Unveiling the Surprising Reason I Said Goodbye to Cocoa Butter During Pregnancy
It was the last trimester of my second pregnancy, just a couple of months ago, when I went into my weekly obstetrics clinic appointment and heard a shocking finding. Just when I was starting to think that these 10 min long visits weren’t high yield, I was quickly reminded they were. Like usual, my doctor and I are chitchatting, he grabs the fetal doppler to listen to the baby’s heartbeat and I see him taking longer than usual listening to the heartbeat. I naturally ask what is going on and he says “Hold on, give me a min”. Then he closes his eyes to listen carefully and immediately calls for the nurse to bring the ultrasound. He turns towards me and says “I hear an arrythmia, I just want to double check with the ultrasound”. An arrythmia is an irregular heartbeat and it’s not a normal finding. On ultrasound, we both see the irregular contractions of the heart chambers. I was then immediately sent to labor and delivery, for closer monitoring of the baby. As a board-certified anesthesiologist, I knew this can be devastating news or nothing to worry about, it all depended on what we see on further ultrasound investigation. After few hours of monitoring and my team making phone calls to coordinate my care, I was seen by a pediatric cardiologist. After further imaging and history taking, I was thankful to learn that is was a benign arrythmia with no effect on the overall functioning of the heart and body of the baby. However, I also learned from the cardiologist who diagnoses and treats these types of arrythmias daily a few things that I want to share with you.
There are substances that can cause these irregular contractions of the heart that could be avoidable. Caffeine being one of them. I have never been a coffee drinker and barely had any during my pregnancy. I might have 1-2 cups of latte a week if that (it’s recommended to have less than 1 cup of coffee a day during pregnancy), so we didn’t think that was the cause. Regardless we decided it was best to eliminate all sources of caffeine and was told to completely stop drinking coffee. Another thing I was consuming was chocolate. I do have a sweet tooth and would have 1-2 pieces of chocolate a week. I was told to stop eating chocolate. And as the conversation unfolded, the use of cocoa butter came up. And naturally (like many black women), I told him I use cocoa butter daily all over my body including my belly to prevent stretch marks. I learned that day that cocoa butter has trace amount of caffeine that could be absorbed into the body and cause arrythmias in fetus who might be sensitive to it. Never have I heard this before even with my medical training. Here is a pub med article I found on this. Does this mean all pregnant women should stop using cocoa butter? Not necessarily. I used it daily with my first pregnancy and didn’t have any heart issues with the fetus. This is all precautionary that if you do run into the same situation as mine, keep in my mind, cocoa butter could be making things worse. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(06)01880-1/fulltext
Here is a more complete list of substances that can cause irregular heartbeat in the second or third trimester.
#1 Coffee
As you may notice, caffeine can cause your heart to race—it’s what gives you an energy boost. Unfortunately, though, that effect may be passed onto your baby. Too much caffeine can make a fetal heartbeat increase. A 2014 paper reviewed 13 studies and concluded that increased caffeine intake was associated with low-birth-weight risk. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25238871/ In 2020, another study showed that even small doses 200mg of caffeine causes low birth weight and childhood obesity. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-020-0617-4
All of this research has led experts to one conclusion: Pregnant women should stick to one cup of coffee per day. More specifically, they should limit themselves to no more than 200mg of caffeine per day. This is important to note because coffee brands have varying levels of caffeine.
#2 Tea
Each tea contains a different amount of caffeine, so be sure to check the label and never assume. To give you an idea, one brand of black tea may be 20mg a cup while another could be 90mg. The differences among tea types vary even wider.
If your baby has an irregular fetal heartbeat, you might want to play it safe and stick to herbal teas, which are naturally uncaffeinated. Not all herbal teas are safe though. Some contain plants that haven’t been proven safe during pregnancy. Before choosing a tea, make sure to research the herb’s effects on a fetus.
#3 Soda
Caffeine is also found in high amounts in sodas.
Some flavors such as Brisk Peach Tea, only contain 8mg. However, Pepsi contains about 38mg per can. Drinking a few throughout the day may lead to changes in your heartbeat and your baby’s.
If you’re looking for a caffeine-free alternative, you can try Sprite or 7-Up.
#4 Dark Chocolate
There is also a small amount of caffeine in dark chocolate, making it necessary to add to your daily limit count.
One study showed that cocoa had a stimulating effect on fetal reactivity. This is likely due to theobromine, which is also present in coffee. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22502981/
Given this, we may assume that eating large amounts of chocolate—or small amounts with other caffeine sources—could cause fetal heartbeat abnormalities.
#5 Energy Drinks
If the small amount of caffeine in dark chocolate can impact you, you can assume an energy drink will too.Although the fatigue symptoms can make it tempting, just one can may contain 160mg of caffeine. Expecting mothers should also consider the other unsafe ingredients that could be lurking in some brands.
#6 Migraine Medications
Migraine medications often contain caffeine. That’s because the substance can help ease pain. This is why it’s important to tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking while expecting.
#7 Cocoa Butter Creams or Lotions
Out of all the substances on this list, you’ll probably suspect this one the least. Cocoa butter products can have a significant amount of caffeine in them, possibly triggering heartbeat abnormalities. Since the moisturizer is often used during pregnancy to prevent stretch marks, it could be a cause to consider.
One study showed that cocoa butter is linked to isolated fetal premature atrial contractions (PACs) https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(06)01880-1/fulltext Although these creams are typically safe to use, your body might be more sensitive to their effects. More likely, since it only contains a small amount, it could have pushed you over your limit in combination with other caffeine sources.
#8 Nicotine
Smoking during pregnancy is dangerous for numerous reasons, including the risk of an abnormal heartbeat. This possibility also extends to other forms of nicotine, such as vaping.
This is an educational post and is not medical advice. Please discuss with your doctor about any specific concerns regarding your health.