Kava and pregnancy?

[Ethan]

Hello all,
I have a really good friend who's interested in getting into Kava. She's 11 weeks pregnant however. Does anyone know how Kava effects pregnancy? Would this be something that would be "safer to avoid". Either way, my main concern is that she's physically safe, although I know that the kava would help keep her mentally safe too! Please let us know if you have any experience with this

 

[kilakila]

I think she'd be safer to avoid kava in pregnancy. I don't think any studies have been done on pregnant women - for ethical reasons obviously. Maybe she can try to Ozia candies. But remember everything the mother eats gets to the baby. I wouldnt want to risk it. However, if it means your friend would otherwise drink alcohol or take other drugs, then kava might be a safer choice. hopefully someone with experience or knowledge could chime in on this.

 

[kavadude]

http://kavaforums.com/forum/threads/kava-breastfeeding.3849/
http://kavaforums.com/forum/threads/kava-and-pregnancy.4249/

 

[Ligermeat]

But on a lighter note, the baby coming out rooted would be quite hilarious.

 

[Gwen_Ross]

Hi, Ethan
As you have said yourself, kava is one of those things safe to avoid. And your friend is only 11-12 weeks pregnant, that means she is just finishing her first trimester, the most crucial time for the baby's development. And there is really no way to know what herbs like kava would do. Thats why sites like American Pregnancy are listing it among the possibly unsafe herbs. Even the tea is better to be avoided as consuming it in any way may be harmful.

 

[nabanga]

I agree with the other guys above and would leave it alone during pregnancy. No studies have been done, and on top of that, in the Pacific kava drinking countries it is almost exclusively drank by men only, so there will be not even be any historical anecdotes available about safety of kava during pregnancy.
That said, I drank kava almost daily right through both my wife's pregnancies and I feel fine..