Cocoa butter causes heart problems!!!!!!

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

Omg guys ---- I'm so freaked out. I have been using cocoa butter this whole pregnancy and just found out it causes heart problems!! They sell it at Babies R Us so I figured it was safe. Anyone else heard this?!?!?! I am stopping using it rite now. Hopefully, I didn't do long term damage.

https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(06)01880-1/abstract

Frogger5 · March 2015

The link is broken. Are they saying that putting cocoa butter on your skin causes heart problems for either you or the baby? Hmm, I need more info.

BabyList · March 2015

I can't get your link to work, even through copy and paste. I have a hard time believing that cocoa butter that you apply topically would be bad for you.

MamaBish · March 2015

Frogger5 said:
The link is broken. Are they saying that putting cocoa butter on your skin causes heart problems for either you or the baby? Hmm, I need more info.

It's some thing from 2006, here is a better link: https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(06)01880-1/fulltext

ETA: link is stupid and not working again, I copy/pasted her initial link and then clicked on a tab that said full text...

MamaBish · March 2015

It says heart problems with the baby... seems a little strange though

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

Let me try to get link to work - sry mobile issues

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2006.10.635

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

Frogger5 said:
The link is broken. Are they saying that putting cocoa butter on your skin causes heart problems for either you or the baby? Hmm, I need more info.

YES - on your skin and for the baby!! Palmers makes it especially for pregnancy!!!

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

BabyList said:
I can't get your link to work, even through copy and paste. I have a hard time believing that cocoa butter that you apply topically would be bad for you.

I know, BUT, it is the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology...nothing is safe anymore

Frogger5 · March 2015

The article abstract I read just says that it increases a certain kind of abnormal rhythm. That is too specific for me to say anything about what that means (not being a doctor/PhD type) but based solely on the fact that I hadn't heard of it being a problem before (seems not to have been corroborated) I wouldn't worry!

MixedCurlsXo · March 2015

I read studies all the time for school & this study is missing so many key elements. Was there even a control group? A placebo? Is the entire study available? Because this is only an abstract.
Notice that only 294 people were in the study. That's extremely small. I'd research more if I were you.

Also the amount of caffeine in cocoa butter is very small. It has to be absorbed through skin, make it to the blood stream & go to baby making the amount of caffeine even smaller. It would never exceed the recommended amount of caffeine a pregnant woman can intake. If this study were true (not saying it's not) then why is there a recommended amount of caffeine allowed & not completely banned?

eta: there is a teeny tiny amount of caffeine but it's only found in raw cocoa butter, not in refined butter like most products are on the shelves.

FloGirl82 · March 2015

Ugh, this is why I hate the internet sometimes. Everything causes some sort of problem/defect/issue.and these studies cause unnecessary fear mongering and panic. Don't trust everything you read. Do research. One article does not make it true or applicable to every circumstance.

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

FloGirl82 said:
Ugh, this is why I hate the internet sometimes. Everything causes some sort of problem/defect/issue.and these studies cause unnecessary fear mongering and panic. Don't trust everything you read. Do research. One article does not make it true or applicable to every circumstance.

Well ya, but I'm not gonna risk it now. It's not worth it - I'll use something else. Cigarettes used to be 'safe' too

mccall35 · March 2015

Huge *eyeroll* to this entire thread.

OP: I suggest you live in a bubble for the rest of your pregnancy if this is the kind of garbage you choose to dig up and get worked up over.

The study is incomplete and like 8 years old.

thay33 · March 2015

I just wanted to add that my doctor told me not to use cocoa butter because they are still studying on whether or not it is completely safe for the baby. Soo I've been staying away as well.

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

You're so right @catalinasmama - I did switch out a lot of my cosmetics when I got preggers but now I'm going to be even more careful!

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

mccall35 said:
Huge *eyeroll* to this entire thread.

OP: I suggest you live in a bubble for the rest of your pregnancy if this is the kind of garbage you choose to dig up and get worked up over.

The study is incomplete and like 8 years old.

And our parents did a lot of stuff that was maybe ok, maybe not while they were pregnant with us! If you wanna put your kid at risk that's your choice - I'm going go take the suggestion of straight up coconut oil and use that instead.

FloGirl82 · March 2015

Hollygolightly87 said:

mccall35 said:
Huge *eyeroll* to this entire thread.

OP: I suggest you live in a bubble for the rest of your pregnancy if this is the kind of garbage you choose to dig up and get worked up over.

The study is incomplete and like 8 years old.
And our parents did a lot of stuff that was maybe ok, maybe not while they were pregnant with us! If you wanna put your kid at risk that's your choice - I'm going go take the suggestion of straight up coconut oil and use that instead.

