Tea During Pregnancy: All You Need To Know

Although tea consumption is common, pregnant women should be aware of the risks of pregnancy. Here is everything you need to know about these plants used for tea.

The consumption of tea during pregnancy has been habitual for a very long time. In fact, during pregnancy, it is common for alterations or discomforts specific to this stage to occur. The consumption of plants can therefore relieve them.

Although the consumption of herbal teas, especially herbal teas, has been practiced for centuries, many women who ingest them are unaware of their effects. Some teas have no effect, and others may involve certain risks.

Can we consume tea during pregnancy?

Drinking a cup of tea, whatever it is, has no reason to harm pregnancy. It should be understood that the simple fact of taking an infusion, on an ad hoc basis, does not represent a problem in itself.

However, ingesting certain types of teas, made from specific herbal remedies, may pose a risk to pregnancy. Especially if the consumption is regular.

According to a study conducted on this subject, it is estimated that up to 55% of pregnant women use herbal remedies to prepare their tea or other infusions. However, most of them do not know their effects.

Changes during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes temporary changes with the appearance of new organic structures, such as the placenta. Thus, any substance, be it natural or synthetic, which can cause an alteration of the physiological processes specific to this stage is contraindicated.

An important fact is that drinking tea during the first trimester of pregnancy is the riskiest. It is during this phase that the development of the fetus is most sensitive to the influence of environmental factors.

In this sense, from the second week to the three months of pregnancy, any damage related to drugs, chemicals, metabolites of medicinal plants or any disease can affect the normal development of the fetus. This, together with the properties of the various active metabolites, influences the appearance of disorders.

Teratogenesis, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and other terms refer to the harmful changes that embryonic cells undergo during their formation. The pregnant woman must therefore know which substances interfere the most in these processes.

Just as alcohol or tobacco are chemicals that parasitize embryogenesis,  herbal medicines can also be harmful. What is fundamental, above all, is the caution that must be exercised at the time of consumption.

What tea can you consume during pregnancy?

Herbal medicine products have broader therapeutic effects and fewer side effects than synthetic products. This leads to an amalgamation within the population which consists in thinking that what is natural is harmless. What are the types of tea now that do not generate complications? We mention them below:

• Peppermint: used to treat colic, it is effective during pregnancy to prepare the breasts for breastfeeding
• Scented verbena: to fight heartburn, nausea, insomnia, colic and digestive discomfort
• Ginger: it is used to treat nausea and vomiting
• Rosemary: to treat sore throat, insomnia and stress
• Valerian: relaxing infusion
• Lemon balm: it relieves digestive discomfort and acts as a relaxant

Although they are not the only ones that can be consumed, they are the main ones. There is no specific contraindication for these types of tea. Pregnant women can therefore consume them with complete peace of mind.

Herbal teas contraindicated during pregnancy

Some herbs used for infusions should not be consumed during pregnancy. Here are the most important:

• Chamomile: it speeds up the labor of childbirth. In high doses, it can dilate the cervix
• Infusion of pennyroyal: may induce contractions
• Rue officinale: it speeds up the labor of childbirth and is associated with involution and swelling of the uterus. It is also abortive
• Sabila aloe vera: it produces uterine hemorrhages and bleeding. It is also abortive
• Absinthe: activates uterine blood flow and can cause miscarriages
• Boldo: one of the active ingredients is thujone, the doses of which can lead to spontaneous births

Consumption of tea during pregnancy: what to remember?

The popular belief that herbal remedies are safe is widely held because they have been used since ancient times. However, it is not because they are natural that the guarantee of security is absolute.

Before, during, and after pregnancy or breastfeeding,  women who wish to consume herbal infusions should consult a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner beforehand. Many herbal effects on pregnancy are not well understood, including the beneficial ones.