Fennel Seeds During Pregnancy: Uses And Possible Side Effects

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Fennel seeds, commonly known as Saunf in Hindi, are mildly sweet and aromatic herbs used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Several women are unsure of the safety of using fennel seeds during pregnancy.

These seeds are commonly used in Indian and Middle-eastern recipes with common use in ayurvedic medicine. They can also be used as mouth fresheners. However, little research has been done to understand their safety during pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is believed that consuming fennel in small quantities does not have any harmful effects on the baby.

Read this post further to learn about the benefits of fennel seeds for prenatal health and how to include them in your diet, and learn some of its possible side effects.

Is It Healthy To Eat Fennel Seeds During Pregnancy?

There is not enough research indicating that consumption of fennel seeds could be safe during pregnancy. However, small amounts of these seeds are not known to have any harmful effect on the mother or the baby, probably because these amounts are not enough to bring about the characteristic hormonal changes induced by fennel seeds. You may have them as natural remedies to get relief from gas and bloating (1).

According to Aleta Storch, MS, a Washington-based registered dietitian nutritionist, “Fennel contains compounds that have estrogenic effects that can alter the production and release of hormones associated with pregnancy and menstruation. Eating small amounts of fennel (i.e., seeds incorporated in cooking) and/or eating fennel infrequently is safe during pregnancy because these amounts will not provide enough of the compounds to negatively affect fetal development.”

How Are Fennel Seeds Useful During Pregnancy?

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Fennel seeds are used as a herbal medicine for treating certain ailments. Some of them are mentioned next.

1. Fennel seeds are used for nausea and morning sickness that is common during pregnancy, especially the first trimester. They contain anesthetic components that help reduce the queasy feeling in the tummy (2).

2. The anti-flatulence property of fennel seeds relaxes the intestinal muscles. It is therefore useful for digestive health and offers relief from indigestion and bloating (3).

3. They are known to stimulate the liver to produce bile, promote digestion, and thus increase appetite (4).

Quick fact

Pregnancy makes women more susceptible to dental caries. Chewing fennel seeds increases the pH of saliva and may help prevent tooth demineralization and dental caries (8) (9).

Nutritional Value Of Fennel Seeds

Since fennel seeds are mostly used as a spice, the nutritional value may not be very significant. However, here is a description of the major nutrients found in 100g of fennel seeds (5).

How To Include Fennel Seeds In Pregnancy?

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Fennel seeds are slightly sweet and have a great aroma. You can use this traditional medicine in your diet as as:

• Flavoring agents for cooking
• A breath freshener after a meal
• Herbs to make a tea that helps curb nausea

Fennel Tea Recipe For Pregnancy Nausea

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Fennel tea has excellent medicinal properties and offers relief from several pregnancy issues.

You will need:

• 1tsp fennel seeds
• 1 cup water
• Jaggery or honey for taste

How to make:

1. Crush or powder the fennel seeds in a blender.
2. Take water in a bowl and bring it to a boil. Add the crushed fennel seeds into the boiling water.
3. Close with a lid, and turn off the gas.
4. Let it remain for five minutes and then filter the brewed tea.
5. Mix either jaggery or honey according to your preference.
6. Sip while warm

Quick tip

Adding half an inch of crushed ginger to the above decoction may increase its effectiveness.

Consuming fennel seeds in little amounts will not cause any harm. In fact, fennel for increasing milk supply is also commonly recommended due to its potential benefits for lactating mothers. But, you should be cautious before including them in your pregnancy diet. for the sake of your maternal health. Fennel seeds are also caffeine-free, which makes it a healthy addition to food and drinks during pregnancy.

An anonymous pregnant woman shares a simple fennel seed juice recipe on her blog, which she consumed during her pregnancy on the advice of her elders. She says, “These are some homemade herbal juices I took in my pregnancy at the advice of my elders. Take a frying pan and heat it. Now add two spoons of fennel seeds in it and fry till it becomes black. Now add three glasses of water and Palm sugar, and then let it boil in a simmer flame. After 20 min, it becomes 1 glass of juice. Now switch off the flame, filter the juice, and drink it. This juice can be taken in the 9th month (ⅰ).’’However, this is anecdotal practice, and it is advisable to seek a doctor’s approval before trying it.

Possible Side Effects Of Eating Fennel Seeds During Pregnancy

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Some of the potentially harmful effects of consuming fennel seeds during pregnancy are mentioned here.

• They might affect the blood’s ability to clot. A bleeding disorder is a contraindication for using fennel, as it makes you prone to bruises and excessive bleeding.
• Fennel seeds tend to make the skin drier and should be avoided if you have sensitive skin. People allergic to some vegetables/ plants such as carrot, celery and mugwort show allergic responses to fennel as well (6).
• They possess emmenagogue properties and will stimulate menstrual flow, causing vaginal bleeding that could ultimately lead to miscarriage (7).

Infographic: Ways To Select And Store Fennel Seeds To Keep Them Fresh

In order to extract the benefits of fennel seeds, you should know how to pick the best quality and aromatic ones. Moreover, if you consume them over weeks, there is a way of storing them to retain their freshness. So explore the tips on selecting and storing fennel seeds for your pregnancy diet.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Fennel Seeds During Pregnancy: Uses And Possible Side Effects

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Shikha SharmaMBBS

Celebrity nutrition advisor Dr. Shikha Sharma has founded Dr. Shikha’s Nutrihealth in 1998. Dr. Shikha has done her MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College and holds 21 years of experience in the field of health and nutrition.

Read full bio of Dr. Shikha Sharma

• 
  Julius CermakCNM Julius Cermak is a naturopathic herbalist specializing in holistic health, traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture. He graduated in Biomedical Technology from the Technical University of Liberec and completed his Diploma in Herbal Medicine from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, UK.
  
  Julius Cermak is a naturopathic herbalist specializing in holistic health, traditional Chinese medicine, and acupuncture. He graduated in Biomedical Technology from the Technical University of Liberec and completed his Diploma in Herbal Medicine from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, UK.
• 
  Aleta StorchMS, RDN, LMHC Aleta is an anti-diet dietitian, therapist, and Certified Body Trust® provider, living in the Pacific-North-West. She did her education at Bastyr University and owns Wise Heart Nutrition that specializes in providing anti-diet, values-centered, body liberation work.
  
  Aleta is an anti-diet dietitian, therapist, and Certified Body Trust® provider, living in the Pacific-North-West. She did her education at Bastyr University and owns Wise Heart Nutrition that specializes in providing anti-diet, values-centered, body liberation work.

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Lorraine TeronMSc

Lorraine is a postgraduate in Life Science from Mount Carmel College and previously worked as a freelance scientific illustrator. As a project associate and lab technician at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Lorraine received valuable insights into Covid-19, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and neuro-degenerative diseases.

Read full bio of Lorraine Teron