Should I use saffron during pregnancy?

There are many questions about the use of saffron during pregnancy. Saffron is a spice that should be consumed with caution and care, especially by women during their pregnancies. Surely, many saffron health benefits are mentioned in several blog posts and research. However, those benefits should be ignored during pregnancy as there is a high risk of miscarriage and abnormal deliveries. Generally, the below lines explain the benefits of using saffron during pregnancy while answering other common questions in this regard.

Can saffron cause miscarriage?

Misuse of saffron can lead to miscarriage and changes in labor time. Using saffron at different times of pregnancy will result in the experience more of labor readiness signs. Please note that this is not a safe way to speed up the last days or even weeks of pregnancy, as the effects of saffron have not yet been studied on pregnant women.

Can I use saffron in my first trimesters?

It is advised to not consume saffron in the first trimester of pregnancy. This means a pregnant woman should avoid using any kind of food or beverages that contains saffron. Using saffron in the first three months of pregnancy can lead to certain fatal side effects, which threaten the health of the baby or the pregnant mother.

Women can safely start using saffron after the 12th week, with the start of the baby’s movement in the womb. During pregnancy, in the second and third trimesters, the average saffron intake of 0.5 grams of saffron is considered safe.

Is saffron safe during pregnancy?

Generally, due to potential threats and risks of using saffron during pregnancy, it is advised to not use or only use a small amount of saffron or its supplements, during this time. 

However, using a small amount of saffron during pregnancy can have several benefits for women. Benefits of using saffron during pregnancy include: 

• Relieving from gastrointestinal pains
• Improving fevers
• Leveling blood pressure
• improves digestion
• improves the feeling of morning sickness (which is common in pregnancy)
• helps to fall asleep easier
• Preventing depression
• Improving mood swings,
• Easier muscle cramping
• Reduction of hair fall

Will saffron make the baby fair?

There is a rumor about using saffron throughout pregnancy, which seems funny and unlikely to us. The rumor says that the use of saffron during this time can make a lighter skin tone for the baby.

Till now, there is no scientific backup to this claim. Skin tone, eye color, and other physical features of your baby are only inherited by genetics, not the foods and spices you take. Such rumors may have a negative impact on the overall health of both baby and the pregnant mother.

How to use saffron during pregnancy?

A mix of saffron milk with almonds, sweeteners, cardamom, etc. can be a good choice for pregnant women. Kesar milk is a popular drink in India, which helps women to relax and receive enough calcium and vitamin D for the baby’s bone development. Plus, saffron milk, you can add a strand of saffron into the water and drink a glass of saffron water, once in a while.

In addition to saffron drinks, you can benefit from crumbled or soaked saffron in rice dishes, soups, or salads.

Using Saffron while breastfeeding

Mothers are prohibited from using saffron during breastfeeding. Most scientific findings have shown that consuming small amounts of saffron is safe; however, it is recommended to not use saffron for precautionary purposes.

It is claimed that saffron treats milk lactation issues, such as low milk supply or difficulty with milk letdown, in women during breastfeeding. Before using saffron in breastfeeding time, please consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that using saffron makes no troubles.

Key final notes

When it comes to using saffron during pregnancy, it is best to consult with your doctor. The present guide only covers the general key points and precaution tips on using saffron during pregnancy. SunLand provides consumer package saffron products, yet our experts warn pregnant women about the misuse of saffron during such physical conditions.

We would be happy to hear from you if you have any special tips in your mind, in the comment section.