Herbal tea and pregnancy

Many alternative medicine physicians believe that drinking certain herbal teas during pregnancy is a great way to maintain optimal health during pregnancy.

Herbal teas can often provide an additional source of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and iron. However, due to the lack of research on most herbs, experts urge caution when drinking herbal teas.

To understand which herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy, let's first look at the different types of teas and how to make them.

Differences between non-herbal and herbal

There are two different types of tea, non-herbal and herbal. Non-herbal herbal teas can be divided into 3 categories: black, green, and oolong.

Non-herbal tea

Black tea is the most common type of non-herbal tea. It includes blends such as English breakfast, Earl Grey, and Orange Pekoe.
Green tea has a more delicate taste than black tea. The oolong teas are a combination of green and black tea.
Non-herbal teas contain varying amounts of caffeine and antioxidants.
Non-herbal teas are made from leaves of tea plants.
The longer the oxidation time (fermenting) of the leaf, the higher the caffeine level.
The brewing time, size of the leaf and type of tea leaf can also influence how much caffeine is in the tea.
Decaf versions of non-herbal teas still contain a bit of caffeine.

Herbal tea

Made from the roots, berries, flowers, seeds, and leaves of a variety of plants not from actual tea plant leaves.
True herbal teas do not contain caffeine. (This does not include any other drinks that are called “tea” but truly are not, such as mate tea.)
These teas can also be used as medicinal remedies (relating to, or having the properties of medicine).

What teas are safe to consume during pregnancy?

Non-herbal teas

Although non-herbal tea is considered to be very healthy due to its antioxidants, it also contains caffeine, which pregnant and breastfeeding women are often advised to reduce or eliminate entirely.

The average cup of herbal tea contains 40 to 50 milligrams of caffeine. Decaffeinated herbal tea still contains some caffeine; however, the amount is usually only about 0.4 milligrams.

Caffeine crosses the placenta and reaches your developing baby. A child cannot metabolize caffeine like an adult. In addition, caffeine intake while breastfeeding may contribute to sleep disturbances in infants.

For this reason, there is debate about how much caffeine is safe and whether it should be avoided altogether. We know that the less caffeine you consume, the better it is for your baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Talk to your doctor about a safe amount. This will help you decide whether to consume herbal teas.

Herbal teas

Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free, so caffeine is not an issue when drinking this type of tea. The problem with drinking herbal teas during pregnancy is the lack of data on most herbs and their effects on the developing fetus.

Opinions on the safety of herbal teas are divided for both pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Herbal teas are considered unsafe if they are not commercially produced, are made with excessive amounts of herbs (more than in regular food or drink), or are made with herbs that are known to be toxic.

As with most things, it's always best to talk to your doctor about which herbal teas you want to drink.

Tea for pregnant women

There are a number of teas labeled as pregnancy tea. Pregnancy tea, which often contains red raspberry leaves, is considered beneficial during pregnancy.

Many midwives and herbalists believe that regular consumption of these teas can help prevent pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm labor, prolonged labor, and postpartum hemorrhage.

Medical studies have shown that red raspberry leaves are safe to consume during pregnancy and may reduce the duration of labor and the number of procedures used, such as artificial rupture of membranes, assisted labor and caesarean section. Red raspberry leaf also helps prevent preterm or post-term pregnancy (too early or too late).

Herbs used

Here are the common ingredients you can find in herbal teas. Please note that some of them have a questionable clearance level.

Further research and discussion with your doctor will help you decide which herbs are safe to use in teas.

Red Raspberry Leaf (Probably Safe) – This iron-rich herb has helped tone the uterus, increase milk supply, reduce nausea, and ease labor pains. Many maternity teas contain red raspberry leaves, which help promote uterine health during pregnancy. There is some controversy over whether it should be used throughout pregnancy or only in the second and third trimesters, so many doctors remain cautious and recommend using it only after the first trimester.
Peppermint leaf (probably safe) - useful for relieving morning sickness and flatulence.
Lemon Balm (probably safe) - has a calming effect and helps relieve irritability, insomnia and anxiety.
Ginger root (probably safe) - Helps relieve nausea and vomiting.
Dandelion (not enough reliable information) - rich in vitamin A, calcium and iron; Dandelion root and leaf can also help reduce mild swelling and nourish the liver.
Chamomile (German) (not enough reliable information) - Rich in calcium and magnesium, also helps with insomnia and joint inflammation.
Nettle (stinging nettle) (probably dangerous) - Rich in vitamins A, C, K, calcium, potassium and iron. Used in many pregnancy teas as it is a great all-round tonic for pregnant women. (*Note on Nettle Safety: Experts rate nettle as unsafe despite being used in countless pregnancy teas and recommended by most midwives and herbalists. This may be due to the part of the nettle plant used, the root or leaves, or how it is used a lot. According to other sources, consumption of stinging nettle is encouraged during pregnancy due to its health benefits.)
Rose hips (not enough reliable information) - A very good source of vitamin C, helps to strengthen the immune system.
Alfalfa (possibly dangerous) - contains vitamins A, D, E and K; especially good in late pregnancy for boosting vitamin K levels, which helps prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Yellow dock (possibly unsafe) – used to treat anemia in pregnant women due to high iron levels. Also contains vitamins A, C and calcium.

Your next steps

Make your own herbal tea by adding oranges, apples, pineapple, lemons, limes, pears, cinnamon or mint leaves to boiling water or decaffeinated tea. You should not make homemade tea from a plant growing in your yard unless you know exactly what it is and whether it is safe to drink during pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor about healthy herbal teas to drink during pregnancy.