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Advice on how to use essential oils safely and effectively in pregnancy for five common pregnancy discomforts. Lisa Heeney is a professional aromatherapist specialising in pregnancy, and knows first-hand the benefits of using essential oils when pregnant.
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Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
INTRODUCTION:
Your pregnancy is a time of great excitement
for you and your partner, and the journey that
you are embarking upon is one of many
changes, both physically and mentally.
It is a time of great adjustment as you grow
this little person inside of you, and prepare for
the grand occasion of their arrival.
Many women breeze through the 40+ weeks,
enjoying each trimester, and taking the changing weeks in their stride, whereas others unfortunately
can suffer from a more challenging time with discomforts such as morning sickness, sleeplessness,
heart-burn or excessive swelling in their feet and legs, at some point during their pregnancy.
In my everyday work of being a reflexologist and an aromatherapist, specialising in pregnancy
treatments, I see women who are presenting with all sorts of pregnancy challenges. Some are minor
and are easily managed, and others are of a more serious nature, and can overshadow the joy and
happiness that a pregnancy should hold. I am often asked, “What can I do to help my sore lower
back?” or “Do you have anything that will help with the swelling in my legs?”, so in this ebook, I am
sharing some of my own personal and exclusive aromatherapy blends that can help improve five
commonly experienced pregnancy discomforts.
In the pages that follow, I have listed 5 common pregnancy discomforts or challenges, and how
aromatherapy can help them. I have chosen the essential oil blends both for their therapeutic benefits
as well as their fragrant beauty, and whether you are a seasoned lover of all things aromatic, or
someone who is just knocking on aromatherapy’s door for the first time, I hope you enjoy using the
blends, and that they help you to feel well in your pregnancy.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Note: When mixing and blending oils, it is helpful to do so in a small glass, preferably obscured,
bottle with a lid. Always store essential oils, including the blends that you make up, in a cool, dark
place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Please note, essential oils are pure plant essences and as such, you pay for what you get. Don’t be
tempted by essential oil ‘bargains’ – if you think something is very cheap, it’s probably not a pure
essential oil and may have been adulterated using a cheaper essential oil or have some other essential
oil constituents added to it.
Only buy essential oils that are packaged in dark, obscured glass bottles – amber is best, then dark
blue.
Please follow the dilution details that I have provided as the following blends have been created with
pregnancy in mind. Essential oils are potent substances, and if used incorrectly may cause you some
damage or injury, for example, skin irritation, sensitisation or allergic reactions.
Do not apply essential oils directly on to the skin without proper dilution.
Keep essential oils out of reach and sight of children, and only ever use essential oils on children
under proper professional aromatherapy instruction. NEVER apply essential oils neat onto children’s
skin.
None of the information contained in this text is intended to replace medical advice.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Pregnancy Discomfort/Challenge #1 Tiredness
Probably one of the first symptoms of pregnancy that a
woman can experience is the extreme tiredness. That
sensation of hitting an invisible wall, of trying to drag
your legs through wallpaper paste as you walk, and the
immense yawns that completely consume you. Your
body is undergoing the greatest changes that it will
ever know in the first few weeks of pregnancy and all of
your energy is directed towards your baby’s
exponential growth. This can leave you feeling
depleted, exhausted and simply unable to keep going.
Here we have two options with aromatherapy: Use oils
to help overcome the tiredness and sustain your
energy, or use oils that work hand in hand with your
tiredness and promote deep, beneficial sleep and rest.
My first advice is, if you can nap, then do so – nothing
feels quite as wonderful, and rest is of utmost
importance so that you can continue giving your best
to your baby. However, if it’s during the day time and
you’re at work, minding other children, or otherwise
occupied and you have no opportunity to sleep, then it
would be beneficial to use uplifting, energising oils.
Energising Essential Oils to Use:
Grapefruit, Bergamot, Sweet Orange
Massage:
This blend can be applied as a massage oil if you have someone nice enough to be giving you a
massage, or apply it directly to your hands and arms, or face and neck if you are applying it yourself.
You will receive the benefits of the essential oils in two ways here: By inhaling them as they
evaporate, and also trans-dermally as some constituents pass into your blood stream from having
been applied to your skin.
Use 30ml of Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, Peach Kernel, Sunflower are all
good options.)
Add the following essential oils to your carrier oil and mix thoroughly:
3 drops of Grapefruit
3 drops of Bergamot
4 drops of Sweet Orange
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Bath:
Add 10-15mls of your blend to an already drawn, warm bath. Disperse it through the water with your
hand. Use caution getting in and out of the bath, as the oils make the surface extremely slippery.
Vaporisation:
Add the following essential oils to the water
in your vaporiser/oil burner:
1 drop grapefruit
1 drop bergamot
1 drop sweet orange
The essential oils will vaporise through the
room for about 30 minutes.
If you are using a plug-in diffuser, then just add the essential oils to the filter, or pad, as they do not
need to be in water.
