When you're nursing a baby, the compounds you take internally have the potential to pass to your child through your breast milk. This means that it's important to make sure you don't put anything in your body that could have a negative effect on your baby. There isn't enough research to suggest that sweet orange oil is safe during nursing.
Breastfeeding
The milk your breasts make when you're nursing comes from your blood; the cells in your mammary glands extract nutrient molecules and water from your blood, combine some of these into new and more complex molecules, and secrete milk that's perfectly suited to meeting your baby's nutritional needs. Because milk comes from blood, chemicals in your blood can pass to your milk and to your baby.
Sweet Orange Oil
There are some sources that suggest sweet orange oil -- prized historically for its rarity, as it's difficult to obtain in large quantities, and for its pleasant odor -- has antibacterial and antifungal properties, but there is no research suggesting that it's safe to use sweet orange oil on your body surface, or to take it internally, regardless of whether you're breastfeeding. As such, you shouldn't apply or consume sweet orange oil while nursing.
Other Concerns
Aside from the lack of research on sweet orange oil, there's also the fact that the FDA doesn't regulate dietary supplements in the same manner that it does food and pharmaceuticals, per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. As such, just because a manufacturer claims that sweet orange oil is safe or effective doesn't mean there's any proof that it is. You should talk to your doctor before using any herbal supplement, particularly when you're nursing, explains KellyMom.com, a website run by a nurse and lactation consultant.
Recommendations
If you simply enjoy the fragrance of sweet orange oil and want to use it to scent potpourri in your house, or like to warm it in a votive diffuser, there's no safety concern. The odor of sweet orange oil is clean and refreshing and poses no harm to you or your nursing baby. Many people find that citrus scents help them to feel refreshed and revitalized, so you might try smelling sweet orange oil as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Member Comments