This information comes from Shirley Price, Aromatherapist and founding member and Fellow of the International Society of Professional Aromatherapists. Yes, I believe as she does. The petroleum chemicals you are using and exposing babies to (they pass the placental barrier) are much more toxic than small amounts of essential oils. Book: Aromatherapy Workbook, 1993, ISBN: 00 7225 2645 8 Chapter on Safety of Essential Oils, page 123.
Safety Before anything was published regarding the use of certain oils in pregnancy; women, pregnant or not, were using any essential oil they wished in the sensible and rational methods and dilutions advocated in aromatherapy books (their only source of knowledge!) without any recorded ill effects, even from those who were pregnant. Remember, aromatherapy is the controlled use of essential oils; when used thus there are no more hazards than with many other things we use daily (e.g. alcohol, aspirin, bleach, etc.) – and it is a lot less dangerous than many prescribed drugs taken nowadays regularly. A great number of people in hospital are there because of the side effects of the drugs they have been given – not because of the original condition. There have been more deaths as a result of the action of medical drugs (and aspirin, alcohol and even potatoes!) than there have been people even slightly ill as a result of using essential oils. Yet we worry in an almost irrational manner about essential oils which 99.9 per cent of the people interested in aromatherapy are using in extremely low quantities. Far be it from me not to agree that the potential hazards of some of the oils must be given – this is a wise precaution – but in perspective, please. I am certainly not advocating free use of essential oils (even if of good quality) by untrained people. It seems that some of what has been written on the toxicity of essential oils has been either out of context, without any explanation or reasoning, or greatly exaggerated. I found this information from the associated content from Yahoo!
Ten Foods Breastfeeding Mothers Should Avoid I realized a Pregnant Mom-to-be should avoid these as well...personally, I believe all of us: men, women, boys and girls should be avoiding these foods for a healthier future. Simply stated, a breastfeeding mother's food intake is passed on to your baby. You must take care to eat the healthiest foods (real and natural). There are also foods which may negatively affect you and your baby. According to Robert Rountree, M.D., and Melissa Block, M.Ed., in their book, The New Breastfeeding Diet Plan, here are several foods that should be avoided.
  1.  Foods containing MSG (monosodium glutanate). This guideline eliminates thousands of food products, including canned soups, sauces and salad dressings.
  2. Crisco or any other brand of hydrogenated vegetable oil or shortening.
  3. All foods containing hydrogenated oils, including: chips, cookies, cake, cookie mixes, etc.
  4. Liquid corn or soybean oils as they become rancid in the skillet.
  5. Meat substitutes made with soy, as they are usually high in MSG.
  6. Anything containing cottonseed oil. It is contaminated with pesticides.
  7. Frozen or packaged meals that contain hydrogenated oils, preservatives, seasonings and sugars.
  8. High fructose corn syrup and/or artificial sweeteners. This includes all juice drinks and soda.
  9. Splenda and Nutrasweet, or other chemical artificial sweeteners. Two safe artificals sweeteners are xylitol and stevia. *The FDA has received many complaints regarding aspartame, including mysterious symptoms which disappear when it is eliminated from the diet.
  10. Flaxseed oil. It goes rancid quickly. Instead, buy ground flaxseed.
Eliminating these foods and food ingredients from your diet provide several benefits. 1st Most of these items are extremely high in trans fats and empty calories. Decreasing your consumption of them will help you lose weight, giving you a boost in self esteem and feelings of wellness. 2nd. When you eliminate these unhealthy foods from your diet, and your baby's, will make you feel good about yourself as a parent. You've already done the best thing for your baby by deciding to breastfeed, now you are taking that commitment one step further by ensuring the nourishment your child receives is the very best. 3rd. This will develop a healthier diet for you and your family for the rest of your lives. If you follow these guidelines for the months or years that you breastfeed (or start in pregnancy , healthy eating will become second nature to you and your children.