Can you eat honey while pregnant? Safety, benefits, and what to avoid

A photo of a pregnant woman standing by the stove and eating honey with a spoon while wondering 'Can you eat honey while pregnant?'.
  • Updated Dec 24, 2024
  • Published

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Created with Natasha Lowe Osho, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, USA

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In a nutshell

Honey during pregnancy is generally safe and could even help with some of your pregnancy symptoms, including fatigue and nausea. Honey is a sweet, sugary food, so you should eat it in moderation. Too much sweet sugary food can increase your risk of excessive weight gain and gestational diabetes. Also, ensure your honey is from a trusted source and stored properly before consumption.

Honey is safe during pregnancy. While it can contain botulism spores that can cause serious harm to infants under one, these can’t harm your baby in utero. Your adult digestive system can process this bacteria, so you don’t need to worry about eating honey while pregnant. 

If you’re wondering, ‘Can you eat honey while pregnant?’ You’re probably a honey fan, so it’s worth mentioning that you should enjoy honey in moderation. Quantity aside, honey poses no risk to your developing baby.

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Is honey safe during pregnancy?

Yes, honey is safe during pregnancy. Your digestive system can process the bacteria in honey, so there’s no risk to your developing baby. You can continue to eat honey safely throughout your pregnancy. Even in rare cases of pregnant women developing botulism after eating infected honey, their babies showed no signs of infection in the womb. Botulism is a rare but life-threatening condition. 

Some people are more at risk of botulism spores, so you should avoid honey if you have Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or have had gastric surgery. According to a 2020 article published in Toxins, most cases of botulism occur in people with gastrointestinal abnormalities, previous bowel surgeries, or recent use of antimicrobials (which include antibiotics and antifungal medications). 

Once your baby is born, you’ll have to ensure they avoid honey for the first year of life because botulism spores can be quite harmful to babies. 

👉Find out more: Can you eat oysters while pregnant? Safety tips and what to avoid

Can I eat raw honey while pregnant?

You probably already know to avoid unpasteurized dairy during pregnancy because of the risk of listeriosis, but these risks don’t apply to honey. Thanks to the antibacterial properties of honey, the risk of bacterial contamination is low. 

All the same, you should buy raw honey from a reputable supplier. Opt for pasteurized honey if you’re worried about eating unpasteurized honey while pregnant.

Honey during pregnancy: Benefits for pregnant women

If you were wondering, ‘Can pregnant women eat honey?’ You might be pleased to read that there are some reasons why honey is even recommended during pregnancy. The benefits of consuming honey during pregnancy include:

  • Soothing effects for a sore throat or cough. You’re probably already familiar with honey’s soothing effect on a sore throat or cough when added to a hot drink. Pregnancy knocks your immune system, so you’ll be pleased to know you can still rely on the medicinal effects of honey when you catch a cold. 
  • Natural energy boost. Sugar can provide you with a quick energy boost to perk you up. It’s also a great addition to your breakfast to help you face the day head-on. The gradual release of energy is perfect for providing a much-needed release from pregnancy fatigue.
  • Antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Honey has antioxidant properties that help to protect the body from free radicals, which are linked with conditions such as cancer and heart disease. According to a 2017 article published in Pharmacognosy Research, honey has been used medicinally from as far back as the Stone Age. A 2021 article published in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences explains the antibacterial properties of honey even work against drug-resistance bacteria. 

So the answer to the question ‘Is honey good for pregnant women?’ is a resounding “Yes,” but in moderation.

Honey pregnancy first trimester

Many women take particular care over the food they eat during the first trimester, especially if they’re suffering from pregnancy nausea. Honey is safe during the first trimester, though you should consume it in moderation. Honey is a sweet food, and excessive sugar intake during pregnancy is linked to excessive weight gain. 

Honey is one of the miracle foods that can fight nausea. If you’re struggling with pregnancy sickness, try adding honey and ginger to hot water for a soothing, warm drink to ease your nausea.

People often wonder which foods can cause miscarriage. Eating honey does not increase your risk of miscarriage or pregnancy complications.

Is honey bad for pregnancy? Risks to consider

While honey is considered safe during pregnancy, that doesn’t mean you can eat as much of it as you want. Too much honey during pregnancy could cause problems. Honey has a high sugar content, so you must monitor your intake. Eating too much sugary food can cause excessive weight gain, which can increase your risk of gestational diabetes. 

