Pregnancy is an important stage in life. It can lead to lifestyle changes in different aspects, or more specifically, diet. Most expecting women would be more cautious about what they eat when they are pregnant. In traditional Eastern medicine, there is a long list of food and drinks to be avoided by pregnant women. Although the restrictions are a lot looser in the Western world, you can never be too careful when monitoring your diet during pregnancy. Here are some common teas that should be avoided during pregnancy, however, if you feel unwell drinking teas that are not on this list, also remember to consult a medical professional. And you might want to check out this article→→Best 9 Teas To Help Your Pregnancy
Table of Contents
NO.1 Black Tea
It is not recommended to drink caffeinated beverages during the course of pregnancy. While a lot of people drink black tea like earl grey and English breakfast tea in the morning to wake themselves up, pregnant ladies might need to restrict their caffeine intake by cutting these black teas from their diets. Since caffeine has a stimulant and diuretic effect, it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, two undesirable outcomes of pregnancy. It would also lead to frequent urination, which may ultimately lead to dehydration. Too much caffeine intake may even cause birth defects and miscarriages.
Therefore, be extra cautious when consuming black tea during pregnancy. Although it is generally safe for pregnant women to drink less than 4 cups of black tea a day, consult a medical professional if you experience any sickness after drinking black tea. If you really needed that psychological energy boost in the morning, or you are tired of drinking bland, plain water, you can try decaffeinated black tea.
NO.2 Matcha Green Tea
Despite being one of the most beloved healthy “superfoods” in the world, matcha green tea is not recommended for pregnant women. Like black tea, matcha green tea is loaded with caffeine. Taking in too much caffeine can stimulate pregnant women and cause frequent urination. If you are pregnant and suffering from high blood pressure, you should avoid matcha green tea as well because the amount of caffeine can further increase your blood pressure.
If you are a matcha green tea addict, it is recommended to drink less than 1 bowl of matcha green tea every day during the course of pregnancy. Although it is generally safe for expecting mothers to enjoy matcha green tea, you should always observe the changes of your body after drinking matcha green tea and consult a medical professional if you see any abnormal situation.
NO.３ Peppermint Tea
Although peppermint tea is very useful when it comes to calming a pregnancy woman’s mind, it might be dangerous to them in the first trimester. Pregnant women should watch their diets closely in the first trimester because that is the period where miscarriages happen the most often. Although the chances are very slim, some women reported to have miscarriages after drinking peppermint tea during the first trimesters.
Those who experience any instability during their pregnancies should avoid peppermint tea just in case. However, to most pregnant women, drinking peppermint tea in moderate amount is perfectly safe and can help to relieve morning sickness and nausea, two major discomforts during pregnancy. After consulting a medical professional, you can use the minty aroma and taste of peppermint tea to ease stomach sickness during pregnancy.
NO.4 Raspberry Leaf Tea
Despite being known as the best tea to drink during pregnancy, raspberry leaf tea should be avoided by new mothers-to-be, especially during the first trimester. Raspberry leaf tea can cause uterine contractions and may lead to miscarriage in some cases. However, in the third trimester when the baby is more stable, drinking raspberry leaf tea regularly can help to shorten labor time and make it easier during the birth giving process.
Raspberry leaf tea is also safe to consume after giving birth because the abundance of calcium can help heal the uterus and facilitate breastfeeding. If your pregnancy is not very stable in the beginning, it is recommended to avoid raspberry leaf tea until the baby is more stable. Always consult a medical professional when in doubt.
NO.5 Licorice Tea
Licorice tea can act as an antidepressant for its calming property. The compound glycyrrhizin present in licorice tea can also regulate the level of stress hormones. However, to pregnant women, glycyrrhizin would lead the stress hormones to reach the baby, which may lead to an adverse effect to the baby’s brain development. It would not only lower the child’s intelligence level, but also cause low cognitive skill development during its school years.
A high consumption of licorice tea might even lead to miscarriage and preterm delivery. Some women also experience headache, high blood pressure, water retention and fatigue after drinking licorice tea. For pregnant women with known heart problems, some experienced heart attacks. All in all, licorice tea should be avoided during pregnancy for the good of both the mother and the baby.