Just a question-has the effects of coconut oil been studied? I know it's super popular right now. I'm not trying to argue, but there could be a negative study associated with coconut oil as well. I guess everything within moderation and we are all responsible for our own choices and well being.What works for one may not work for another.

KaLikeAWind · March 2015

A gal I work with said while she was pregnant her baby had a heart murmur. However, at the time she was drinking caffeinated soda daily, still smoking, and using cocoa butter. She gradually stopped everything, starting with smoking (obviously), checked the heart after a month and still a murmur. Went to cut out caffeine, checked after a month, still a murmur. Finally did the cocoa butter, and the murmur went. Its not a bona fide study, and there *were* other things there, but it did happen to someone I know. She even started smoking and soda again after and the murmur did not return. (Disclaimer - I'm also aware it could have just been a developmental murmur that went away coincidentally when she stopped cocoa butter, too). And yes, I disagree with the whole starting smoking again while still pregnant thing, but where I live its kinda in the culture to break pregnancy safety rules, and she was born and raised here, so I got nothing. (The kid was big, and healthy, btw)

Hollygolightly87 · March 2015

FloGirl82 said:

Hollygolightly87 said:

mccall35 said:
Huge *eyeroll* to this entire thread.

OP: I suggest you live in a bubble for the rest of your pregnancy if this is the kind of garbage you choose to dig up and get worked up over.

The study is incomplete and like 8 years old.
And our parents did a lot of stuff that was maybe ok, maybe not while they were pregnant with us! If you wanna put your kid at risk that's your choice - I'm going go take the suggestion of straight up coconut oil and use that instead.
Just a question-has the effects of coconut oil been studied? I know it's super popular right now. I'm not trying to argue, but there could be a negative study associated with coconut oil as well. I guess everything within moderation and we are all responsible for our own choices and well being.What works for one may not work for another.

Honestly, don't know, but it seems like a more natural alternative. And seeing as if can be consumed, I would think it's better than something that can't be(I don't imagine you eat cocoa butter lotion?)

klkonwi · March 2015

Huge eye roll to the heart murmur study. Heart murmurs are very common and go away on their own very frequently...........

ElRuby · March 2015

Of all the things not to do in pregnancy, cocoa butter lotion rubbed on my belly is the last thing I want to get worked up about.

aj1327 · March 2015

I've been using belly balm from the honest company because my mother in law bought it for me. I'm sure if I googled it something would be wrong with it though!

KonaCoffeeBean · March 2015

I've never in my life been a smoker, but this thread makes me want to run to gas station, buy a pack, and light up. Don't worry though, I'm tossing out the stretch mark lotion.

devyns2nd · March 2015

Well I'm afraid to even get dressed and go outside! With my first I did so many things I had no idea not to do. Everything causes this or that now. Its all maddness

taboullio84 · March 2015

This gave me heartburn.

ElRuby · March 2015

taboullio84 said:
This gave me heartburn.

Everything gives me heartburn

aliciaspinnet · March 2015

Sometimes I really think that people should be taught how to interpret medical literature in school. This study proves pretty much nothing. It might be worth doing a follow up study, ideally a randomised control trial with much bigger numbers, but I wouldn't start panicking just yet.

Cateash77 · March 2015

Interesting, I am sure you will be fine but if you are worried, just stop using it, coconut oil is supposed to be very good. They may actually be referring to cocoa butters high theobromine content rather than the caffeine as a cardiac stimulant. Theobromine is the reason that dogs can't eat chocolate. Interestingly if the theobromine is the culprit ( as has been implicated in other studies) coffee only has low amounts, but avoid chocolate.

finchfeeder80 · March 2015

Cateash77 said:
Interesting, I am sure you will be fine but if you are worried, just stop using it, coconut oil is supposed to be very good. They may actually be referring to cocoa butters high theobromine content rather than the caffeine as a cardiac stimulant. Theobromine is the reason that dogs can't eat chocolate. Interestingly if the theobromine is the culprit ( as has been implicated in other studies) coffee only has low amounts, but avoid chocolate.

Blasphemy!!

ElRuby · March 2015

finchfeeder80 said:

Cateash77 said:
Interesting, I am sure you will be fine but if you are worried, just stop using it, coconut oil is supposed to be very good. They may actually be referring to cocoa butters high theobromine content rather than the caffeine as a cardiac stimulant. Theobromine is the reason that dogs can't eat chocolate. Interestingly if the theobromine is the culprit ( as has been implicated in other studies) coffee only has low amounts, but avoid chocolate.
Blasphemy!!

Impossible to avoid chocolate under any circumstances!

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