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Be Careful! Flax Is Apparently Now Not Good For Us Preggies!

gflooser

By gflooser
in Related Issues & Disorders

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gflooser Contributor
gflooser
Posted

and i USED to eat it every day! was doing some research about flaxsead and found some conflicting reports that pregnant ladies should now stay away from it. apparently it contains a fatty acid that is or can trigger a certain hormone, that can "possibly" put preggies at a higher risk for preterm labor!!!!

so i called my dr. and of course she had never heard of it. but she called me back after some research and found that it was indeed a valid claim!!!!

i also called my local healthfood store, but was told it was ok and to not eat it in my 3rd trimester. so to be safe, i'm just staying away from it for now.

so, talk with your dr.s. but be aware ladies!!!!!

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brendab Contributor
brendab
Posted

Wow, I have never heard of this and I have 6 kids. I ate flax throughout my entire last PG and she's now 6 months old. My midwife also never mentioned it and she's a naturopathic Dr as well. Weird!

jststric Contributor
jststric
Posted

and i USED to eat it every day! was doing some research about flaxsead and found some conflicting reports that pregnant ladies should now stay away from it. apparently it contains a fatty acid that is or can trigger a certain hormone, that can "possibly" put preggies at a higher risk for preterm labor!!!!

so i called my dr. and of course she had never heard of it. but she called me back after some research and found that it was indeed a valid claim!!!!

i also called my local healthfood store, but was told it was ok and to not eat it in my 3rd trimester. so to be safe, i'm just staying away from it for now.

so, talk with your dr.s. but be aware ladies!!!!!

Well, I'm way past the need to know that for MYSELF, but that's GOOD INFO to know!!! Thanks for sharing that! You never know where info like that will filter to and help someone we know!! Will try to help pass on that tidbit.

lamegirl Newbie
lamegirl
Posted

I've never been able to eat flax seed - I have a tough time with any small seeds period - so those from flax, nuts, even the small seeds on strawberries. I just stick with my Omega 3's from fish products, that seems to give me all of the 'good' cholesterol I need... well that with some B vitamins, a dose of D every once in a while, and that about does it. :-)

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Most of the studies done on flaxseed in women are on postmenopausal women. The one study I found done on premenopausal women did NOT find a change in blood serum hormone levels on flaxseed (though there was a change in urinary ligan output).

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I wouldn't worry about normal quantities of consumption of flax during pregnancy (though probably wouldn't go take flax oil... but fish oil is better. :P)

SGWhiskers Collaborator
SGWhiskers
Posted

Thanks for the heads up. I've been missing my flax seeds lately. I eat them by the handfulls when a bag is in the house. I love that nutty flavor and it is Sooo nice on my digestive system. I was thinking of getting some on my next grocery trip to even out this pregnancy constipation. I guess I'll be doing some research too and probably buying more wild rice instead. :(

gflooser Contributor
gflooser
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the heads up. I've been missing my flax seeds lately. I eat them by the handfulls when a bag is in the house. I love that nutty flavor and it is Sooo nice on my digestive system. I was thinking of getting some on my next grocery trip to even out this pregnancy constipation. I guess I'll be doing some research too and probably buying more wild rice instead. :(

SG, let me know what your research comes up with. i'm sooooooo hoping this to not be true. but i don't want to risk it! especially since i think i'm already experiencing braxton hicks at almost 15 weeks~

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tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

SG, let me know what your research comes up with. i'm sooooooo hoping this to not be true. but i don't want to risk it! especially since i think i'm already experiencing braxton hicks at almost 15 weeks~

Is this your first? Are you sure you're not feeling baby's movements? They do NOT always feel like kicks to start with. (I could feel her rolling weeks before I felt kicks. It was a strange sensation.)

But, Braxton-Hicks contractions actually DO occur during your entire pregnancy (after the first handful of weeks). It's totally normal (it's the uterus "preparing" for it's work), and is NOT an indication of premature labor.

gflooser Contributor
gflooser
Posted
  • Author

Is this your first? Are you sure you're not feeling baby's movements? They do NOT always feel like kicks to start with. (I could feel her rolling weeks before I felt kicks. It was a strange sensation.)

But, Braxton-Hicks contractions actually DO occur during your entire pregnancy (after the first handful of weeks). It's totally normal (it's the uterus "preparing" for it's work), and is NOT an indication of premature labor.

hi, thanks for the info! this is my fourth!!! i don't remember them starting this early before. plus, i'm 39!!!! but i think i might have been dehydrated on tues. i've been having problems with that when it's extra hot out! but i drank LOTS of water yesterday and felt better!!!! i'm feeling the movements, i think. so it could have been that too? who kinows! everyone has been telling me it's normal! it helps!!!!

are you expecting or have a newborn?

De

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

hi, thanks for the info! this is my fourth!!! i don't remember them starting this early before. plus, i'm 39!!!! but i think i might have been dehydrated on tues. i've been having problems with that when it's extra hot out! but i drank LOTS of water yesterday and felt better!!!! i'm feeling the movements, i think. so it could have been that too? who kinows! everyone has been telling me it's normal! it helps!!!!

are you expecting or have a newborn?

De

I have a four month old. My midwives taught me SOOO much about the whole process. (But hey, when you get to chat with them for 30-60 minutes at each appointment, there's time to learn a lot! :) )

SGWhiskers Collaborator
SGWhiskers
Posted

Yup. My google search says no flaxseed oil for sure and possibly no flax seed. The reputable sites I went to said flax seed oil can cause preterm labor. I couldn't find the study they quoted, but they said it quadrupled the preterm labor rate. I did find one rat study that said the estrogen increasing effects caused increased tumors in offspring. All of the reputable sites and many of the sites selling flax seed said avoid flax seed oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding and most said avoid flaxseeds in pregnancy. Most of the reputable sites said there is little research out there in humans, but that the small amount done in animals isn't looking good for pregnancy. My plan is to eat the food if it has a bit of flax in it here and there, but not to be snacking on flax seeds or adding it to my protien shakes for extra nutrition. Bummer. Thanks for finding this because when I'm eating flax, I eat A LOT of flax.

SGW

gflooser Contributor
gflooser
Posted
  • Author

Yup. My google search says no flaxseed oil for sure and possibly no flax seed. The reputable sites I went to said flax seed oil can cause preterm labor. I couldn't find the study they quoted, but they said it quadrupled the preterm labor rate. I did find one rat study that said the estrogen increasing effects caused increased tumors in offspring. All of the reputable sites and many of the sites selling flax seed said avoid flax seed oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding and most said avoid flaxseeds in pregnancy. Most of the reputable sites said there is little research out there in humans, but that the small amount done in animals isn't looking good for pregnancy. My plan is to eat the food if it has a bit of flax in it here and there, but not to be snacking on flax seeds or adding it to my protien shakes for extra nutrition. Bummer. Thanks for finding this because when I'm eating flax, I eat A LOT of flax.

SGW

thanks for finding this info! isn't it so scary that the drs. don't even know this???? those researchers better get on the ball and figure out what is what!!!!!! and i'm with ya! i'll put about 1/4 cup on my cereal! but now that you say it causes extra estrogen, is it ok for us (when not preg or breastfeeding women) to have the extra estrogen. doesn't that help in firing the fuel for breast cancer or reproductive cancers?????????

well just ........ CRAP!

De

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