Are Oils Safe for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding?

The short answer is to avoid Clary Sage during pregnancy and peppermint while breastfeeding.

You will find warnings everywhere about which oils you should and should not use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. These previously were very valid concerns because of the impurities that were so prevalent in the oils available and the threat that they posed in pregnancy, but now that we enjoy the purity of oils that we have with dōTERRA it is no longer an issue.

It is dōTERRA’s sourcing and commitment to pure oils that makes them safe.  Toxic oils are either harvested from the wrong species of plant, not distilled properly, harvested at the wrong season, tampered with, chemicals and fillers added and other such things.  This is the very reason we can use dōTERRA oils safely, because of their care and commitment to pure safe oils.

You may see mixed information out there in different books about oils and their safety in pregnancy and with your newborn. Please understand these books were written with all oil users in mind. They will be ultra-conservative because their readers may not necessarily be dōTERRA users. The information I give in my book comes from personal experience in my midwifery practice.

dōTERRA has set a standard that reassures us we can use doTERRA oils with confidence in pregnancy. During pregnancy, there is heightened sensitivity so we might use a little less of the oils but they can be used very effectively. In pregnancy, we are very protective about what we put into our body. We should have confidence in the oils through pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Clary Sage is relaxing, calming, and soothing. In general, women should not use it during pregnancy unless they have a lot of experience with the oils, simply because there are so many oils that can accomplish the same thing that maybe aren’t quite as aggressive as that one is.

Peppermint is a caution only for lactating moms, but only a minor caution, it “may” decrease milk supply for some. Other than that, oils are very well-founded for pregnancy.

I always say to follow your own intuition.

You are the one who was given stewardship over your body, and everyBODY is different, so do what you feel comfortable with.

Here is a message from Dr. Hill about using essential oils in pregnancy.