Which teas can be drunk during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, women should provide their bodies with sufficient fluids – for example in the form of tea. Not only can it quench your thirst, but depending on the type, it can also alleviate typical pregnancy symptoms. Some types of tea are unproblematic during pregnancy (such as chamomile tea), while others should only be drunk in moderation and/or only in the last few weeks before the birth (such as raspberry leaf tea). Find out more about the use and effects of popular types of herbal tea during pregnancy:
Chamomile tea
During pregnancy, many women sleep less soundly than usual. A cup of chamomile tea can help here and promote a peaceful night’s sleep. Above all, however, chamomile is recommended for inflammatory or cramp-like gastrointestinal disorders, irritation, heartburn and stomach ulcers.
Chamomile tea is generally safe to drink during pregnancy.
Lemon balm tea
Many women suffer from discomfort and nausea, especially at the beginning of pregnancy. Melissa tea can help here. Like camomile tea, it can be drunk without hesitation.
Fennel, aniseed and caraway tea
However, fennel, aniseed and caraway teas are not recommended without restriction during pregnancy. If drunk in large quantities, they can trigger premature labor.
In addition, animal studies carried out a few years ago suggested that excessive consumption of these herbs increases the risk of cancer – due to the active ingredients estragole and methyl eugenol they contain.
For the same reason, many experts also advise caution with cinnamon and lemongrass tea (lemon grass tea) during pregnancy and in other phases of life.
However, the health risk to humans associated with the consumption of these teas is controversial, as the substances mentioned are only present in negligible quantities. Pediatricians, for example, give the all-clear for fennel tea, which is particularly popular with children. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin therefore called for the estragole and methyl eugenol content in food to be reduced as early as 2002.
It is best to discuss with your doctor or midwife whether and how much of these teas you should drink during pregnancy. In general, one to two cups a day is considered safe for pregnant women.
Raspberry leaf tea
However, due to its labor-promoting effect, raspberry leaf tea should only be drunk regularly from the 35th week of pregnancy (in consultation with your midwife or gynaecologist). Three to four cups throughout the day are then permitted.
Black tea
Pregnancy is a time when women should only consume caffeinated drinks in moderation. In addition to coffee, this also includes black tea. The reason for the recommendation is the stimulating caffeine content (formerly known as tein), which also has an effect on the unborn child. Black tea also impairs the absorption of iron from food and promotes constipation.
You should therefore drink a maximum of two to three cups of black tea a day during pregnancy.
Green tea
Some women also like to drink green tea during pregnancy. It comes from the same tea plant as black tea, but unlike black tea it is not fermented. It still contains caffeine, so green tea also has a generally stimulating effect – albeit less strong than black tea. The stimulating effect of green tea also sets in less quickly. Green tea also contains numerous minerals and many bitter substances, which stimulate bile production and aid digestion.
A maximum of two to three cups of green tea per day is permitted during pregnancy.
Matcha tea, mate tea
Mate tea is made from the leaves of the mate bush. Like black, green and matcha tea, it contains caffeine. You should therefore drink a maximum of two to three cups of mate tea a day during pregnancy.
Peppermint tea
Pregnancy is often accompanied by periods of nausea and heartburn. Peppermint tea can help here, as the plant’s essential oils have an antispasmodic effect on the stomach, intestines and bile ducts.
However, as with raspberry leaf tea, peppermint tea is also associated with the occurrence of uterine contractions when drunk in large quantities. You should therefore speak to your midwife or doctor first if you want to drink peppermint tea during pregnancy.
Sage tea
Digestive problems are also common during pregnancy. A cup of sage tea has an antispasmodic effect and soothes the stomach and intestines.
However, women should only drink small amounts of sage tea during pregnancy – if at all – and never over a longer period of time. On the one hand, the tannin contained in sage can trigger premature labor and even premature birth or miscarriage. Secondly, sage contains thujone, a substance that is toxic in high doses.
If sage tea is medically necessary, its use must be discussed with a doctor.
Lady’s mantle tea
You can read everything you need to know about the effects and use of lady’s mantle tea during pregnancy and when trying to conceive here.
Fruit tea
You can cover part of your increased fluid requirements during pregnancy with (unsweetened) fruit tea. Because drinking only water all the time can get boring.
The selection of fruit teas is huge – from classics such as apple, lemon and strawberry to exotic varieties such as mango, pineapple and pomegranate. There are virtually no limits to the desire for variety.
As fruit teas – unlike herbal teas – do not contain any medically active substances, they are permitted without restriction throughout pregnancy.
Other teas during pregnancy
There are many other popular types of tea – for example rooibos tea (rooibos tea). This relaxing drink, which contains a lot of iron and calcium, is generally considered safe during pregnancy (and elsewhere).
Lime blossom tea, for example, can be used to treat cold symptoms during pregnancy. Thyme tea is also considered safe during pregnancy; it naturally relieves bronchitis and whooping cough, for example.
Lavender tea often helps with nervous restlessness and sleep disorders. It can also be drunk during pregnancy.
Among other things, ginger can alleviate nausea and bloating, complaints that many pregnant women suffer from at times. However, it is usually recommended to only drink ginger tea during pregnancy shortly before the birth, as it can have a labor-promoting effect.
Among other things, rosemary stimulates blood circulation and has been used by midwives for centuries to stimulate contractions. Pregnant women should therefore only drink rosemary or rosemary tea shortly before the birth.
Teas made from blackberry leaves, yarrow, cumin and wormwood should also only be drunk towards the end of pregnancy due to their possible labor-promoting effect.
If you are unsure, it is best to ask your midwife or doctor which teas you can drink during pregnancy and in what quantity!
Which teas should not be drunk during pregnancy?
Some types of tea are not suitable or only suitable to a limited extent for pregnant women, as they contain substances that can have an unfavorable effect on the course of the pregnancy or the care of the child.
Hibiscus tea
Licorice root tea
Caution is also advised when drinking licorice root tea during pregnancy. Licorice root contains the substance glycyrrhizin, which in very high quantities is thought to increase the risk of premature birth. Pregnant women should therefore drink a maximum of two to three cups of licorice root tea (or herbal tea blends with licorice root), if at all.
Verbena tea
Vervain, which according to folk medicine is said to help with mild stomach complaints and diarrhea, can also stimulate contractions and, in the worst case, trigger a premature birth. Women should therefore avoid verbena tea during pregnancy.
Nettle tea
Especially in the last weeks of pregnancy, many women struggle with water retention, particularly in the legs. Dehydrating active ingredients, such as those found in nettles, can counteract this. However, doctors strongly advise against taking them during pregnancy. This is because severe dehydration can severely disrupt the mother’s fluid balance and thus impair the baby’s nutrition. Women should therefore avoid nettle tea altogether during pregnancy.
