Pregnancy can be both exciting and overwhelming at once. From strange cravings to morning sickness, pregnancy often raises many questions regarding what’s safe to eat or drink – even something as simple as tea! In general, herbal and tisanes should generally be safe for consumption in moderation; some types can even help ease nausea, prepare the body for labor, boost mood or aid with labor preparations. There may be certain teas which should be avoided because they pose potential risks to an expecting mother’s growing fetus during gestation.
Pregnant mothers should generally refrain from ingesting herbs or teas known to be potentially toxic in high quantities if pregnant. This is especially important during the first trimester when the baby is growing quickly.
Chamomile is another herb commonly used in pregnancy preparation, yet regular consumption may increase your risk of preterm labor and low birth weight. One case study cited a woman who experienced ductal constriction at 20 weeks gestation after regularly drinking chamomile tea.
As with herbal tea containing sage, which may stimulate uterine contractions. Sage may also have an adverse impact on breastfeeding women and negatively influence milk production, making the postpartum period even more challenging.
Red raspberry leaf tea is one of the most frequently consumed herbal beverages during gestation due to its purported ability to induce labor. Unfortunately, no evidence supports these claims, and it may actually be harmful for some women; one 38-year-old with gestational diabetes mellitus who regularly consumed raspberry leaf tea experienced hypoglycemia resulting in her needing to lower her insulin dosage.
Avoid herbal tea that contains caffeine, commonly found in black and green tea varieties. Caffeine acts as a stimulant that may increase heart rate and blood pressure – both dangerously increasing during gestation. According to NHS recommendations, maximum daily caffeine consumption should not exceed 200mg – equivalent to one 12-ounce cup of coffee.
There can be much debate regarding which herbs are safe during pregnancy, with opinions often differing depending on who you ask. Because there are few clinical data evaluating herbal products specifically targeted to expectant mothers, and the few existing trials typically only focus on small numbers of subjects, this lack of research and uncertainty may be unnerveding considering so many people depend on herbal teas for health purposes.