Does Eating Papaya Induce Miscarriage in Pregnant Women?

Not All Kinds of Papaya are Dangerous

There is no universal rule that says papaya is bad for pregnant women. In fact, ripe papaya is safe for consumption. It is a good source of fibre, vitamins A, B and C and nutrients like folate, potassium, beta carotene and cholate.

The trouble lies with raw or unripe papayas as they have a high concentration of latex & papain which can be dangerous for pregnant women. This type of papaya usually has a green skin, but it may also have an orange skin at times. So to be on the safe side, it is better avoided.

Why Papaya is Not Good for Pregnancy

The latex and papain in raw papayas can cause complications during pregnancy and harm both the mother and child.

• It can lead to miscarriage

When consumed in the early stages of pregnancy, the latex in raw papaya can disrupt the development of the placenta. It can also increase vascular pressure and trigger internal bleeding or a haemorrhage in the placenta which in some cases, can lead to a miscarriage.

Papaya is also considered to have laxative property which is a good cure for constipation. But when pregnant, excessive bowel movements can put pressure on and around the uterus which too can contribute to a higher risk of miscarriage.

Additionally, papain and chymopapain are teratogenic which means that they can cause abnormal development in the foetus, leading to birth defects. They are also considered abortifacients, meaning they can cause an unwanted abortion.

• It can induce premature labour

The papain in raw papaya can activate the oxytocin and prostaglandin hormones which act as signalto start uterine contractions, which in turn can trigger premature labour.

• It can cause implantation problems

Papaya is harmful not just while you’re expecting but before as well because eating raw papaya when planning for pregnancy can interfere with foetus implantation. It can also increase the risk of post-implantation complications that put the pregnancy at risk.

• It can harm the embryo

The papain and pepsin in raw papaya can interfere with the development of foetal tissue and retard the cell growth. It can also make the vital foetal membranes weaker and put the embryo at risk.

• It can make the pregnancy harder

Eating papaya can cause a variety of reactions ranging from runny nose and rashes to breathing difficulty and anaphylaxis, making pregnancy journey harder.

What Should You Do?

It is best to avoid eating papaya when pregnant, especially unripe ones. Raw papaya or green papaya is easy to identify and can be removed completely from your diet, but to be safe it is advised to avoid even other kind of papayas.

Other Fruits to Avoid

Along with papayas, some other fruits to be avoided are:

• Pineapple

Pineapple contains certain enzymes that affect the texture of cervix and increases the risk of premature contractions. It can also cause diarrhoea.

• Grapes

Grapes are known to be heaty fruits that can cause complications in a pregnancy.