When pregnant, avoid strong chemical smells (cleaning products, paint fumes, air fresheners, dry cleaning solvents), tobacco smoke, exhaust, and certain strong food odors (fish, garlic, coffee, fried foods) that trigger nausea; also skip certain essential oils like sage, rosemary, or pennyroyal, and heavy perfumes, as they can be overwhelming or potentially harmful, always prioritizing ventilation and consulting your doctor about any concerning scents.
Risks of Aromatherapy During Pregnancy
Oils like rosemary and oregano are known for their stimulating properties and should be avoided to prevent premature labor. Pregnancy hormones can also make the skin more sensitive, increasing the risk of irritation or allergic reactions when using essential oils topically.
In another study with 10 common odorants, pregnant women rated the odors of rum, cigarette butt, and coffee as more aversive than did nonpregnant women [7].
In addition to a range of food odors (e.g., meat, fish, and eggs), pregnant women indicated that noxious odors such as cigarettes, fumes, and garbage were particularly unpleasant. They also reported that some “social odors,” such as body odor, baby odors, and perfume and colognes were unpleasant8.
However, try to avoid exposure to cleaning products containing:
Mopping and sweeping involve bending, stretching, and repetitive movements that can strain your back and abdominal muscles. These tasks can also be physically demanding, which often leads to fatigue and discomfort during the later stages of pregnancy.
But heavy-duty cleaners like undiluted bleach, tile cleaner, and oven cleaner, as well as air fresheners, can release toxic substances into the air. Inhaling such cleaning products while pregnant could allow these chemicals to cross the placenta and reach your growing baby.
Smell Sensitivity
Studies suggest that up to two-thirds of pregnant women become more sensitive to scents around them. This symptom has been reported as early as a few days following conception, and is typically strongest in the first trimester.
Most expectant mothers notice mood swings in the first trimester, typically between 6 and 10 weeks. This is when pregnancy hormones surge and begin to affect your emotions. Many women also experience emotional ups and downs in the third trimester, as the body prepares for labour and delivery.
Five key warning signs during pregnancy needing immediate medical attention include vaginal bleeding, severe headaches with vision changes, decreased baby movement, severe abdominal pain/cramping, and signs of preterm labor like regular contractions or fluid leakage, as these can signal serious issues like miscarriage, preeclampsia, placental problems, or infection. Always contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care for these symptoms.
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (especially the final month) is physically demanding with discomfort, frequent urination, sleep issues, and anxiety about labor, making the last few months incredibly challenging for most. The second trimester often offers relief, but back pain and heartburn can begin, Cleveland Clinic notes.
One that's fishy, musty or "generally unpleasant". If you've noticed a new vagina smell pregnancy made happen — or at least, you swear it did — you're not wrong. This can be due to hormonal changes; your pH levels can be affected by estrogen, progesterone and prolactin. And these can cause brand-new vagina smells.
Most Common Pregnancy Cravings
MYTH: You should avoid perfumes and fragrances
Another common concern is perfume or fragrances. The good news is that perfumes or scented lotions aren't harmful to you or your baby. The bad news is they may upset your already nauseous stomach, especially in the first trimester.
Beauty Products and Skincare Ingredients to Avoid While Pregnant
5 essential beauty secrets during pregnancy
Early in Pregnancy (Week 1-13)
During the first trimester, the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, women experience hormonal changes and usually pregnancy symptoms. You may feel moody, emotional, or weepy, and you could also feel fatigued during this time.
The Second Trimester (14-26 Weeks):
Known as the “honeymoon period”, the second trimester is when many of the unpleasant symptoms of early pregnancy subside. You're likely to have increased energy and sleep better. However, some women experience back or abdominal pain, leg cramps, constipation or heartburn.
Outbursts of anger are associated with a higher rate of placental abruption in the subsequent two hours compared to other times.
Common smells pregnant women HATE
Bad smells that you would normally avoid such as toilet smells, cat litter and rotten food will be even worse than usual. Chemical smells can be very strong and some elements of perfumes and aftershaves can stand out and be overwhelming.
Pregnant women, particularly in the 1st trimester, rated their sense of smell to be higher than nonpregnant women and men and indicated many (primarily unpleasant) odors to which they were more sensitive. Women rated their sense of smell higher than men.
Conclusion. We observed chemical gene sets (parathion, cadmium, naphthalene, carbon tetrachloride, arsenic, lead, dieldrin, and atrazine) were highly enriched for miscarriage genes.
Research is limited on pregnancy and exposure to paint, but it's best to err on the side of caution and have someone else do the painting. If you must paint, grab a can labeled "low-VOC" or "zero-VOC", make sure there's plenty of ventilation, and wear a mask (preferably an N95 or KN95) and gloves.
Avoid pesticides, household cleaners, and paint. Fumes from these substances can be harmful, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Use chemical-free cleaning alternatives while you're pregnant. If you must use chemical cleaners, wear gloves, ventilate the area, and avoid inhaling fumes.