It is true that care should be taken when using anything in pregnancy as whatever you use is being shared with the baby and it is also true that certain oils should be avoided in pregnancy but some oils are positively useful.

Oils to avoid in pregnancy during the first four months are: peppermint, rose and rosemary. After the first four months, these oils are perfectly safe to use.

Oils to be generally avoided throughout pregnancy are: Ajowan, angelica, anise star, aniseed, basil, bay laurel, calamintha, cedarwood (all types), celery seed, cinnamon leaf, citronella, clary sage, clove, cumin, fennel (sweet), hyssop, juniper, labdanum, lovage, marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, parsley, snakeroot, Spanish sage, tarragon and thyme (white).

The rest of the essential oils are safe to use in pregnancy.

It is also important to note that when we say that certain oils are to be avoided, we do not mean that there is any problem with using the oil in a room fragrancer or burner. We mean that these oils are to be avoided as massage oils, bath oils, creams and lotions. In other words, they should not be used on the skin as they are directly absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.