Tea During Pregnancy: What Expectant Mothers Need to Know

Women expecting a baby need to pay special attention to the food and drinks they consume. Even regular tea comes with many nuances. Not all types are suitable for expectant mothers, and it’s important to know which drinks to avoid.

During pregnancy, many women have the logical question: which foods are permissible. This question also involves whether tea is allowed during pregnancy. It matters not only which drink expectant mothers consume but also how much and when. This article covers all the most important information on this topic, including which teas can be consumed during pregnancy. 

What Teas Are Allowed During Pregnancy

Women who love drinking black tea should consider the caffeine content in this beverage. For pregnant women, the recommended daily intake is 200-300 mg. If you find it hard to resist, it’s better to choose lighter beverages.

The same rule applies to those who enjoy drinking green tea during pregnancy, as well as white, yellow, oolong, and pu-erh teas. These varieties also contain caffeine, but in slightly lesser amounts. General medical recommendations suggest drinking no more than 3 cups per day.

Caffeine easily crosses the placenta, and a baby’s immature liver struggles to break it down. The amount of caffeine considered safe for adults might have side effects on the infant.

The optimal choice is considered to be drinking herbal tea during pregnancy. Since it is natural-based, it has minimal side effects. However, caution is still advised. Some herbal infusions are contraindicated in early stages, while others in the third trimester. 

Herbal Teas 

If you cannot completely give up tea during pregnancy, you should pay attention to other types of drinks. The safest are raspberry, hibiscus, and clitoria ternatea, as they have a plant-based origin. However, pregnant women should approach herbal leaf teas with caution. Even the safest plants can harm the baby. But if certain rules are followed, negative effects can be avoided. 

Herbal tea during pregnancy has numerous beneficial properties:

• Herbs are a natural source of vitamins, free from chemical additives;
• does not negatively affect blood pressure;
• favorable impact on body function;
• provides anti-inflammatory and calming effects.

Green Tea

Most doctors confirm that green tea is allowed during pregnancy. This drink effectively quenches thirst and provides the body with beneficial vitamins and elements. It is also suitable for improving nervous system function, restoring metabolism, and eliminating accumulated toxins. However, caution should be taken: this drink slows down the absorption of folic acid into the bloodstream.

Green tea should be consumed 30 minutes after meals and no more than two cups a day during pregnancy. To preserve the maximum amount of valuable substances in the drink, the leaves should be brewed with hot water.

Black Tea

Black tea during pregnancy is optimally suited for removing toxins from the body and improving brain function. Such a drink is the perfect prevention for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

However, due to the presence of caffeine, it should be consumed with caution. The optimal option is to consult with a doctor beforehand. To slightly reduce the impact of caffeine on the body, you can add lemon slices, milk, or honey to the drink.

Ivan Tea

Ivan tea during pregnancy is particularly beneficial. It is rich in various vitamins and trace elements that support the normal functioning of the entire body. An additional advantage is the absence of caffeine. Ivan tea is characterized by strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and calming effects.

This drink reduces the risk of developing anemia and also increases hemoglobin levels in the blood. The recipe is very simple: add 1-2 teaspoons of dried raw material into a cup and pour 400 ml of hot water. The drink should be allowed to brew a little. Pregnant women are allowed to drink two cups a day for no more than a month. Then, a break is necessary. 

On Raspberry Leaves

The most beneficial tea during pregnancy is from raspberry leaves. Such an infusion helps prevent a number of complications during pregnancy:

• preeclampsia — the development of arterial hypertension in the 2nd trimester;
• premature birth;
• postpartum hemorrhage;
• births that are too early or too late.

Raspberry leaf additionally helps reduce the duration of labor and the likelihood of surgical intervention. 

With Mint

For many pregnant women, a mint infusion becomes a real lifesaver during morning sickness. Its fresh, cool aroma significantly alleviates or completely eliminates the symptoms of the ailment. However, such a drink is not recommended in the early stages. 

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With Ginger and Chamomile

If you drink tea with ginger root, you can also reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. It alleviates nausea and vomiting. An infusion with added ginger helps manage frequent constipation. However, such a drink should be consumed with caution in the presence of stomach problems. 

Chamomile tea during pregnancy is also ideal for women suffering from morning sickness. Moreover, it has a positive effect on the nervous system. It can help relieve intestinal spasms, constipation, and flatulence. The drink has bactericidal and analgesic properties. No more than one cup per day is allowed. 

Hibiscus or Karkade

Hibiscus should be consumed due to its high content of ascorbic acid. It is ideally suited for consumption during colds. Moreover, it’s an excellent option for normalizing blood pressure. 

Based on Dandelion

Dandelion infusion is best consumed in the third trimester. It perfectly removes excess fluid from the body. The flowers have a slightly bitter taste, so ideally, other components should be added to the drink.

From Sea Buckthorn

The plant is rich in folic acid. It is this component that protects the fetus from possible developmental defects. Sea buckthorn also contains vitamins A and C, which help boost the body’s defenses. This infusion should also be consumed to protect against various infections. A significant amount of vitamin E is present, which lowers the risk of miscarriage.

Which types should be avoided

A common concern for many women expecting a baby is which teas should not be consumed during pregnancy. Many doctors agree that it is best to avoid drinks containing the following herbs:

• verbena;
• borage;
• fenugreek;
• thyme;
• licorice;
• motherwort;
• ginseng;
• celandine.

These plants are known for their abortifacient properties. Moreover, they can harm the baby’s health: risking the development of intrauterine defects and developmental delays.

Certain infusions are not recommended in early stages. The most dangerous of these include nettle and chamomile. The risk is associated with the possibility of causing bleeding. Plants with diuretic and bowel-cleansing effects should also be avoided, as they can lead to dehydration. 

Specialists do not recommend drinking only one type of tea during pregnancy. This can lead to addiction and side effects. Before brewing herbal teas, be sure to study the plants that are included in the composition.

Standards and Recommendations

Doctors advise drinking no more than one cup of any non-strong tea per day. It’s also important to consider the type of beverage and the overall well-being of the pregnant woman.

Before taking any drink, even in the third trimester, a pregnant woman should consult with a doctor. It should be noted that some plants can have a very powerful effect on the body. Even in moderate amounts or in case of overdose, there is a risk of unwanted reactions.

Herbal infusions, like any medication, should be consumed with the correct dosage. Some plants may contain a range of substances, such as caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, which have a stimulating effect. Another side effect of consuming such teas during pregnancy is increased urine production and a faster heartbeat. 

Proper Brewing 

All beneficial properties of herbal tea are preserved only if it is brewed with water at a temperature not exceeding 70 degrees. Black tea can be brewed only once, while green and white can be brewed several times.

If the drink is prepared on a berry base, the berries must first be thoroughly crushed. The berries should not be boiled, as this will strip them of all beneficial properties. To enhance the taste, a small amount of honey is allowed.

Green tea during pregnancy should be almost colorless after brewing. Brewing it for more than two minutes can have a negative effect on the pregnant woman’s body. 

To make the right mint infusion, you should use no more than 4-5 mint leaves per cup. They should be poured with boiling water and left to steep for a bit, but no more than two minutes. In the early stages, this drink should be consumed with extra caution, as mint leaves contain a significant amount of essential oils. 

To prepare ginger infusion, follow this scheme: brew the drink and then add a few grams of grated ginger root or ½ teaspoon of ginger powder. During pregnancy, you can add lemon, honey, or milk to the tea. 
Most of the plants that are part of herbal infusions have numerous beneficial properties. They have a positive effect on the body of a pregnant woman. However, you should take into account which tea is allowed during pregnancy and which is contraindicated.