Essential oils in pregnancy - first trimester

For any woman, the first trimester of pregnancy is an exciting time, full of surprises and transformations. From the anticipation of the day you'll come home together, to choosing a name or colors for your room, to the changes that first your body and then your whole life will go through, they are all new, powerful experiences, and with the right information, can be even less worrying.

As the body prepares to welcome the new baby, it is flooded with hormones that can cause a variety of discomforts. Pregnancy differs, of course, from woman to woman - for some, the first trimester can be a time of energy and vitality, while for others, it can be a more difficult period.

The use of essential oils during pregnancy, and especially during the first trimester, which is also considered the most unstable, is sometimes a controversial subject. However, more and more midwives are using different combinations to help mothers-to-be get through this period more easily, and more and more studies or observations are emerging that demonstrate the beneficial effects that oils can have when used properly.

\"There are no records of abnormal fetuses or aborted fetuses as a result of the \"normal\" use of essential oils, either by inhalation or by topical application. There are no records of a few drops of essential oil taken by mouth causing any problems either.\" Buckle, Jane. Clinical Aromatherapy - E-Book (p. 377) \"There are no documented cases of fetuses showing abnormalities or of aborted fetuses as a result of \"normal\" use of essential oils, either by inhalation or topical application. There is no evidence that taking a few drops of essential oil internally can cause problems.\" says Jane Buckle in her book, Clinical Aromatherapy.

Between 1990-1998, Ethel Burns conducted an observational study in a UK hospital. The aim of the study was to examine the contribution of aromatherapy in promoting maternal comfort during labor and as a tool to improve the quality of care by midwives. The study involved 8,058 women (only some with uneventful developing pregnancies), 60% of whom were first-time mothers and 32% had induced labor. Over 50% of mothers found the use of aromatherapy helpful, and only 14% found it unhelpful. The study also showed that aromatherapy may have the potential to enhance contractions for women suffering from dysfunctional labor. Very few adverse symptoms (1%) were reported. THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE Volume 6, Number 2, 2000, pp. 141-147

What is the 'normal' and safe amount to use in pregnancy and the first trimester? Most aromatherapists use a 1-2% dilution for most common problems. This can be increased, depending on the severity of the problem, to 3-5%, but only under the guidance of an aromatherapist or practitioner. How has this percentage been arrived at when testing on pregnant women is almost impossible (unethical and immoral)? 2% is the concentration used in cosmetics at which no adverse effects have been reported when products are applied to large areas of the body. This is also why, in some cases, for short periods of time, on small areas of the body, for local problems and under the guidance of an aromatherapist or practitioner, this concentration can be increased.

For topical application, but especially for aromatic use, every expectant mother should be involved both in choosing the right essential oils and in the quantity to be used, as a very large number of women have reported an heightening of their olfactory senses from the very beginning of pregnancy.

\"There is no evidence that the external use of any essential oils presents an abortifacient risk.\" \"There is no evidence that the external use of any essential oil poses a risk of abortion.\" Tisserand, Robert. Essential Oil Safety

Where problems have occurred, however, they have not been accidental, but deliberately induced by taking extreme amounts of essential oils, far in excess of the amounts used in aromatherapy. In general, these actions led to a worsening of the mother's condition before the fetus was affected.

\"It would be prudent to administer essential oils only with great caution orally, rectally or vaginally during pregnancy.\" \"Caution should be exercised when administering any essential oil orally, vaginally or rectally during pregnancy\" Tisserand, Robert. Essential Oil Safety

When essential oils are administered orally, rectally or vaginally, the bioavailability (the rate at which essential oil constituents are absorbed and become therapeutically available) is much higher than with topical or aromatic administration. But it also carries a higher degree of risk. This is why these types of administration are not recommended in pregnancy, except in extreme cases and only under the guidance of an aromatherapist or practitioner.

The aromatic use of essential oils is the safest and at the same time can provide emotional benefits to pregnant women, and the well-being of the mother is most important for the harmonious development of the fetus.

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