Tips for Using Essential Oils for the Mom to Be

It's crazy how much there is to learn about essential oils.  I would say about seventy five percent of people I speak with have said at one time or another "I have essential oils but they just sit there because I don't know what to do with them", or "I bought a kit a while back but it just sits there because I don't know which ones to use, how, and when."

I was there once too!  During my first pregnancy I boxed up all my essential oils and tucked them away.  I was only experienced with using a few of them.  The ones I had been using prior, I only used because I was told how to and what to use them for.  Once I was handed my first "What to Expect When Expecting Book", I just knew that spare time when I wasn't working full time was going to be used for resting, reading, and preparing for birth and what was to come after.

I boxed those essential oils because I knew there were precautions during pregnancy and with babies, and I just wasn't confident in my knowledge of using them safely.  I definitely didn't want to bring upon any harm to my sweet baby in utero or out.  

A few months after our daughter was born I ended up grabbing for those essential oils when her Dad got into some poison ivy.  I remembered right away how helpful lavender and tea tree were to dry out, heal, and calm the itch of the rash.  I then became very excited to start going through them again and continue reading the book I was given to learn more about safe use. 

I made a lavender spray to spray around the crib at nap time and bed time.  It's crazy to look back and think that I only used that one spray because I didn't have time to learn safe use during pregnancy and with babies.  My next two pregnancies were so much different, as I used natural wellness products and remedies SO much more often. 

I am so glad that I took the plunge to learn more because I needed the support of aromatherapy and other natural products to balance my mood, promote better sleep, nourish my skin and all my little's skin, and so much more! 

While there are an incredible amount of essential oils and herbs that are NOT to be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and with babies, the ones that are safe to use when used in the proper dilutions, amount, and used correctly, are beyond beneficial!

I had a learning curve with though!  When I ran out of lavender and had to go to a local store for some, let me make this short and sweet.... two trips, two different brands of lavender, and the result was ZERO, nothing.  There was a sweet baby who wasn't sleeping better, no relaxing aroma, no feeling of calm, and if anything, both aroma's gave me a feeling of nausea because they weren't like the true, earthy lavender I knew.  One was very strong, not earthy, just a strong, almost cologne like, lavender aroma, and the other smelt like a terrible perfume.  I was certain if I felt that way about the aroma, that my baby felt that way times ten!

This is when I learned how extremely important it is to know what makes a good brand.  How to distinguish true essential oils from fragranced essential oils.  It would be really helpful if there wasn't so much confusion with the wording on the labels and bottles.  

A medicinal essential oil is a "true" essential oil.  It is only the very concentrated oil that comes directly from the plant.  There are no other ingredients on the label.  The word fragrance is certainly not in the list of ingredients.  The label provides the botanical name so you can identify which plant the essential oil came from and search for the correct precautions based on the botanical name. 

A good company will let you know exactly where the plant comes from and if they are a smaller company, you may even get a better list of key information that makes up the essential oil, like the quality of the air and soil, and the altitude the plant is grown, with a more specific intention that that essential oil will be recommended for.  

Long story short, there is much more to learn about choosing a brand that carries "true" essential oils and how to identify this yourself at home when you are trying that essential oil.

There is so much benefit that can come from using natural wellness, aromatherapy, and other natural remedies for Mom's, babies, and children of all ages, however, safety must be learned in order to prevent harm, adverse reactions, and so forth.

I am sure some of you are saying "But Jamie, what CAN I safely use then with my babies or little's?"  

I teach this during my one to one online wellness sessions!  The fantastic part, the precautions we review can be specific to  the age of your child!  We review safe use for any age, precautions, blending, proper dilutions, and natural products that are fit for your child.  Even if you are an expecting Momma or have children who are three, six, twelve, and eighteen!  If this is what you have been wanting, Click Here Now to get started!

Let me end with a bit more insight for the soon to be Mom's or Mom's new to natural wellness... 

~ Nutrition is HUGE.  Heal from the inside and you will notice healing on the outside.  Nutrition also provides us with immunity and energy to function optimally.

~ Keeping it simple with natural products is best during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and with babies.  It is actually not recommended to use essential oils with babies.  Essential oils are very concentrated and most are way too concentrated for babies!  Babies are also very sensitive which includes their sense of smell, airway and breathing, and their gentle skin.  Safety is so important to prevent adverse reactions.

~ If you experience nausea, headache, or a skin reaction after using essential oils, that is an adverse reaction and your body telling you that essential oil or amount used is not for you.

~ Never heard of a hydrosol?  Lavender hydrosol is safer, more gentle, and has (in my opinion) a more lovely, softer, lavender aroma.  It can be sprayed as needed in any room to promote a sense of calm or used topically on the skin to promote healing and skin nourishment.  I LOVE teaching about hydrosols, especially for little's.

~ Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) has been noted in many sources to be a great option to diffuse with babies and children.  Always check precautions from the botanical name prior to use and in reference with your child's age and health status, and consult with your health care provider prior to use, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and with babies. 

P.S.  I also teach this and emphasize on safety as if your sweet littles were my own, always.

Remember to take time out for yourself, time out for your littles without twenty other things on your mind, and take in all those sweet moments. 

~ Healthy Wishes, Jamie

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Updated 1/3/2024