From the information above, it's easy to see why pregnant folks would want to steer clear of kombucha. Both alcohol and caffeine are capable of crossing the blood barrier and affecting fetal development, but the biggest risk comes from unpasteurized kombucha.
Unlike many beverages found in stores, kombucha is a living food, meaning that it's a little harder for the FDA to regulate it, and it's more likely to contain bacteria that could cause food poisoning, or worse. Listeria is of particular concern during pregnancy. As Well + Good notes, it's especially important for pregnant women to avoid home-brewed kombucha, since a lack of sterile conditions can create opportunities for pathogenic bacteria to grow.
As nutrition expert Dr. Susan Hundt told Well + Good, "It is best to avoid any type of food that may potentially launch an immune response," but she still maintains that small amounts of kombucha are permissible if it's from a well-respected, store-bought brand with alcohol under .5% and low caffeine. But if it makes you nervous, there's no use causing extra stress, especially while preparing for a new baby, so you might as well leave it on the waitlist until you're back to just eating for one.
