Pregnancy may mean abstaining from some of your favorite treats such as a glass of red wine or daily latte, but there is some sweet news: New research suggests that nibbling on chocolate daily can benefit both mom and baby.

The study from Canada’s Laval University in Quebec City, Canada, builds on previous studies that have found chocolate to contain high amounts of flavanols. Those nutrient compounds, which are found in cocoa and other foods, can reduce blood pressure and improve the health of blood vessels in adults, earlier research found.

That’s why the researchers decided to see whether flavanols had any effect on blood circulation in pregnant women. The study tracked 130 women who were in their eleventh to fourteenth week of pregnancy. They ate the equivalent of one small square of chocolate a day for 12 weeks. Half of the women nibbled on high-flavanol chocolate, while the other half ate low-flavanol chocolate.

No matter what kind of chocolate they noshed on, all of the women experienced better blood circulation and velocity compared with the general population, researchers found. The findings were presented at a recent meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

The results are not a doctor’s order to go wild with chocolate, and more research is needed, but it seems that a little chocolate could provide some benefits during pregnancy. Nutrients to include in a prenatal diet include folic acid, which ensures babies’ brains and spinal cords develop properly, and calcium for strong bones. Iron is especially important because it helps deliver oxygenated blood to the baby. Top it off with some chocolate and you’ll add to the prospects for a healthy baby — and mom.