Always ensure honey has been appropriately stored before use. Your immune system weakens during pregnancy to protect your developing baby, so you must take extra care to protect yourself from potential infections and illnesses.

When to avoid honey during pregnancy

There are some instances where you’ll want to avoid honey during pregnancy, such as:

  • If you have gestational diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, you’ll need to monitor your food intake to avoid blood sugar spikes. While honey is ok in moderation, it can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, so limit this food if you have gestational diabetes. 
  • If you have gastrointestinal abnormalities. People with gastrointestinal abnormalities are more likely to become quite ill if they eat honey contaminated with botulism spores. If you think you may have gastrointestinal abnormalities or have had gastric surgery in the past, check with your doctor before consuming honey. 
  • If you think the honey has been improperly stored. There’s no point taking risks during pregnancy. If you think food is past its best or has been improperly stored, don’t eat it.

How to safely enjoy honey during pregnancy

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is more important than ever during pregnancy. Pregnancy is the perfect time to mix up your diet and make better choices for you and your baby.

Limit your honey intake

Honey is a sweet, sugary food, so ensure you do not eat too much honey during pregnancy. While we see honey as a natural food source, it’s still sugary and can cause blood sugar spikes. Think of it as sugar and eat accordingly. A little bit each day is ok, but don’t go overboard.

Pair honey with healthy foods

Oatmeal is an awesome breakfast choice during pregnancy, and a drop of honey can sweeten up your breakfast of champions. Try adding seeds for extra nutrients. If you like Greek yogurt, add a drizzle of honey to your chopped nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit toppings.

Source honey from trusted suppliers

Only eat honey you can trust. Check labels for pasteurization details and ensure you only eat honey from trusted suppliers. See to it the honey has been properly stored to ensure it’s safe to eat. 

👉Find out more: Pregnancy nose: What causes it and when does it go away?

Teas and remedies with honey for pregnancy symptoms

Honey has been used medicinally for thousands of years, and you can apply some of that age-old wisdom to soothing your pregnancy ailments. Honey can be used as a natural remedy for:

Nausea

Pregnancy nausea is awful. It doesn’t just strike in the mornings, despite what some people think; it can leave you feeling rubbish all day. It’s not just a first-trimester symptom either; some women are still battling pregnancy nausea in the third trimester. It can get in the way of daily life and impact your mental health. Luckily, consuming honey during pregnancy can help. Try adding a bit of honey to your ginger tea to soothe your tummy.

Cough and cold symptoms

Decongestants are generally not recommended during pregnancy. That leaves you vulnerable to the symptoms of colds and cases of flu. A 2021 study published in the British Medical Journal found that honey improved symptoms of upper respiratory infections. Drinking warm drinks containing honey while pregnant can help to ease a cough and sore throat.

Constipation

Constipation is a common pregnancy complaint, but honey could help to improve your digestive system. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences found that honey consumption relieved constipation. Add honey to hot drinks to enjoy the benefits of honey on your digestive system.

Make informed decisions

Femia offers a personalized meal plan, symptom tracking, and more according

to your pregnancy journey

Try Femia now

Questions from the Femia community

  • Why can babies not have honey, but pregnant women can?

    Babies under one-year-old have immature digestive systems that can’t yet process botulism spores. Your mature digestive system can neutralize the spores and keep you safe.

  • Is manuka honey safe during pregnancy?

    Yes, manuka honey is safe during pregnancy, but you should consume it in moderation because of the high sugar content.

  • Is it safe to use honey as a face mask during pregnancy?

    Yes, honey is safe for topical use. Honey in shampoo, face masks, and other toiletries is considered safe during pregnancy.

  • Does honey increase the risk of gestational diabetes?

    Eating honey while pregnant doesn’t directly contribute to gestational diabetes; however, it is a sugary food and, as such, can increase your risk of developing this condition.

The bottom line

Honey is safe during pregnancy. You should consume it in moderation to avoid the risks of gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain. Though honey, through botulism spores, can pose a risk to infants before their first birthday, this doesn’t apply in utero. Your adult digestive system can process the botulism spores and prevent them from reaching your developing baby. 

Honey can soothe a sore throat, ease a cough, and stave off nausea during pregnancy. The natural medicinal quality of honey can provide much-needed relief from symptoms during pregnancy. Honey is a fantastic food for your healthy, balanced diet during pregnancy. 

If you are concerned about your sugar intake, excessive weight gain, or gestational diabetes, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

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