This article is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for any questions related to your health or pregnancy. doctor/a
If you're having trouble getting the baby to move during your pregnancy ultrasounds, your healthcare team may have recommended eating a piece of chocolate. It's a very common tip. But is it true that chocolate can make the fetus move?
Does chocolate help the fetus move?
Every fetus is different. Normally, you'll start to notice quickening between weeks 14 and 22 of pregnancy, and doctors recommend starting to track fetal movements daily starting at 28 weeks. It's common for the fetus to move in response to changing blood sugar levels, which can occur after eating pretty much any type of snack. That being said, dark chocolate is an excellent option.
Although it contains sugar, dark chocolate also contains antioxidants and other healthy compounds . If you want to stimulate fetal movements, we recommend selecting a dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao content that is free of vegetable fats and other additives.
Are there benefits to eating dark chocolate during pregnancy?
Some studies have found that eating dark chocolate during pregnancy could lower the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure that can cause damage to the liver and kidneys. More research is needed in order to better understand why chocolate helps prevent preeclampsia, although it seems to be due to the effects of the flavonoids.
A study from 2004 also found that children of mothers who ate chocolate during their pregnancy were happierAnother study from 2014 found that female fetuses reacted more than male ones when the mothers ate chocolate.
Is it safe to eat chocolate during pregnancy?
More research is needed to confirm whether the benefits of chocolate outweigh the risks during pregnancy.
Eating pure chocolate during pregnancy or while breastfeedingis usually considered safe. While it's true that some brands contain high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium or lead which are absorbed by the ground where the cacao tree grows. However, in Europe, chocolate must meet strict limits that ensure low levels of these metals will be present in the finished product. This isn't an issue unique to chocolate - heavy metals can be found in many food items that originate in the ground, including vegetables, cereals and nuts.
In terms of products that are made with chocolate, we recommend following general pregnancy guidelines and avoiding products that contain non-pasteurized dairy. We DO NOT recommend eating "raw" chocolate. Since it doesn't undergo the usual roasting process, raw chocolate may contain harmful pathogens.
As always, it's best to eat dark chocolate in moderation. It's a highly caloric food, so a good limit to aim for is about 20 to 30 grams per day, or a few squares of dark chocolate. A few studies have found that eating too much chocolate in the third trimester could pose a risk to the fetus, although this isn't proved yet.
Remember, too, that chocolate contains low levels of caffeine, especially dark chocolate. This caffeine content is added to the caffeine you may be consuming in coffee, tea, and other sources. Experts recommend limiting how much caffeine you ingest during pregnancy.
Finally, if you're prone to pregnancy heartburn, avoid eating too much chocolate before lying down.