references
  
      University of Rochester Medical Center: "Pregnancy: How Your Digestion Changes"
    
      U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “FDA 101: Dietary Supplements”
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Digestive enzyme supplements for heartburn?"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Supplements: Nutrition in a pill?"
    
      Neuroendocrinology Letters: "Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in digestive disorders"
    
      Kaiser Permanente: "Pregnancy: Avoiding Papaya"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Weight Gain During Pregnancy: How Much Is Too Much?"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Lactose intolerance"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Digestive Enzymes 101: Why They’re Important"
    
      National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: "Treatment for Lactose Intolerance"
    
      National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: "Bromelain"
    
      Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Digestive Enzymes and Digestive Enzyme Supplements"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

If you have lactose intolerance, a lactase enzyme may help ease related digestive issues while you're pregnant.

Image Credit: AndreyPopov/iStock/GettyImages

Image Credit: AndreyPopov/iStock/GettyImages

  • Papaya
  • Bromelain
  • Lactase
  • Alpha-Galactosidase
  • Lipase

Talk to your doctor before trying these products (or related ones, like fiber supplements) to make sure digestive enzymes are safe for you to take while pregnant, per the Mayo Clinic.

The relationship between papaya extract or enzymes and pregnancy is still not totally clear, per Kaiser Permanente. The latex substance in unripe papaya, however, can potentially trigger contractions and lead to early labor, which can be unsafe for you and your baby. That’s why it’s always best to talk to your doctor about taking papaya enzymes during pregnancy.

The latex substance in unripe papaya, however, can potentially trigger contractions and lead to early labor, which can be unsafe for you and your baby. That’s why it’s always best to talk to your doctor about taking papaya enzymes during pregnancy.

      University of Rochester Medical Center: "Pregnancy: How Your Digestion Changes"
    
      U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “FDA 101: Dietary Supplements”
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Digestive enzyme supplements for heartburn?"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Supplements: Nutrition in a pill?"
    
      Neuroendocrinology Letters: "Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in digestive disorders"
    
      Kaiser Permanente: "Pregnancy: Avoiding Papaya"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Weight Gain During Pregnancy: How Much Is Too Much?"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Lactose intolerance"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Digestive Enzymes 101: Why They’re Important"
    
      National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: "Treatment for Lactose Intolerance"
    
      National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: "Bromelain"
    
      Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Digestive Enzymes and Digestive Enzyme Supplements"