Teas not to drink during pregnancy

Is Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

Tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide — and one that many women continue to enjoy during pregnancy.

Some drink it to simply decompress or help meet the increased fluid needs of pregnancy. However, a proportion of women appear to use tea as a natural remedy for pregnancy-related symptoms or as a tonic to prepare for childbirth in the last weeks of pregnancy (1).

Many may believe that tea is probably safe to drink while pregnant because it’s natural. In reality, women may benefit from reducing their intake of certain teas, while completely avoiding others throughout their pregnancy.

This article discusses the safety of tea during pregnancy, including which teas pregnant women may continue to drink, and which they may want to avoid.

Black, green, white, matcha, chai, and oolong teas are all sourced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. They contain caffeine — a natural stimulant that should be limited during pregnancy.

They each provide approximately the following amount of caffeine per cup (240 mL) (2, 3, 4, 5, 6):

• matcha: 60–80 mg
• oolong tea: 38–58 mg
• black tea: 47–53 mg
• chai: 47–53 mg
• white tea: 25–50 mg
• green tea: 29–49 mg

Caffeine can easily cross the placenta, and your baby’s immature liver has difficulty breaking it down. As such, infants are more likely to experience side effects from amounts of caffeine that would otherwise be considered safe for adults.

Research suggests that infants exposed to too much caffeine during pregnancy may have a higher risk of being born preterm or with a low birth weight or birth defects. High caffeine intake during pregnancy may also increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth (7, 8, 9).

These risks appear minimal when pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to a maximum of 300 mg per day (8).

However, some women’s genetics may make them more sensitive to the ill effects of caffeine. For instance, research suggests that this small proportion of women may have a 2.4 times higher risk of miscarriage when consuming 100–300 mg of caffeine per day (8).

Caffeinated teas contain less caffeine than coffee and are generally considered safe to drink during pregnancy. However, their intake may need to be limited to avoid consuming too much caffeine per day (10, 11).

summary

Black, green, matcha, oolong, white, and chai teas contain caffeine, a stimulant that should be limited during pregnancy. Although they’re generally safe, women may benefit from limiting their daily intake of these caffeinated teas during pregnancy.

Herbal teas are made from dried fruits, flowers, spices, or herbs and therefore contain no caffeine. However, they may contain other compounds considered unsafe during pregnancy, which may result in risky side effects.

Miscarriage or preterm labor

Teas that may increase your risk of miscarriage or preterm labor include (11, 12, 13, 14, 15):

• fennel
• fenugreek
• sage
• vervain
• borage
• pennyroyal
• licorice
• thyme
• motherwort
• lovage
• blue cohosh
• black cohosh
• frankincense (in large amounts)
• chamomile (in large amounts)

Teas that may stimulate or increase menstrual bleeding include (12, 16, 17):

• motherwort
• lovage
• frankincense

Birth defects

Teas that may increase the risk of birth defects include (12):

• motherwort
• borage

Other side effects

Moreover, in rare cases, eucalyptus tea may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. What’s more, a case report suggests that regularly drinking chamomile tea during pregnancy may result in poor blood flow through a baby’s heart (1, 12).

Certain herbal teas may also contain compounds that interact with medications. Therefore, pregnant women should inform their healthcare providers of any herbal teas they are currently consuming or planning on consuming at any time during pregnancy (1).

Keep in mind that, due to the limited amount of research on the safety of herbal teas, a lack of evidence of negative side effects shouldn’t be seen as proof that the tea is safe to drink during pregnancy.

Until more is known, it may be best for pregnant women to remain cautious and avoid drinking any teas that have not yet been shown to be likely safe during pregnancy (18).

summary

Certain herbal teas may be linked to a higher risk of upset stomach, menstrual bleeding, miscarriage, birth defects, or preterm birth. Pregnant women may benefit from avoiding all teas not yet deemed as likely safe for pregnancy.

Teas are not strictly tested or regulated. This means that women may be inadvertently drinking teas contaminated with unwanted compounds, such as heavy metals (19, 20).

For instance, one study tested common off-the-shelf black, green, white, and oolong teas. It found that 20% of all samples were contaminated with aluminum. Moreover, 73% of all samples contained lead levels considered unsafe during pregnancy (21).

In another study, women with the highest intake of green and herbal teas during the first trimester of pregnancy had 6–14% higher blood lead levels than those who drank the least. That said, all blood lead levels remained within the normal range (20).

Due to the lack of regulation, there’s also a risk of herbal teas containing ingredients not listed on the label. This increases the risk that pregnant women end up inadvertently consuming a tea tainted with an undesirable herb, such as the ones listed above.