If you have neither an oil burner nor diffuser, add one drop of each of the oils mentioned to a tissue
and leave it on a warm radiator and it will circulate the oils through the room on the warm air.
Sleep Blend - Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Geranium
Massage:
Use 30ml of Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, Peach Kernel, Sunflower are all
good options.)
Add the following essential oils to your carrier oil and mix thoroughly:
5 drops of Lavender
3 drops of Roman Chamomile
2 drops of Geranium
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Bath:
Add 10-15mls of your blend to an already drawn, warm bath. Disperse it through the water with your
hand. Use caution getting in and out of the bath, as the oils make the surface extremely slippery.
Vaporisation:
Add the following essential oils to the water in your vaporiser/oil burner:
2 drops Lavender
1 drop Roman Chamomile
1 drop Geranium
The essential oils will vaporise through the room for about 30 minutes.
If you are using a plug-in diffuser, then just add the essential oils to the filter, or pad, as they do not
need to be in water.
If you have neither oil burner nor diffuser, add the drops of each of the oils as mentioned above to a
tissue and leave it on a warm radiator and it will circulate the oils through the room on the warm air.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Pregnancy Discomfort/Challenge #2 - Constipation
The rise in the level of the hormone progesterone in pregnancy causes your intestines to relax and
become more sluggish. This, along with the ever decreasing space for your intestines because of
baby’s growth, can lead to constipation. This is often exacerbated if a woman is taking iron
supplements whilst pregnant.
Constipation should not be overlooked, or ignored as it can be very uncomfortable and may lead to
other conditions like haemorrhoids, headaches, general sluggishness, backache and oedema. None of
which, as I am sure you will agree, are any fun!
Essential oils that can improve the discomfort of constipation are ones that are cleansing and that can
stimulate the bowels. If there is an emotional aspect to a woman being constipated, for example fear
or stress, then essential oils to address this aspect can be used. It may be advisable to go and have a
treatment with a trained aromatherapist to have a personalised blend of essential oils to address
specific emotional factors.
Essential Oils to Use:
Sweet Orange, Peppermint, Ginger, Grapefruit
Massage:
Use 30ml of Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, Peach Kernel, Sunflower are all
good options.)
Add the following essential oils to your carrier oil and mix thoroughly:
3 drops Sweet Orange
2 drops Peppermint
1 drop Ginger
2 drops Grapefruit
Massage an adequate amount of the blend into your abdomen in a clockwise direction as you look
down at your belly. In addition to massaging your belly, massaging the middle section of your feet and
the palms of your hands with your oil blend may also prove beneficial. This is because this allows you
to access reflexology points that correspond to your digestive system.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Bath:
Add 10-15mls of your blend to an already drawn, warm bath. Disperse it through the water with your
hand. Use caution getting in and out of the bath, as the oils make the surface extremely slippery.
Vaporisation: In the case of constipation, vaporisation of essential oils may not prove as effective at helping to
alleviate it as massage or bath. However, it will still prove to be beneficial to your well-being to be
inhaling the essential oils.
Add the following essential oils to the water in your vaporiser/oil burner:
2 drops Sweet Orange
1 drop Peppermint
1 drop Grapefruit
The essential oils will vaporise through the room for about 30 minutes.
If you are using a plug-in diffuser, then just add the essential oils to the filter, or pad, as they do not
need to be in water.
If you have neither oil burner nor diffuser, add the drops of each of the oils as mentioned above to a
tissue and leave it on a warm radiator and it will circulate the oils through the room on the warm air.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Pregnancy Discomfort/Challenge #3
Aches and Pains – Most commonly back, neck, shoulders, ribs, pelvis, hips and/or legs Most women will experience backache at some point in
their pregnancy as it can be very common, not only
because of your changing shape putting more pressure on
your back as your belly moves forward, but also because of
pregnancy hormones like relaxin that act upon ligaments
making them looser and more flexible. Therefore your
pelvis is not as stable as normal and can result in an
aching, tired back. Poor posture is also a contributing
factor if you are suffering from back ache. Yoga and
Pilates will help to maintain a good posture and reduce
discomfort in your back. Hips, pelvis, pelvic floor and legs
can also feel heavy and achy, from the growing weight of
your baby, and many women will also hold stress and
tension in their upper back, neck and shoulders, perhaps
from driving, or sitting at their work desk.
This is an area where aromatherapy comes into its own, as there are so many wonderful essential oils
that encourage the body to relax, improve circulation to tired muscles, and act on the brain to let go of
stress. Here is one of my favourite blends for helping to ease aches and pains:
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Essential Oils to Use: Lavender, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, Geranium
Massage:
Use 30ml of Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, Peach Kernel, Sunflower are all
good options.)
Add the following essential oils to your carrier oil and mix thoroughly:
4 drops Lavender
3 drops Frankincense
2 drops Roman Chamomile
1 drop Geranium
Apply liberally to areas that are sore, aching or holding tension. Obviously in this case, if you can get
someone else to massage your sore areas, then it will be better.
