Is sea moss safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about sea moss during pregnancy?

1. Pregnancy calls for 220 mcg of iodine a day against an adult ceiling of 1,100 mcg, yet only about half of prenatal multivitamins sold in the United States contain iodine at all. 1
2. Iodine content differs by orders of magnitude between seaweeds, measured at 5.0 micrograms per gram in nori and 3,522 micrograms per gram in kombu, and wakame carried the highest levels of arsenic and cadmium in the same analysis. 2
3. The fetus is specifically vulnerable to iodine-induced hypothyroidism through transplacental passage of iodide, and neonatal hypothyroidism following heavy maternal seaweed consumption has been documented. 3
4. High iodine intakes can cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer, so more is not better once daily needs are met. 1
5. Supplements are not approved by FDA before they go on sale, being cautious about anything beyond a standard prenatal is the general pregnancy advice, and the word natural does not always mean safe. 4

Is sea moss safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Your baby's thyroid does not work yet and depends entirely on your hormones through the first trimester, which makes this the worst window for an unpredictable iodine load. If sea moss is already part of your morning routine, this is the one to stop and raise at your next visit.
• Second trimester. Your baby's own thyroid begins producing hormone around this point, and it is sensitive to iodine excess as well as deficiency. A steady, known amount from your prenatal is what supports that, which is exactly what a variable seaweed product cannot provide.
• Third trimester. Heavy metals are the other reason to skip it. Brown seaweeds accumulate arsenic and cadmium from seawater, and there is no reason to add that exposure now. If you want the mineral content, ask about a prenatal that lists iodine as potassium iodide.