Safe Essential Oils For Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum
Below, we are sharing one of Doula Barb’s most popular posts to date, a 2015 interview with Certified Aromatherapist Shannon Dennis of Scentsable Health.
What type of training did you take to obtain your certification and why is that important?
I started with the 200+ hour certification training from Aromahead Institute and quickly branched out with additional classes and mentoring. For me, the formal education has been crucial to my career so far. It introduced me to safe use of essential oils, connected me with my industry and above all else given me credibility in my field. Books rarely can keep up with how quickly we are learning about the vast field of essential oils.
Part of what prompted me to write this post is that we see so much essential oil misuse, misunderstanding and unsafe practices. Can you speak a little about that? Why do you think we see that so commonly?
Oh my, YES! There is rampant misuse of essential oils and misinformation all over birth and beyond. I fell for some of it with my first pregnancy. What many fail to combine in the use of essential oils is the science WITH the experimental or personal benefits. It is important to have a sound knowledge of the chemistry of essential oils so that you can know if an oil would be acceptable and at what dilution for a pregnant client. I think we see this so commonly because oils will do what they are intended to do... but at what cost?
For example, I commonly see blends with wintergreen in them recommended for discomfort during pregnancy and labor. This oil is actually on the hazardous oils list because of the constitute methyl salicylate. Mehtyl salicylate thins the blood so in the case of childbirth, if this oil has been used frequently during labor and the client needs an emergency procedure, like a cesarean section, the client and baby are both now at an increased risk. It is also on the NAHA list, as well as others, of oils to avoid during pregnancy.
To help prepare for this interview, I took questions from my Facebook friends and family. They had a lot of questions for you, but these were the most popular:
What oils do you recommend using for managing morning sickness? I often hear peppermint recommended- what are your thoughts on that?
I actually do not recommend oil "use" during the first trimester of pregnancy. That period of time is too delicate and many essential oils do not have proof of safety during pregnancy. That said, slicing a lemon (with the rind) and putting it in your drinking water or using a personal inhaler as needed with sweet orange, lemon or ginger essential oil can be helpful for nausea. So in general, avoid topical application or room diffusing in the first trimester, and try to use fresh herbs or a very small amount of EO in an inhaler instead.
I had someone ask me once about birthing into a tub with oils added to the water. What are your thoughts?
Please avoid this practice! Here is why:
It can cause issues with the laboring person during birth as they will not be able to quickly escape the aroma.
Water and oils DO NOT MIX. There is a process of blending the essential oils with a carrier oil to properly dilute then with a dispersant like Epsom salts to carry them through the water.
Failure to combine the oils in this way just creates a coating on top of the water. As baby is born and brought up through the water their precious little body is then coated in oils possibly entering their ears and eyes as well.
This oil coat can not only harm their skin, eyes, and ears but can severely damage the smell connection crucial to bonding that mother and baby need just after birth.
Exposure to essential oils can also cause respiratory issues and further endanger the baby if baby happens to take a breath underwater.
What about clary sage use during labor? It is commongly recommended to induce labor, help augment a labor that has stalled or to bring on stronger contractions. I've even heard of it being used as part of an "induction massage". What do birth workers need to know and be aware of when using clary sage?
Clary sage is an emmenagogue or, an oil that helps regulate menstruation. It is not proven to start labor and I would highly recommend education around this oil and the client on an individual basis. Generally speaking I do not recommend it past early labor as it can encourage hemorrhage.
What are some other popular unsafe oils that you see and hear of commonly being used during labor and postpartum and what others would you recommend in their place?
Unfortunately I see a lot of blends recommended for pregnancy, labor and birth. Blends, unless done on an individual basis for that particular person, can be touchy because many blends contain oils not safe for pregnancy or lactation. Using oils as singles not only allows for a higher level of safe use but also can encourage blending combination that appeal to the person in that moment. Example: Client is afraid and unsure of their inner strength. Diffusing neroli and spikenard or neroli and rose may help to aid in releasing these feelings while comforting and building inner strength.
I see a lot of peppermint recommended but I prefer to recommend lemon or orange for balancing the queasy tummy. For many, an oil that may commonly be known to calm may have the reverse effect during labor solely based on everything the body is working to accomplish at that time.
If an individual would like to utilize oils during their labor, what is the best way they can prepare to do so?
Obviously, my first recommendation is that a client be seen by an aromatherapist for a consult. Many aromatherapists take video or phone consults too so if one isn't referred by the doula, the doula isn't a certified aromatherapist or there isn't one locally, see if an aromatherapist is willing to do distance consults!
If the above isn't possible, a client should be as educated on the oils they want to use as possible and include them in their birth plan. Getting the ok from the birth facility, doula and birth team is crucial, too. I try to encourage clients to make use of the aroma in aromatherapy by limiting topical application and focusing on inhalation or diffusion. A dilution limit of 1% applies to birth just like during pregnancy so if the birth team is not educated on dilution it may be helpful to client to pre-dilute the oils for the team.
Do you think it is possible for a doula to stay within scope and still recommend or even use oils on a laboring person?
Great question and another tough one! First, I believe, the client should be requesting the oils. Can a doula use them during labor? The biggest questions for a doula to contemplate are, "Am I willing to accept the liability for using aromatherapy during labor and birth? Do I have the liability insurance to be practicing aromatherapy as a doula? Am I confident in the amount of training and education I have that I will do no harm in my use of essential oils with my laboring client? Does the doula certifying organization I am with allow me to use essential oils during labor and birth?"
How many certifying organizations promote safe standards and how would someone go about finding a professional to consult with?
There are a few credited associations but the area of standardized education in our industry is undergoing some changes too. As of right now (2015) I would look to AIA (Alliance of International Aromatherapists) or NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy) as the bodies of leadership in aromatherapy. Many of the schools have a graduate list of people you could turn to for personalized consults.