Is feverfew safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about feverfew during pregnancy?

1. Feverfew is not recommended during pregnancy because it may affect uterine contractions. 1
2. Feverfew's documented uterine-stimulant activity in the lab lines up with its traditional folk use as an abortifacient, an emmenagogue, and an aid during difficult labors. 2
3. No studies have looked at whether feverfew's components pass into breast milk or how they might affect a nursing infant, so some reviewers recommend against using it while breastfeeding until more data exists. 3
4. Feverfew may slow blood clotting, and NCCIH advises stopping it at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery or procedure. 1
5. For pregnancy-safe migraine pain relief, acetaminophen is generally used first, alongside non-drug approaches like rest, hydration, and relaxation techniques, and some providers add a beta blocker such as propranolol when migraines are frequent. 4

Is feverfew safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. NCCIH advises against taking feverfew during pregnancy because it may affect uterine contractions, so this is worth stopping as soon as you know you're pregnant, or ideally before conceiving if you use it regularly for migraines.
• Second trimester. The uterine-stimulant activity behind that guidance isn't only a first-trimester concern: feverfew's folk history as an abortifacient, emmenagogue, and labor aid reflects the same effect at any stage of pregnancy, so the guidance to avoid it doesn't change as pregnancy progresses.
• Third trimester. If feverfew was part of your routine before pregnancy, NCCIH's caution about slowed blood clotting is another reason to have already stopped well before delivery, since supplements that affect clotting are generally paused at least two weeks ahead of any procedure, including a C-section.