What essential oils are safe while breastfeeding?

Understanding Essential Oils and Breastfeeding Safety
The use of essential oils during breastfeeding is a topic that requires careful consideration. While many mothers find comfort and benefits from these natural extracts, it is crucial to understand which oils are safe and how they can be used effectively without posing risks to the nursing infant.
Factors Influencing Safety
The safety of essential oils while breastfeeding depends on several factors, including the type of oil, the method of application, and the individual health circumstances of both the mother and the baby. It is essential for breastfeeding mothers to consult healthcare professionals before incorporating any essential oils into their routine.
Safe Essential Oils for Nursing Mothers
Several essential oils are generally considered safe for use during breastfeeding. These include:
– Lavender Oil: Known for its calming properties, lavender can help alleviate stress and promote relaxation, which is beneficial for new mothers. It may also assist in relieving breastfeeding pain or engorgement.

– Geranium Oil: This floral oil is praised for its mood-balancing effects and can support emotional well-being during the postpartum period.
– Frankincense Oil: Often used for its soothing properties, frankincense is also deemed safe for breastfeeding mothers.
– Tea Tree Oil: While it should be used with caution, tea tree oil can be applied topically to help with issues like mastitis, provided it is done under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Oils to Avoid
Conversely, some essential oils should be avoided during breastfeeding due to potential adverse effects. Oils such as sage, peppermint, and wintergreen may affect milk supply or have other negative impacts on nursing. Additionally, oils that are known to be strong irritants or have hormonal effects should be approached with caution.
Application Methods
The method of application also plays a significant role in safety. Aromatherapy, where oils are diffused into the air, is generally considered safer than topical application, especially if the oils are diluted properly. Direct application on the skin should be done sparingly and with caution, ensuring that the oils do not come into contact with the baby.
Conclusion
In summary, while essential oils can offer various benefits to breastfeeding mothers, it is vital to choose the right oils and use them safely. Consulting with healthcare providers is essential to ensure that both mother and baby remain healthy and safe while enjoying the potential advantages of essential oils. By being informed and cautious, mothers can enhance their breastfeeding experience without compromising their child’s well-being.

What essential oils can you use when breastfeeding?

Top 20 Essential Oils Safe for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

• 1: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• 2: Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
• 3: Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
• 4: Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• 5: Lemon (Citrus x limon)
• 6: Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
• 7: Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

Why avoid strawberries while breastfeeding?

A quart or more of orange juice or a diet heavy in seasonal fruits such as strawberries, melons or cherries have been associated with diarrhea and colicky symptoms in some infants. Foods containing many preservatives, additives or dyes have been associated with signs of discomfort in some babies.

What essential oil stops breastfeeding?

Peppermint It is recommended to avoid Peppermint whilst breastfeeding as it can reduce your supply. So if you’ve missed your peppermint teat an essential oil then you can safely welcome it back now. Enjoy peppermint tea for gentle support or an ingestible peppermint oil for stronger support.

What oils should I avoid while breastfeeding?

Essential Oils To Avoid During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

• Anise, Pimpinella anisum
• Anise (star), Illicium verum
• Araucaria, Neocallitropsis pancheri
• Artemisia vestita, Artemisia vestita
• Atractylis, Atractyllodes lancea
• Birch (sweet), Betula lenta
• Black seed, Nigella sativa
• Buchu (diosphenol CT), Agathosma betulina ct.

Can I take lavender while breastfeeding?

Many of my favorite uses for lavender are especially great during postpartum and breastfeeding. Most especially, lavender helps promote a good night’s sleep and relaxation. A common cause for the reduction of milk supply is stress because it inhibits the release of the hormones that promote milk production.

Does peppermint oil dry up milk supply?

Peppermint and spearmint can adversely affect milk supply. Drinking an occasional cup of peppermint tea should not be a problem. You’d have to drink very large amounts daily (think quarts!) to decrease your supply. Altoids and other candies made from peppermint oil are a different story.

Why avoid cinnamon while breastfeeding?

Coumarin, an ingredient in some cinnamon products, can cause liver problems, but the amount you’d get is so small that it probably won’t be a problem. Given the lack of evidence about its safety, children, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding should avoid cinnamon as a treatment.

Does peppermint affect breastfeeding?

Peppermint and sage are reputed to decrease milk production when consumed in large or concentrated amounts. Frequent brushing with toothpaste containing real peppermint oil or even eating potent peppermint candies has caused trouble for some mothers.

Does peppermint essential oil affect breast milk?

Even a small amount of peppermint oil will reduce milk supply for some women Among those who reported no effect, some were trying to reduce their supply because they were weaning. However, why peppermint oil affects some and not others is not known, and our poll shed no light on this.

Is eucalyptus safe while breastfeeding?

DO NOT put eucalyptus oil, salve, or chest rub on the face or nose of a child under 2. People with asthma, seizures, liver disease, kidney disease, or low blood pressure should not use eucalyptus without first talking to their doctors. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use eucalyptus.