Prenatal Massages

Great Oils for Prenatal Massages

by BMB Editorial Team

29 APR 2020

Prenatal massage oils used at BMB

During pregnancy, aromatherapy and massage are popular ways to ease muscular aches, tiredness and trouble sleeping. The research is still small, but a 2025 review of 21 studies found that aromatherapy reduced nausea and vomiting and eased anxiety in pregnant women, and may improve sleep quality (Mascarenhas and colleagues, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025). Essential oils are strong plant extracts, though, so in pregnancy the rule is simple: fewer oils, weaker blends, and none on your skin in the first trimester.

Want a massage with pregnancy-safe oils done for you? See our prenatal massage in Singapore, where our therapists use oils checked to be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mums.

Why oils matter in prenatal massage

A massage oil does two jobs. The carrier oil, such as sunflower oil, lets your therapist’s hands glide smoothly and stops your skin from drying out. Essential oils, added in tiny amounts, bring a scent that many mums find calming. NHS maternity guidelines in Wales use a 1% blend for massage: 1 drop of essential oil to every 5ml of carrier oil, with no more than three essential oils in one blend (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, 2025).

Essential oils have been used for centuries, and you will see many claims for them, from easing swollen ankles to curing headaches. Most of those claims have little research behind them in pregnancy, so it is best to think of oils as comfort rather than treatment. As a mother-to-be, you might be anxious about your pregnancy and how to cope with its demands and stresses. A calm, unhurried massage with a scent you enjoy is one gentle way to look after yourself through it.

In pregnancy, less is more: a few well-chosen oils, well diluted, and none on your skin in the first trimester.

Six oils often used in pregnancy massage

Lavender oil

Lavender is on the oil list of every NHS maternity guideline cited below. In the 2025 review, lavender was one of the scents that may improve sleep quality in pregnancy. It is rarely linked to skin reactions (Aneurin Bevan University Health Board), but it can lower blood pressure, so NHS Borders midwives avoid it for mums with low blood pressure.

Ginger oil

Ginger is warm and spicy, and many people find its scent comforting at the end of a long day, when your shoulders, lower back and calves feel heavy. It does not appear on the oil lists in the NHS maternity guidelines cited below, and there is little research on ginger oil massage in pregnancy. If you would like it, keep it to a light blend and ask your therapist first.

Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is a carrier oil, not an essential oil, and cold-pressed sunflower oil is the carrier of choice in the NHS Wales maternity guidelines. In a small study in adults, sunflower seed oil kept the skin barrier intact and improved hydration, while olive oil weakened it (Danby and colleagues, Pediatric Dermatology, 2013). That makes it a light, gentle base for skin that is stretching as your bump grows.

Grapefruit oil

Grapefruit has a fresh, uplifting scent, and NHS Borders midwives list it for nausea and to lift the mood, avoiding it for anyone allergic to citrus fruit. Like other citrus oils, it can make skin more sensitive to sunlight (Cardiff and Vale), so keep that skin out of strong sun after a massage. Citrus oils also go off: NHS guidelines say to throw away an oil that looks cloudy or sticky, or no longer smells fresh.

Frankincense oil

Frankincense has a warm, woody scent. NHS Wales midwifery guidelines list it as an oil that may ease anxiety and help with calm, easier and deeper breathing, and midwives use it in labour. Use a fresh bottle: old or oxidised frankincense can irritate the skin (Cardiff and Vale).

Ylang-ylang oil

Ylang-ylang is sweet and floral. In a small study of 40 healthy volunteers (not a pregnancy study), it lowered blood pressure and helped people feel calmer and more relaxed (Hongratanaworakit and Buchbauer, 2006). That is why NHS Borders midwives avoid it for mums with low blood pressure, and warn that its scent can be overpowering with long use. A little goes a long way.

Oils to avoid during pregnancy

Not every essential oil is suitable in pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding calamus, mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, hyssop, myrrh, marjoram and thyme. Clary sage is a special case: some NHS midwives use it in labour to help contractions, but the Cardiff and Vale guideline says it should not be used in pregnancy until 37 weeks, and the Aneurin Bevan guideline does not use it at all for mums with a previous caesarean or other scar on the womb. Peppermint is used by NHS midwives, but only one drop at a time, and they avoid it for anyone with epilepsy or certain heart rhythm problems.

Two more rules apply to every oil. First, in the first trimester, NHS guidelines advise no direct skin contact with essential oils at all (York and Scarborough NHS hospitals; Cardiff and Vale). Second, essential oils are for use on the outside of the body only: never eat or drink them. It may help to know that the Aneurin Bevan guideline notes there is no evidence that essential oils, as used in aromatherapy, can cause a miscarriage. The cautions are about being careful, not about fear. At BMB, bring up any allergies or sensitivities with your therapist before the massage begins.

How we use oils at BMB

At BMB, we recommend prenatal massage between 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, so your massage starts after the first trimester. If you are past 36 weeks, we need a doctor’s letter of approval before booking. We use a water-soluble massage oil that contains grapefruit seed extract, which is easily absorbed into the skin and adds moisture. Grapefruit seed extract is not the same thing as the grapefruit essential oil described above. Our prenatal massage oils are checked to be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Before your massage, our consultant talks through your pregnancy stage, concerns and medical history. You lie on your side or in a semi-reclined position, supported with pillows, and never face-down. The same care, method and oils are used for prenatal massage in Johor Bahru. If you would like to use your own essential oils at home between visits, follow the cautions above and check with your doctor or midwife first. After your baby arrives, our guide to great oils for postnatal massages covers which oils are used after birth and when you can start postnatal massage.

Oils for prenatal massage: common questions

Are essential oils safe during pregnancy?

NHS maternity guidelines in the UK do use some essential oils in pregnancy, well diluted and with no skin contact in the first trimester, including lavender, frankincense and mandarin. A 2025 review found aromatherapy eased nausea and anxiety in pregnancy and may improve sleep. Some oils are best avoided, though, and you should check with your doctor or midwife before using any essential oil while pregnant.

Which essential oils should I avoid when pregnant?

Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding calamus, mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, hyssop, myrrh, marjoram and thyme. NHS guidance in Wales says clary sage should not be used in pregnancy until 37 weeks, and not at all if you have had a caesarean. Peppermint is used only one drop at a time, and lavender, clary sage and ylang-ylang are avoided if you have low blood pressure.

Can I use essential oils in the first trimester?

NHS maternity guidelines advise no direct skin contact with essential oils in the first trimester. At BMB, we recommend prenatal massage from 16 weeks, which is after the first trimester. Never eat or drink essential oils at any stage of pregnancy.

How much should essential oils be diluted for a pregnancy massage?

NHS maternity guidelines in Wales use a 1% blend for massage: 1 drop of essential oil to every 5ml of carrier oil, with no more than three essential oils in one blend. Cold-pressed sunflower oil is their carrier oil of choice.

What oil does BMB use for prenatal massage?

We use a water-soluble massage oil that contains grapefruit seed extract, which is easily absorbed into the skin and adds moisture. Our prenatal massage oils are checked to be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Let your therapist know about any allergies or sensitivities before your massage begins.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. Please check with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils in pregnancy. Updated 05/10/2026.