NO.6 Dong Quai Tea
Dong Quai Tea is a type of herb grown in Japan, Korea and China. It has been used by Eastern doctors to treat a number of health problems for centuries, including alleviating menstrual cramps and reproductive system illnesses.
Despite its frequent use in Chinese food remedies, dong quai is an abortifacient, a substance that would induce miscarriage. Dong quai has been used by women to perform herbal abortion, meaning if you do not intend to have an abortion, you should never drink dong quai tea in the course of pregnancy. Some experienced midwives would be dong quai tea to induce labor and get the cervix ready for birth in term pregnancies, yet, it should only be used under the close monitor and instructions of a medical professional.
NO.7 Hibiscus Tea
The signature red color of hibiscus tea makes it very popular in making tropical tea drinks. Nevertheless, pregnancy women should avoid this pretty herb and its tea because it may pose harmful effects during pregnancy. Drinking hibiscus tea might induce uterus contraction and increase blood flow, possibly causing a miscarriage or early labor. Drinking hibiscus tea and consuming hibiscus herbs might cause fluctuations in hormone level, which might make the pregnancy unsafe especially in the first trimester.
Pregnant ladies should also be cautious when drinking herbal blend teas because most of them contains hibiscus. Check the nutrient label before you drink it to ensure it is safe for pregnant women to consume. You can also ask your tea maker to make sure the blend contains nothing harmful to you and your little one.
NO.8 Lemongrass Tea
Lemongrass tea is widely used to detox and relief pain. Its citrus flavor can also to reduce stress level and help relaxing. However, it may be unsafe for pregnant women because it can fasten cell death, affecting the growth of the fetus, causing skeletal abnormalities and even miscarriage. Also, as lemongrass tea can facilitate menstruation, it might also lead to an increased blood flow and possible miscarriage when consumed in large amounts.
To mothers-to-be with diabetes, lemongrass tea will decrease the blood sugar level rapidly causing fatigue or loss of consciousness. Lemongrass is easily found in a lot of Thai cuisine, expecting mothers should be extra cautious of their lemongrass intake in order to keep the baby safe.
NO.9 Rosemary Tea
Rosemary is a popular herb from the mint family. With its alluring aroma, it is used in different aspects like cooking, fragrances and medicine to help with digestion, liver problems and aid weight loss. Yet, rosemary tea is possibly unsafe for pregnant women to use in large quantities because it contains a rich amount of volatile oils, which may possess uterine and menstrual flow stimulant effect.
This could lead to possible miscarriage or premature birth. Generally speaking, it is safe to consume rosemary in a small amount, like as a seasoning, but it is not recommended by expecting mothers to drink it as tea. Consult a doctor if you are in doubt or you experience any discomfort after drinking rosemary tea.
NO.10 Sage Tea
To women experience menopause, sage tea might be their solution to hot flashes and sweating. Yet for those experiencing another important stage of a life as a female, sage tea might be harmful to them and their little ones. Although the ancient Egyptians used sage tea as a natural remedy for fertility problems, sage tea contains a large amount of thujone, which may lead to uterine contractions and miscarriage. Even after giving birth, mothers should also avoid sage tea because it would reduce breast milk supply, thus it is used to treat mothers with an oversupply of breast milk.
The recommended amount of sage tea to consume per day is 3 cups, in which containing around 6mg of thujone. Pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers should consult medical professionals before they start drinking sage tea.
NO.11 Yarrow Tea
Yarrow Tea is often used to treat digestive problems like diarrhea and stomach ache. However, yarrow tea contains rich thujone and this might affect menstrual cycle and slow down blood clotting. This might lead to a miscarriage. Even a slight amount of thujone would cause a significant side effect. It is recommended for pregnant women to stay on the safe side and avoid yarrow tea completely.
After giving birth, you should also talk to a medical professional on the consumption of yarrow tea if you are breastfeeding. Some studies found that compounds yarrow might be passed to the baby through breast milk and affect its growth.
When you are carrying a little baby inside your body, there are a lot to be worried about. You can never be cautious enough when it comes to diet and lifestyles. Tea might seem harmless because it is an organic and natural drink, however, there are a lot of complex compounds and substances in tea that might be harmful to you and your fetus. Make sure you check the nutrient label to make sure everything is harmless to your body before you enjoy that cup of tea and always consult a medical professional in case of doubt.
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