Are herbal teas safe during pregnancy?

You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about having a baby and what is going on with your body during those nine (really ten) months. We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about having a baby. Each Monday, we will tackle a commonly-asked question from the point of view of an expectant parent. Chiming in to give feedback will be an expert (you know – someone who does this for a living). Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question – it’s good karma.

Are herbal teas safe during pregnancy?

From blue cheese to bologna, an expectant mom begins to navigate the restricted foods on a pregnancy diet. Most expectant moms shy away from caffeinated beverages such as coffee, but what about non-caffeinated teas of the herbal variety?

There is a bit of a debate about herbal teas, as some are perfectly safe, and some come with caution. Though touted as “all natural”, many herbs are used for medicinal purposes, and are contradicted during pregnancy and are best to steer away from while expecting.

Herbal teas are defined as teas that are made:
From flowers, seeds, berries, and plants (so not from actual tea leaves)

As all herbal teas are not created equal, it’s important to read all the ingredients on the packaging. Some herbs to watch out for as in large quantities can be harmful for your developing baby (in alphabetical order)
Anise
Catnip
Chamomile
Comfrey
Ephedra
Hibiscus
Horehound
Lemongrass
Licorice Root
Raspberry Leaf
Rosemary
Sage
Yarrow

You may be saying, “Wait, I thought red raspberry tea was good for pregnancy!” While many midwives use red raspberry leaf tea to aid in childbirth delivery, no studies yet definitely link to its success. If you fancy raspberry leaf tea, most providers recommend waiting until you are full term to enjoy.

As with all things while expecting, it’s best to check in with your provider for guidance in your pregnancy before your kick back, relax, and take a herbal sip.

A great alternative? Hot or cold water with a fruit squeeze – lime, lemon, strawberry, are all tasty and a safe and relaxing way to quench your thirst.

Expert: Renee Sullivan

Renee Sullivan, parent coach and Founding Director of Babybites support groups, works with moms each week to create their own personal parenting plan that is right for them, while making sure that each mom gets the support, resources, and community they need for their parenting journey. Drawing from her experience as an birth coach and educator, she guides moms – new, seasoned and expectant through the never – ending array of decisions that come with having a child. Weekly sessions that are “nurturing, informative, and fun” and her “calm-laid back personality” has made her a “dynamic resource” to the parenting community since 2006. Renee’s positive, warm and enthusiastic personality relaxes and guides new and expectant moms to enjoy the journey and her personal attention to detail allows all parents that work with her to quickly get the resources they need to feel at ease to make informed and educated decisions. Before joining, she narrowly escaped the trenches of Corporate America where she was a Senior Project Manager for The New York Times, Morgan Stanley and Pfizer.