Is an essential oil diffuser safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about essential oil diffusers during pregnancy?

1. Essential oils are most often used either by inhaling them, as with a diffuser, or by applying a diluted form to the skin, and NCCIH notes that overall, little rigorous research has been done on aromatherapy for any use. 1
2. A systematic review of complementary approaches to nausea and vomiting of pregnancy found aromatherapy with lemon essential oil to be among the few interventions with evidence of an effect, alongside ginger capsules and P6 acupressure. 2
3. Reported side effects from inhaled aromatherapy in the pregnancy nausea studies reviewed were mild and temporary, limited to headache, dizziness, or shortness of breath in one of the three studies, and none led participants to discontinue use. 2
4. In a randomized trial, pregnant women with nausea inhaled lemon essential oil from a cotton pad held a few centimeters from the nose for three breaths, repeated every five minutes as needed rather than from a diffuser running continuously, and reported significantly lower nausea and vomiting scores than the group given a placebo scent, with no adverse effects. 3
5. Essential oil products aren't regulated by the FDA, so reliable information on how to use any specific one safely in pregnancy is uncommon, and MotherToBaby recommends discussing the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider before using any of them. 4

Is essential oil diffusers safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Nausea is typically worst in the first trimester, which is also when the trial evidence for inhaled lemon and peppermint oil easing nausea was gathered. Keep sessions short and the room ventilated rather than running a diffuser all day.
• Second trimester. Nausea usually eases in the second trimester, so diffusing purely for scent or relaxation becomes the more common use. The same caution about unregulated quality and limited overall research still applies.
• Third trimester. There's no third-trimester-specific research on diffusing essential oils, so the same general guidance holds: brief, well-ventilated sessions. Check with your provider if you want to use a diffuser continuously rather than as an occasional room scent.