Coconut Oil & Pregnancy

by Heather
(Ireland)

Hello. I am 7 months pregnant and using coconut oil for the first time. I have read here all the information about melting, how to take it, etc. I am just wondering how much is safe to take internally during pregnancy. I have used it on my face and cracked lips, as my skin is really dehydrated since I became pregnant. Thanks 🙂

Hi Heather,

The coconut oil maintenance dosage of 3-3.5 tablespoons for an average-sized adult daily should be ideal, even more actually, since you’re pregnant. Why even more if pregnant? That’s because consuming coconut oil will increase the Medium Chain Fatty Acid (MCFA) content, particularly lauric acid, of your breast milk.

Coconut oil is the most generous natural source of MCFAs, the main ingredient in breast milk used to fight a wide array of infections that threaten an infant. Because a baby’s immune system is still developing, it relies heavily on MCFAs to take care of killing harmful organisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, worms, etc.

Eating an ample amount of coconut oil every day during and after pregnancy will increase your milk’s MCFA content to protect your future baby from disease and illness.

All the best,
Frederick