Bath:
Add 10-15mls of your blend to an already drawn, warm bath. Disperse it through the water with your
hand. Use caution getting in and out of the bath, as the oils make the surface extremely slippery!
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Pregnancy Discomfort/Challenge #4 - Oedema
During your pregnancy, after being on your feet for a long time, wearing restrictive clothing, in
warmer weather, many women experience swelling, or oedema in their feet, ankles and legs. This can
be very uncomfortable, and in some instances it can prove quite serious as it can be a sign of pre-
eclampsia. However, some accumulation of fluid is normal for many women and is merely a result of
expanding blood vessels near the skin, which results in a greater amount of fluid in the tissues. Poor
circulation and the weight of the uterus on the pelvis floor can mean that the lymphatic system has a
harder time at draining away excess fluid, so it is important to stay active in pregnancy, whilst still
getting proper rest
Resting, and raising your ankles above your hips can help drain away some of the fluid, as can
therapies like reflexology and acupuncture. However, massaging the areas prone to swelling on a
daily basis, will help to keep it under control.
Essential Oils to Use: Cypress, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon
Massage:
Use 30ml of Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, Peach Kernel, Sunflower are all
good options.)
Add the following essential oils to your carrier oil and mix thoroughly:
2 drops Cypress
2 drops Geranium
3 drops Grapefruit
3 drops Lemon
Massage using upward strokes into your feet and legs, and hands if they are also suffering from
swelling.
Bath:
Ad 10-15mls of your blend to an already drawn, warm bath. Disperse it through the water with your
hand. Use caution getting in and out of the bath, as the oils make the surface extremely slippery.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Pregnancy Discomfort/Challenge #5 - Blocked Sinuses or Sinus Infection
During pregnancy, women can be more
prone to suffering from blocked
sinuses, or if an infection sets in,
sinusitis. For some women it only
occurs on one side of their face and it
can be uncomfortable at best, and very
painful at worst. Inflammation occurs
in the mucous membranes of the
sinuses and nasal cavities resulting in
the sensation of being ‘blocked up’ or,
alternatively, having a slightly runny
nose. If you have sinusitis, you can expect greater amounts of thick, nasal mucus, which can vary in
colour from green to dark orange. This increased volume of mucus puts pressure on facial cavities
causing pain above and below the eyes, along the cheek bones and down the sides of the nose. Some
people will also experience a persistent head-ache that stems from their sinus pain. Many over the
counter remedies for sinus pain cannot be used in pregnancy due to their anti-histamine properties.
This is where aromatherapy can be used as a safe and effective option as some essential oils are really
wonderful at releasing the pressure in your face, and can also boost your immune system.
Essential Oils to Use: Lemon, Eucalyptus, Cardamon, Sandalwood
Massage:
Use 30ml of Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, Peach Kernel, Sunflower are all
good options)
Add the following essential oils to your carrier oil and mix thoroughly:
3 drops lemon
2 drops eucalyptus
1 drop Cardamom
1 drop Sandalwood
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
Massage using quite strong strokes starting from either side of your nose, and press under your cheek
bones outwards towards your ears. Also massage into your forehead in a circular motion. Pinch
above and below your eyebrow ridge using your forefinger and thumb and move from the inner end of
your brows to the outer end towards your temples. Continue to do this for 6 or 7 minutes. Also, using
your ring finger on each hand, press on the bone under your eye socket, again in an inner to outer
direction.
This will help to relieve and encourage free-flowing of any congested areas
Bath:
Add 10-15mls of your blend to an already drawn, warm bath. Disperse it through the water with your
hand.
Use caution getting in and out of the bath, as the oils make the surface extremely slippery.
Vaporisation:
Add the following essential oils to the water in your vaporiser/oil burner:
2 drops Lemon
1 drop Eucalyptus
1 drop Cardamom
The essential oils will vaporise through the room for about 30 minutes.
If you are using a plug-in diffuser, then just add the essential oils to the filter, or pad, as they do not
need to be in water.
If you have neither an oil burner nor diffuser, add the drops of each of the oils as mentioned above to
a tissue and leave it on a warm radiator and it will circulate the oils through the room on the warm air.
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015
I hope you enjoy using these blends that I have created especially for pregnancy challenges. If you
would like to see more pregnancy-specific aromatherapy blends, then you may be interested in my
book, AromaBump - Your Go-To Guide to Using Essential Oils in Pregnancy
If you would like further guidance in creating your own aromatherapy blends for therapeutic use in
pregnancy, you may like to join one of Love Your Pregnancy workshops
Or, if you would prefer to have a specific therapeutic blend made especially for you in your pregnancy,
then please feel free to contact me via this email link.
Wishing you the best in your pregnancy and birthing experience!
Lisa
Aromatherapy Blends for 5 Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Copyright Love Your Pregnancy 2015