It’s currently impossible to eliminate this risk. However, you may somewhat minimize it by only purchasing teas from reputable brands.

What’s more, it’s likely best to avoid purchasing teas in bulk, as they have a higher risk of becoming mixed with tea leaves that may be contraindicated during pregnancy from adjacent bulk bins.

summary

The manufacturing of teas is not regulated. As a result, teas may become tainted with unwanted compounds, such as heavy metals or herbs that have been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes.

Most caffeinated teas are considered safe to drink during pregnancy, as long as they do not cause a woman’s total daily caffeine intake to exceed 300 mg (8, 11).

Women who are particularly sensitive to caffeine may benefit from aiming for a maximum of 100 mg of caffeine per day (8).

When it comes to herbal teas, there’s not a lot of research regarding their effects during pregnancy. As such, most health professionals advise pregnant women to avoid consuming any herb in amounts greater than you would find in foods (1, 12, 18).

That said, according to a few studies, herbal teas containing the following ingredients may be safe to consume during pregnancy:

• Raspberry leaf. This tea is considered likely safe and believed to shorten labor and help prepare the uterus for birth. Research shows that it may shorten the length of the second stage of labor, but only by about 10 minutes (11, 22).
• Peppermint. This tea is considered likely safe and commonly used to help relieve gas, nausea, stomach pain, or heartburn. However, no studies could be found to support these benefits (12).
• Ginger. Ginger is one of the most studied herb remedies during pregnancy and considered possibly safe. Research suggests it reduces nausea and vomiting but, when consumed dried, should not exceed 1 gram per day (1, 12).
• Lemon balm. This tea is considered possibly safe and commonly used to relieve anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. However, no study could be found to support these uses, and its safety hasn’t been studied in pregnancy (11).

Although generally considered safe, raspberry leaf may promote uterine contractions while peppermint may stimulate menstrual flow. Therefore, there’s some controversy regarding whether these teas are safe during the first trimester of pregnancy (12, 23).

Therefore, it may be best to avoid drinking these two teas in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

summary

Herbal teas considered to be possibly safe or likely safe during pregnancy include raspberry leaf, peppermint, ginger, and lemon balm teas. However, it may be best to avoid raspberry leaf and peppermint teas in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Despite their widespread popularity, not all teas are deemed safe for pregnancy.

Caffeinated teas like black, green, white, matcha, and chai teas are generally considered safe. However, their intake may need to be limited to avoid ingesting excessive amounts of caffeine.

Most herbal teas should be avoided. Raspberry leaf, peppermint, ginger, and lemon balm tea are the only ones currently deemed as potentially safe. However, women may benefit from avoiding the first two during their first trimester of pregnancy.

Tea to Avoid During Pregnancy, and Which Ones Are Safe to Drink

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Health

• Not all teas are safe to drink during pregnancy.
• Black tea and green tea contain some caffeine but can be consumed in moderation.
• Licorice, ginseng, and dong quai are all risky teas for pregnant people.

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When you find out that you're pregnant, your first thought might be to say goodbye to sushi, soft cheeses, and wine.  Cutting out raw fish, unpasteurized foods, and alcohol makes sense, but drinking a hot cup of tea may seem like a safe bet.

Think again — while some teas might be safe and soothing for a pregnant person, others have too much caffeine or other dangerous ingredients.

We rounded up everything you need to know about drinking tea when you're pregnant: which herbal brews are safe, and which cups to steer clear of.

Black tea is typically safe, but don't overdo it

Black tea contains about half as much caffeine per cup compared to coffee. The average cup of black tea contains about 47 mg of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Although you might think you'd need to avoid black tea during pregnancy because of its caffeine content, this brew is relatively safe in moderation.

Kara Manglani, CNM, a New York City-based midwife, told Insider that black tea is "generally considered safe" for pregnant folks, but she recommends limiting consumption to fewer than four cups a day, just in case.

Ginger tea can help with morning sickness

Ginger tea is considered an herbal tea, so it's naturally caffeine-free — and according to Manglani, it's an ideal tea for pregnancy.

Since ginger's known to calm the stomach, you might find ginger tea soothing if you're facing morning sickness and other pregnancy-related ailments.

"I recommend ginger tea to women who are experiencing nausea and vomiting as well as uterine cramping in early pregnancy, as ginger can help with nausea and cramping," Maglani said.

Green tea is also safe in moderation

Green tea is also thought to be safe for pregnant people, Manglani told Insider. Once again, you should watch out for the caffeine content, but green tea has less caffeine than coffee or black tea.

Brewed green tea contains about 28 mg of caffeine per cup. Pregnant people are recommended to limit their caffine intake to 200 mg per day, according to March of Dimes, so you'd have to be a green tea fanatic to exceed the 6-7 cup limit.

