Are ginger chews safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about ginger chews during pregnancy?

1. Studies using an average of 1,000 mg of ginger a day during pregnancy have not found an increased chance of birth defects. 1
2. Ginger candies appear on ACOG's short list of ginger forms to try for nausea, alongside capsules, ginger ale made with real ginger, and tea from fresh-grated root. 2
3. Ginger products may help, though a Cochrane review of 41 trials called the evidence limited and inconsistent, with three of the more recent studies favoring ginger over placebo. 3
4. Chews that add vitamin B6 are stacking a second active ingredient: 30 to 75 mg of oral pyridoxine a day has been shown to lower nausea in pregnancy, and the upper intake level in pregnancy is 100 mg a day. 4
5. For chews sold as dietary supplements, the manufacturer rather than FDA is responsible for evaluating safety and labeling before the product goes on sale, and FDA acts only once a product is already on the market. 5

Is ginger chews safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. This is when most people reach for a bag. Studies using an average of about 1,000 mg of ginger a day have not found a higher chance of birth defects, so a few chews across a day sits well inside what has been studied. Keep the wrapper, since the ginger amount, when a brand states one, is the only way to know where you stand.
• Second trimester. Nausea usually eases here. If you are still working through a bag a day, mention it at your next visit, mostly so someone can look at the total ginger and the total sugar alongside everything else you are taking.
• Third trimester. Ginger can interact with medicines that affect blood pressure or the way blood clots, so flag a daily ginger habit before any scheduled procedure or delivery. Sticky candies also sit on teeth, which matters more if vomiting has already been rough on your enamel.