When it comes to pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum phase, there are three key elements of a holistic approach: nutrition first and foremost, regular chiropractic care, and the use of essential oils and other natural supplements. Nutrition, chiropractic care, and essential oil safety during pregnancy were previously discussed in Healthy Pregnancy: A Holistic Approach. Here, we’ll focus on some of the many ways essential oils can be used in conjunction with nutrition and other natural methods to support a healthy pregnancy and beyond. These recipes and protocols are not all-inclusive; we encourage you to do additional research and experiment to find what works best for you.
Holistic Fertility Care
The ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term depends on a delicate balance of hormones. Emotional issues, digestive problems, excessive sweating, food cravings, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, and low libido can all indicate certain hormones are out of whack. To support healthy hormone balance, proper hydration is a MUST! In addition, reduce or eliminate caffeine, eat three balanced meals and two snacks daily, eat plenty of dark, leafy greens (most people will need to supplement), and utilize essential oils throughout the day to reduce stress and provide liver and adrenal support.
Our preferred essential oil brand makes a wonderful Monthly Blend for Women especially developed to support healthy hormone cycles.
- During your menstrual cycle, apply to abdomen for a soothing and calming massage.
- During moments of heat, apply to the skin for a soothing, cooling effect.
- Diffuse for a calming aroma that helps soothe heightened emotions.
- Helps balance mood throughout the month.
Since the thyroid controls hormones, some individuals may need to support healthy thyroid function:
10 drops Clove EO
10 drops Myrrh EO
8 drops Frankincense EO
8 drops Lemongrass EO
Add essential oils to a roll-on bottle and fill the remainder with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to thyroid area and bottoms of feet 3x/day.
For extra fertility support, the following 30-day protocol can be helpful:
- Days 1-10, take 2 capsules GI Cleansing Formula 3x/day.
- Days 11-15, take 1 capsule Probiotic Defense Formula 3x/day, then 1/day for days 16-30.
- Apply Monthly Blend for Women to bottoms of feet, lower abdomen, and wrists on a daily basis to support the endocrine system.
- Take the following whole food supplements: Food Nutrient Complex, Cellular Vitality Complex, and Omega Complex daily as directed on the packaging. Whole food supplements are essential to a healthy body. Due to soil depletion and other changes in farming practices, it is impossible to obtain all the nutrients we need from the food we eat, even when we eat a very healthy diet. Our preferred brand produces a supplement pack that serves as an excellent prenatal vitamin, recommended by both doctors and midwives, though you should consult with your care provider to determine whether or not it is right for you. It supports energy production, healthy brain function, healthy digestion, and healthy immune function. This same supplement pack promotes a healthy cardiovascular system and skin, and provides 22 essential vitamins and minerals, as well.
- See a wellness chiropractor regularly
- Acupuncture as recommended
Essential Oils for Healthy Pregnancy and Beyond
First Trimester
Peppermint – cool and invigorate
Rub on temples after you wake up for a morning energy boost.- Diffuse when feeling fatigued or low on energy.
- Promotes digestive health.
- Place one drop in palm of hand with one drop of Wild Orange, rub together and inhale for a mid-day pick-me-up.
- Helps reduce bloating, gas, and occasional indigestion.
- Promotes healthy respiratory function and clear breathing.
Digestive Blend – digestive support
- Eases feelings of queasiness.
- Helps reduce bloating, gas, and occasional indigestion.
- Rub on belly in circular motions that follow the flow of the intestines (when applying to yourself, going from your right to your left when going over the navel, and from your left to your right when passing under the navel).
- Also beneficial when inhaled/diffused or applied to the bottoms of the feet.
Protective Blend – natural defense / immune support
- Effective alternative to synthetic options for immune support.
- Diffuse for cleansing the air.
- Supports the body’s natural antioxidant defenses and healthy immune function.
- Protects against environmental threats.
Lavender – all things calming
- Soothes occasional skin irritations.
- Helps to ease feelings of tension.
- Diffuse or apply to the temples and the back of the neck to promote calm feelings.
Frankincense – Dr. Robert Pappas, a leading industry expert on the chemical profiles and quality of essential oils, has stated our preferred brand offers the best Frankincense he’s ever encountered.
- Apply to bottoms of the feet or use internally to support immune function.
- Use with Lavender and Peppermint to reduce stress and head tension.
Even those who have never been pregnant understand that the first trimester can bring some specific challenges. When you have that “first trimester feeling:”
- Take a calcium/magnesium supplement daily, and investigate the possibility of a magnesium deficiency.
- 4-6 drops Spearmint in a bowl of boiling hot water sitting by the bed at night can ease queasy feelings.
- Apply Ginger to the wrists to help reduce occasional nausea.
- As always, make sure you are getting enough protein.
Second Trimester
Essential oils can help a mother feel more comfortable as her body goes through the many changes associated with the second trimester.
Soothing Blend – muscle and joint support
- Perfect for a soothing massage after a long day.
Calming Blend – perfect to diffuse at bedtime for a restful night’s sleep or to calm a restless baby or child.
- Creates a perfect escape with its calming, renewing fragrance.
- Diffuses into a subtle aroma ideal for reducing worry and stress.
- Add 2-3 drops to Epsom salts and pour into a warm bath to promote relaxation.
- Apply to wrists and/or over the heart, or use essential oil jewelry to lessen feelings of tension and calm emotions throughout the day.