Peppermint and chamomile teas are most likely fine

Peppermint tea is another stomach-soothing option if ginger isn't your taste. Mint can help ease an upset stomach, Manglani said, but some people choose to avoid it during pregnancy.

If you enjoy drinking peppermint tea, you shouldn't give it up for the entirety of your pregnancy. But because peppermint might be able to cause some very mild uterine contractions, some women don't want to risk drinking it early on.

"If you want to be extremely cautious then just give peppermint and chamomile a rest during the first trimester," Natasha Richardson, the founder of Forager Botanicals and author of a dissertation on herbs in pregnancy. "That's when miscarriages are most likely. It's unlikely that those herbs would actually cause miscarriage, but I wouldn't want anyone drawing that conclusion in an unfortunate turn of events."

Try red raspberry leaf tea to help with labor, but avoid it early on

If you've ever been pregnant before, you may have heard about red raspberry leaf tea and its potential to help ease labor. There's little to no evidence it works, but some experts recommend it anyway.

"Some studies have suggested it can help with uterine contractions and shorten the overall length of labor," Manglani said. "I would avoid red raspberry leaf tea in the first trimester, but recommend it in the third trimester to help with labor."

It might also be useful to keep drinking red raspberry leaf tea after giving birth because it helps heal the uterine walls and provides calcium to fortify your breast milk.

Avoid licorice, cohosh, ginseng, and dong quai

There are some herbs and spices often found in herbal blends that you should consider avoiding entirely while you're pregnant.

Manglani said to avoid licorice tea because licorice root may act like estrogen in the body, which can potentially lead to preterm birth and fetal anomalies. Some lesser-known herbs also raise concern:

"Avoid black and blue cohosh. These can lead to preterm birth and miscarriage," Manglani siad. "Avoid Dong Quai tea, as this tea can cause uterine contraction which can lead to miscarriage or preterm birth. Avoid ginseng tea as it can cause birth defects and growth impairment."

Additionally, cinnamon and anise can cause uterine contractions and other issues if consumed in excess, so you don't want to drink too much spiced tea while pregnant.

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Is it possible to drink tea during pregnancy, contraindications Articles about tea

« Back Is tea good for pregnancy? 17. 06.2020 21:23 Content: Is it possible to drink tea during pregnancy? Health benefits of tea for pregnant women Which tea is contraindicated during pregnancy? A pregnant woman can drink water, juices, decaffeinated drinks. What to do if you want tea during pregnancy? Is it possible to drink tea during pregnancy? Obstetricians and gynecologists advise drinking water, fruit and berry juices, herbal infusions, compotes and tea during pregnancy. Pregnant women can enjoy their favorite teas by following some rules: drink no more than 1-2 cups a day, alternating with other drinks; the tea infusion should be freshly prepared, not hot, but warm; tea leaves should not be strongly brewed; choose healthy varieties without artificial additives, flavors. The choice of variety must be treated responsibly. To get the maximum benefit, you need to know how to brew Chinese tea. Useful properties of tea for pregnant women Pregnant women may drink some teas in moderation. Drinks made from dried leaves, fruits and berries do not contain caffeine, but are rich in vitamins. These are weak infusions of wild rose, willow-herb and other herbs. Before using herbal decoctions, you should consult your doctor. Ku Qiao buckwheat tea is a drink made from buckwheat grains. It does not contain caffeine, has no contraindications, is useful for pregnant women, lactating women. Buckwheat infusion relieves toxicosis, eliminates swelling, compensates for the lack of vitamins and other nutrients in the body. Buckwheat improves immunity, removes cholesterol, sugar from the blood, strengthens the circulatory system. Expectant mothers should know about the benefits of buckwheat tea during breastfeeding. Chinese Black Tea is safe during pregnancy but contains caffeine. Therefore, it is better to reduce its amount to two cups a day. White tea has many useful properties: normalizes metabolism, removes toxins, cholesterol, strengthens the heart and blood vessels, relieves fatigue. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, trace elements. The drink helps with toxicosis, reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes. Which tea is contraindicated during pregnancy? Women during pregnancy are contraindicated: strong teas containing caffeine; drinks with complex composition, spices, additives: may affect the development of the fetus; infusions of certain plants may increase the risk of preterm birth; ginseng decoction increases the tone of the uterus, increases the heart rate in the mother and fetus. To rule out possible harm from drinks, you should consult your doctor before drinking. Before brewing, you need to study which plants and substances are part of the product. Shop "Tea Dragon" offers to buy buckwheat tea in Moscow. This caffeine-free health drink is beneficial for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

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