Why Do Pregnancy Nausea Candies Use Vitamin B6 and Ginger?

Vitamin B6 and ginger are two of the most researched ingredients in the pregnancy nausea conversation, which is exactly why Cosmopolitan called them out when including Pink Stork Nausea Sweets in their roundup of best gifts for pregnant women. Both ingredients have decades of published research behind them, and both appear in the Pink Stork formula in their active, organic forms. Here is what the research actually says, and why ingredient form matters as much as ingredient choice.

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or while managing a medical condition.

How Common Is First-Trimester Nausea?

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is the most common medical condition in pregnancy. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 80 percent of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms typically begin between four and nine weeks of pregnancy and peak between seven and twelve weeks. For most women, symptoms resolve by weeks 12 to 16, though up to 15 percent continue to experience them into the second trimester.

Despite how common it is, the experience is often under-treated. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) notes that some women do not seek support because of concerns about what is safe to take during pregnancy. Understanding the ingredients in a product, and the research behind them, is one way to approach that question with more confidence.

What Is Vitamin B6 and Why Is It Used in Pregnancy Nausea Support?

Vitamin B6, in its active form as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, supports healthy nervous system function and healthy digestion.† It is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in foods like poultry, fish, potatoes, and non-citrus fruits. During pregnancy, B6 is already included in most prenatal vitamins for its role in supporting fetal brain development.†

Its use in pregnancy nausea support has a specific and long clinical history. ACOG includes Vitamin B6 in its published guidance on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy as part of its standard management overview. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by Vutyavanich et al., published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that pyridoxine supplementation was associated with meaningfully reduced nausea scores in a trial of 342 pregnant women. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics reviewed 18 studies on pyridoxine supplementation during pregnancy and noted its widespread use for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy support.

Why Pyridoxine Hydrochloride Specifically?

Not all Vitamin B6 supplements use the same form of the vitamin. Pyridoxine Hydrochloride is the form used in published clinical research on pregnancy nausea, and it is the form included in Pink Stork Nausea Sweets. Pink Stork's formulation philosophy applies across all products: use the right form of an ingredient, not the cheapest one. Every ingredient on the label is there for a reason, and every form is chosen for bioavailability and alignment with available research.

What Is Ginger and What Does the Research Say?

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a root with a long history of use in traditional wellness practices for digestive comfort. Its use during pregnancy has been studied in multiple randomized controlled trials and reviewed in systematic analyses.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that research shows ginger may be helpful for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. A 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrition Journal reviewed multiple randomized controlled trials and found that ginger significantly improved nausea symptoms during pregnancy compared to placebo. A separate systematic review published in Women and Birth examined four randomized controlled trials and concluded that orally administered ginger was significantly more effective than placebo in supporting digestive comfort during pregnancy, with adverse events that were generally mild and infrequent.

ACOG also acknowledges ginger as a nonpharmacologic option in its guidance on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

Active Ginger vs. Ginger Flavoring: Why It Matters

There is a meaningful difference between a product that contains active ginger as a functional ingredient and one that uses ginger flavoring for taste. Pink Stork Nausea Sweets use active ginger in the Ginger Mango and Ginger Raspberry flavors, not a flavoring agent. This is the same distinction Pink Stork applies across all formulas: the ingredient either earns its place functionally or it does not belong on the label.

When Cosmopolitan highlighted the Nausea Sweets in their pregnancy gift roundup, they noted the active ingredients by name. That kind of editorial attention to what is actually in a product reflects the difference between a candy that tastes like ginger and one formulated with it as a functional ingredient.†

How Pink Stork Nausea Sweets Deliver Both Ingredients

Pink Stork Nausea Sweets combine Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) with organic peppermint oil or active ginger in a hard candy format. The hard candy format is deliberate: it dissolves gradually, requires no water, and is easy to carry. For a woman managing first-trimester nausea at unpredictable moments throughout the day, not just in the morning, portability matters.

All three flavors, Sweet Peppermint, Ginger Mango, and Ginger Raspberry, are made with organic cane sugar, organic brown rice syrup, and no artificial sweeteners, no artificial flavors, and no high-fructose corn syrup. The product is USDA organic, vegan, gluten-free, and third-party tested every batch. It is reviewed by Pink Stork's OBGYN-led medical council, is pregnancy and breastfeeding-friendly, and is HSA/FSA eligible.

"When I was going through my own pregnancy, I couldn't find products I trusted. That's why every Pink Stork formula is built on science and held to a standard I'd want for my own family."

— Amy Suzanne Upchurch, Founder and CEO of Pink Stork

A Note on Ingredient Safety During Pregnancy

Both Vitamin B6 and ginger have established safety profiles in the research literature when used in typical supplement amounts. Research published in PMC notes that no teratogenic risks have been associated with pyridoxine use, and it belongs to FDA Pregnancy Category A. Ginger's systematic review data shows adverse events in pregnancy research were generally mild and infrequent. That said, every woman's pregnancy is different, and your healthcare provider is the right person to help you evaluate any supplement for your specific situation.

Pairing Nausea Sweets With a Complete Prenatal Routine

Nausea Sweets are designed to support digestive comfort during pregnancy as a standalone product.† For women who want to build a more complete first-trimester supplement routine, they pair naturally with Pink Stork Total Prenatal, a 22-nutrient prenatal vitamin that includes its own Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate), methylated folate, gentle iron bisglycinate, and choline for fetal brain development support.† Total Prenatal also features ScentCert technology, a scented insert designed to reduce the scent-triggered nausea some women experience when opening a prenatal vitamin bottle.

Both products are reviewed by the same OBGYN-led medical council and held to the same third-party testing standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do pregnancy nausea products use Vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has been included in clinical research on pregnancy nausea support for decades. ACOG includes it in its published guidance on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, and multiple randomized controlled trials have studied its use during the first trimester. Pink Stork Nausea Sweets use Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, the active form used in published research.

Is ginger pregnancy-friendly?

Published systematic reviews, including those summarized by NCCIH, indicate that ginger has been used effectively in many research studies involving pregnant women. ACOG acknowledges ginger as a nonpharmacologic option for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Always consult your healthcare provider about any supplement during pregnancy.

What is the difference between active ginger and ginger flavoring?

Active ginger is included as a functional ingredient for its properties as studied in clinical research. Ginger flavoring is added for taste only, without the active components. Pink Stork Nausea Sweets use active ginger, not a flavoring agent.

Why did Cosmopolitan highlight Vitamin B6 and peppermint in their feature?

Cosmopolitan included Pink Stork Nausea Sweets in their roundup of best gifts for pregnant women and specifically noted Vitamin B6 and peppermint as the ingredients behind the product. Both are well-recognized in the pregnancy wellness space and have published research supporting their use.

What form of Vitamin B6 is in Pink Stork Nausea Sweets?

Pink Stork Nausea Sweets use Vitamin B6 as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, the active form studied in clinical research on pregnancy nausea support.

How many Nausea Sweets should I take per day?

The recommended use is one sweet daily, as needed. They are individually wrapped for on-the-go use and require no water.

Can I take Nausea Sweets alongside my prenatal vitamin?

Yes. Pink Stork Nausea Sweets are designed to work alongside other Pink Stork supplements, including Total Prenatal. Always check with your healthcare provider when combining supplements during pregnancy.

Are Pink Stork Nausea Sweets organic?

Yes. Pink Stork Nausea Sweets are USDA organic. They are made with organic cane sugar, organic brown rice syrup, and organic peppermint oil or active ginger, with no artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or high-fructose corn syrup.

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or while managing a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.