Pregnancy requires eating healthily to ensure a healthy baby — but some foods and drinks shouldn’t be consumed during this time, like teas that contain caffeine – which acts as a natural stimulant that shouldn’t be consumed excessively while pregnant; or those linked with miscarriage, high blood pressure or sexual issues.
Are You an Avid Tea Drinker? There is good news: low to moderate quantities of herbal tea may be safe during pregnancy. Many tea varieties have been shown to ease pregnancy-related discomfort such as nausea and vomiting; in fact, certain tea varieties may even help prepare the body for labor and delivery!
Caffeinated teas such as black, green, white and matcha should be consumed in moderation if you are pregnant. Aim for 200 milligrams of caffeine daily as this should prevent any potential risks to the fetus.
Herbal teas are composed of leaves, roots, berries or flowers from different plants that naturally contain no caffeine; however, it’s hard to determine if most herbal teas are safe during gestation as their safety has yet to be thoroughly researched on expectant women and can vary depending on brand/type of tea consumed.
Some herbal teas may be suitable for pregnant women to consume in moderation (two or three cups daily), such as rooibos, chamomile and ginger root teas. Consuming these may help alleviate morning sickness, insomnia or indigestion for some pregnant women; furthermore peppermint, yarrow and red raspberry leaf teas may promote uterine contractions during gestation and help support labor contractions during the third trimester of gestation.
Most herbal teas are not subject to FDA scrutiny, posing the risk of accidental consumption of dangerous herbs that are unsuitable for pregnancy in their loose-leaf variety. This risk increases when purchasing bulk tea at grocery stores where multiple varieties may contain various herbs which should not be mixed together during gestation.
Expectant mothers should avoid herbal teas that contain echinacea, ginseng and sage to avoid miscarriage and high blood pressure; experts also advise avoiding either one of these herbs to minimize nausea.