Essential oils – are they safe enough for pregnant women?
The fear of using essential oils in pregnant women is mainly due to the British approach. This fear is that the essential oils will harm the developing child or that essential oils will cause abortions, miscarriages or premature births. Since some essential oils affect hormonal balance, there is also a fear of disrupting a normal pregnancy. However, there is no evidence in the literature that this is actually true. However, if a little essential oil is good, that doesn't mean a lot is better. Without research, we don't know how many of the compounds in essential oils actually pass the placenta to the growing...

Essential oils – are they safe enough for pregnant women?
The fear of using essential oils in pregnant women is mainly due to the British approach. This fear is that the essential oils will harm the developing child or that essential oils will cause abortions, miscarriages or premature births. Since some essential oils affect hormonal balance, there is also a fear of disrupting a normal pregnancy. However, there is no evidence in the literature that this is actually true. However, if a little essential oil is good, that doesn't mean a lot is better. Without research, we don't know how many of the compounds in essential oils actually cross the placenta to the growing child. Can essential oils be used for abortion? Both pennyroyal and parsley seeds (Apiol) have been reported to cause maternal death when attempting to abort a fetus. It is important to remember that ANY essential oil that is abused can cause potential harm if ingested in large quantities.
Shirley Price clearly states in her book Aromatherapy for Health Professionals that using essential oils during pregnancy requires great expertise. She advises caution during the first trimester because we really don't know how many molecules of an oil actually cross the placenta. She believes essential oils are safe to use after this critical growth point in the fetus's life. Can pregnant women apply and inhale essential oils topically? The answer is yes. The amounts are so small that they cannot possibly harm the mother. However, you should limit topical dilutions to 10% or less. Should pregnant women take essential oils internally? For legal reasons, this is best left to licensed health professionals.
There are very few essential oils that should be avoided during pregnancy.Juniperus sabina(Savin) andJuniper Pfitzeriana(Spanish sage.) In experimental animals, tumors developed in the offspring when they were exposed to all safrole-rich essential oils in the womb. These include Brazilian sassafras,Ocotea camphora, Chinese sassafras,Cinnamomum camphora.
Why would a pregnant woman want to use an essential oil?
In fact, there are many reasons. Digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, morning sickness, relaxation, rest, sleep, back pain, stretch marks, edema, rashes, urinary tract infections, emotional disorders, eczema, leg cramps, to name just a few problems that can occur during pregnancy. Essential oils can easily deal with all these problems without causing any danger to the fetus.