to 30 drops of the anti-aging synergy (mentioned above for stretch mark prevention) and top up with vegetable oil.
This spray is also perfect to support the healing of a possible episiotomy or cesarean.
★ if you do not wish to breastfeed and/or want to reduce your milk production: add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil to a warm herbal tea, 3 to 5 times a day.
★ if your milk production is too low, you can apply a drop of fennel or basil essential oil on your chest – avoiding the nipple – 3 to 4 times a day after feeding to increase your lactation. Also ideal during your child's growth spurts.
★ in case of nipple cracks, you can apply myrrh or geranium essential oil (diluted or pure) directly on the nipple, just after feeding.
(no need to wash the breast before the next feeding).
Finally, we now know how important and beneficial it is to listen to and support our emotions – especially during pregnancy and postpartum.
Essential oils are fantastic tools for our emotional health and vibrations!
Feel free to contact me if you want to learn more about emotional synergies or those specially developed for little ones!
I will be happy to support you.
I also offer online workshops with Claire Pelletier (https://www.instinctreflexes.fr/) in which we combine HypnoNatal and essential oils to support you from preconception through postpartum!