Belly Butter
1/2 cup coconut oil (solid state)
1/4 cup cocoa butter
1/4 cup shea butter
10 drops Sandalwood
7 drops Patchouli
7 drops Lavender
Melt first three ingredients over low heat. Mix and allow to cool slightly, then stir in essential oils. Apply generously over belly, legs, or breasts, as needed.
Third Trimester
Multiple body parts stretch quite far during the third trimester. For skin support, apply Melaleuca to the targeted area. Another excellent option is the Anti-Aging Blend, comprised of powerfully renewing essential oils used throughout history for their beautifying benefits.
The volume of blood, mucous, and other fluids in a woman’s body significantly increases during pregnancy. Sometimes it shifts around in undesirable ways. To promote proper balance, distribution, and flow of fluids, massage diluted Wild Orange essential oil into targeted areas.
It’s no secret that moms experience a roller coaster of emotions during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. For emotional support, diffuse or inhale Wild Orange or Lavender. Or try adding Lavender, Ylang Ylang, or Geranium to Epsom salts and pouring in a warm bath. Our favorite brand also offers proprietary blends specially formulated for emotional support, including a Reassuring Blend, Encouraging Blend, Joyful Blend, Comforting Blend, Invigorating Blend, Uplifting Blend, Grounding Blend, the Calming Blend discussed above, and more.
Stopped up? Take a calcium/magnesium supplement, eat plenty of fiber and whole, unprocessed foods, and drink plenty of water. Patchouli or the Digestive Blend applied to the abdomen can help promote healthy elimination, as well.
Labor and Birth
Prepare in advance! Instruct a helper regarding how essential oils are used and add a label with notes. Make sure to let your care provider know which techniques you plan to implement.
For each of the mist recipes below, add the essential oils to a 4 oz spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Instruct someone who will be at your birth to spray the mist periodically or add it to a diffuser. Stop if you are not enjoying the aroma at any point.
Easy Birth (Relaxing) Mist – for active phase
20 drops Lavender
15 drops Wild Orange
15 drops Peppermint
Energizer Mist – for transition
15 drops Wild Orange
10 drops Bergamot
10 drops Lavender
10 drops Clary Sage
For back discomfort, apply 1-3 drops Black Pepper to the lower back. Dilute and massage, if that is comfortable.
If labor stalls, gently massaging Clary Sage into the lower abdomen may support the natural process of contractions.
Soothing Postpartum Discomfort
Some women experience head tension following birth. The Tension Blend quickly provides a cooling, soothing sensation and promotes feelings of relaxation and calm. However, it contains Peppermint, which can decrease breastmilk supply in about 25%-30% of nursing women. If you know you are sensitive to Peppermint, or aren’t sure, you may want to try some of the oils in the blend by the themselves, or experiment with your own combinations of Wintergreen, Lavender, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil and/or Rosemary.
You can make your own peri pads in preparation for birth by pouring witch hazel into absorbent pads and freezing them. Add a few drops of Lavender, Helichrysum, Frankincense, and/or Geranium, if you like. Following the birth, use the frozen pads like ice packs. Adding 10 drops each of Lavender and Frankincense to your peri bottle/peri spray is also very soothing.
Many women experience a roller coaster of emotions again postpartum, as their bodies go through significant changes in hormone levels. To promote balanced hormones and stable moods, try applying the Grounding Blend, Calming Blend, and/or Ylang Ylang on the bottoms of your feet and over your heart. In addition, use 1-2 drops of Wild Orange 2x/day in your water or tea.
Additional essential oils commonly recommended for the postpartum phase: Rose, Neroli, Nutmeg, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Fennel, Calendula, Myrrh, and Patchouli.
Breastfeeding
Although breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always rosy. It is absolutely essential to have a good support network, so when a challenge arises, you already have someone to help you through it. Begin establishing your support system while you are still pregnant. Do a search for lactation consultants, both hospital-based and independent. Take a class on breastfeeding. Check out your local La Leche League group(s). Many areas also have a variety of independent breastfeeding support services and mothers’ groups.
Once your bundle of joy arrives, nurse on demand! The more you tell your body you need to make milk, the more milk you will make. However, don’t hesitate to get a professional evaluation if something seems wrong or if breastfeeding hurts. Continue to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and consume enough calories. You might find you are even hungrier than when you were pregnant! Fennel and/or Basil essential oils can be used short-term to support milk production, but make sure any challenges have been addressed with a professional before turning to supplements to increase supply.
If experiencing breast discomfort, try 15 drops German chamomile essential oil, 10 drops lavender, and 15 drops eucalyptus radiata in a warm compress made with chamomile tea. Apply 2x/day for up to 5 days.
Your Body, Your Baby
Ultimately, the responsibility for a holistic, healthy pregnancy and beyond rests with you. We encourage you to research multiple sources (remember to evaluate each source and their motivations) until you feel sufficiently informed to make decisions. If you’d like to learn more about the essential oils we trust and recommend, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Alicia Brooks is a mom of 6 boys and a Webster-trained chiropractor specializing in pregnancy. Certified for the Spinning Babies technique, she served as a doula for 7 years and a midwifery assistant for 2 years. She currently teaches Aromatherapy as well as Anatomy and Physiology for Obstetrics at Midwife College of Utah.
Written by Joan Cosas based on the Wellness Jumpstart presentation on January 23, 2016, as well as additional consultation with Alicia Brooks.