Papaya is generally safe to eat during pregnancy but only when it is fully ripe. Semi-ripe or green papaya should be avoided. It’s important to know which fruits and vegetables are safe to eat during pregnancy, to keep you and your baby safe.
Papaya can be a refreshing snack on a warm day or a sweet treat after a meal. But when you’re pregnant, you have to be careful about the papayas you choose to eat. Keep reading to learn more about how to make papaya a healthy part of your pregnancy diet and when it’s best to avoid this tropical fruit.
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What To Know About Eating Papaya During Pregnancy
Ripe papayas are a good source of vitamin C, which is an important nutrient during pregnancy. A small papaya can provide about 95 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C on average, which is more than the daily recommended value of 85 mg for pregnant people. Papayas also contain fiber, which helps avoid or relieve pregnancy constipation.
However, unripe papaya contains latex, which contains the enzyme papain. This enzyme is unsafe in pregnancy since it can lead to early uterine contractions and can weaken the membranes that support the fetus.
Experts assure there is limited science to support the idea that eating unripe papaya can lead to miscarriage. But a study performed on pregnant rats showed that consuming unripe papaya did cause early contractions, which suggests that more research is needed.
“Chemicals that cause miscarriage are called abortifacients,” says Yen Hope Tran, DO, an OB-GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Even though the latex-laden papaya was associated with contractions, not miscarriages, in the rat study, Dr. Tran points to the chemical as a probable source of problems. “Latex has some hormone-like activity,” she notes.
Is Eating Papaya During Pregnancy Safe for the Baby?
While there is no research to show the exact effects papaya has on human fetal development, many experts still urge pregnant people to err on the side of caution and avoid unripe papayas during pregnancy, given the link between unripe versions of the fruit and premature contractions in animal studies.
Ripe papaya, on the other hand, is a safe, nutritious fruit that can enhance a healthy pregnancy diet. If you want to eat papaya while expecting, fully ripe fruit is the safest bet.
If you have already eaten some potentially unripe papaya during pregnancy such as in a store-bought smoothie, Dr. Tran says there’s little need for concern. But if you’re worried, don’t hesitate to talk to a health care provider about your concerns.
Safety Precautions To Take While Pregnant
Research surrounding eating papaya during pregnancy is minimal, but experts generally agree that the latex in unripe papayas should be avoided. When you are fruit shopping, look for only ripe papayas.
“Ripeness in papaya can be checked by its odor, particularly near the stem,” Dr. Tran says. “If it has no smell, it is unripe. If it smells sweet, it is ripe, and if it has an unpleasant smell it is overripe. Ripe papayas also are typically not green, and yield to gentle pressure.”
If you don’t trust your ability to select a ripe papaya over an unripe papaya, it’s probably better to just avoid papaya altogether while pregnant. Rest assured that you can get the vitamins and nutrients your body needs during pregnancy from other foods.
When Can I Resume Eating Papaya?
Kate White, MD, MPH, Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Boston University School of Medicine, says you can welcome papaya back into your diet if you are at the very end of your pregnancy and have gotten a green light from your doctor. “Since contractions are the biggest risk, once you’re at term and your doctor thinks it’s OK if you were to go into labor, then you can eat whatever form of papaya you want,” she says.
Additionally, papaya should have no bearing on your health or your baby’s health after you’ve given birth. However, it’s best to check with your doctor before consuming papaya if you had previously been avoiding it.
Pregnancy-Safe Fruit Alternatives to Papaya
Though ripe papaya can be safe during pregnancy, some may want to be extra cautious and avoid it completely—and that’s fine! Other fruits, like grapes, have similar nutritional value to satisfy a craving just as well.
Melons
Kim Langdon, MD, an OB-GYN for Medzino, recommends melons as a fine, refreshing substitute for papayas during pregnancy because they have a similar texture, giving it the same “mouth feel.” Cantaloupe, in particular, is a great source of vitamin C as well as potassium and fiber. A cup has about 250 mg of potassium and 1 g of fiber.
Oranges
If your main goal is to replace the vitamin C you’re not getting from papaya, consider oranges. One orange has about 82 mg of vitamin C, which puts you right on track for your daily intake. By eating one orange per day, you’re consuming the vitamin C needed for your body and your baby. Vitamin C is an important nutrient for the development of a baby’s teeth and bones.
Apples
Apples are a healthier treat than sweets like candy or cookies. An apple can sub in for a bit of papaya after a meal for dessert or when sugar cravings strike at any point of the day. An apple provides crunchy sweetness as well as some healthy fiber.
