Teas that cause miscarriage during pregnancy
During your pregnancy, especially during the first and second trimester, it is understandable to be wary of things you consume such as tea and the things you should be avoiding. And rightfully so, although there is very little research done, there has been clear links to miscarriage and foetal complications with certain teas.
However, there are also various safe tea options that could actually benefit you during your pregnancy.
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Can you drink tea while pregnant?
There are a few things you should consider before drinking tea to ensure your babies safety.
Is it FDA approved?
As a rule of thumb, it is necessary to check whether your desired tea is FDA approved.
In the UK, this means that The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have reviewed that the tea’s ingredients cause positive side-effects that out-weigh any potential risks.
If your tea hasn’t been approved then it isn’t safe, pregnant, or not as you cannot truly know what blend of herbs has been used.
Always in moderation
There are plenty of rumours that tell you to avoid ALL teas during pregnancy, but rest assured, there isn’t need to! You can find lots of teas that are safe to drink and can benefit you and your health during your pregnancy, but as with anything, it is always important to think about the amount you are drinking.
Some teas, such as green tea, contain a caffeine content so it is important to not go over the suggested caffeine allowance of 200mg per day.
You should also not be drinking no more than 4 cups of anything a day while pregnant. This rule applies even more when considering tea, due to the potential side-effects of the herbs and for this reason, we recommend drinking no more than two to four cups of tea a day.
Can you drink tea while breastfeeding?
Although drinking tea after your baby is born is deemed safer, there are still some possible consequences it can have on your baby. Elements of the tea can transfer into your milk while breastfeeding, meaning it could harm your baby, as well as sometimes reducing milk production.
The chances of this happening increases if you are taking prescribed medicine from a doctor so it is always vital to consult your doctor before thinking about drinking tea of any kind and keep a close eye on your baby.
Teas that cause miscarriage
There are various teas that have shown to have links to miscarriages and other pregnancy complications, such as pre-term birth and a low birth weight. However, it is important to point out that there is not a lot of research gone into which teas are safe so therefore it wouldn’t hurt pregnant women to take an extra precaution.
Parsley tea
Despite its anti-inflammatory properties and other health benefits, parsley tea is not safe during pregnancy.
It can be highly toxic and has a reputation for increasing miscarriage risk. Myristicin and apiole are two ingredients in parsley tea that can cause uterine contractions and therefore a potential miscarriage.
Parsley tea can also reduce milk production which can take effect before and during breastfeeding.
Liquorice tea
Liquorice tea is not safe during pregnancy.
The tea’s ingredients can surprisingly mimic oestrogen which can sometimes cause a miscarriage, as well as hindering the growth of your baby.
Dong quai tea
Like liquorice tea, dong quai tea is not safe to drink during pregnancy due to causing the uterus to contract and increasing the risk of having a miscarriage.
This tea can also cause other foetal issues such as causing your baby to have a low birth weight or being born premature.
Sage tea
Sage tea is not safe during pregnancy.
The tea is shown to increase blood pressure due to the sage being in a concentrated form. However, sage is safe to consume in small amounts in your food.
Chamomile tea
Although there has been less research, chamomile tea should still be avoided during early pregnancy.
The tea may relax you, but it has also been known to cause a stimulated uterus which can cause your baby to have circulation problems. There has also been higher rates of a preterm birth, labour and miscarriage after drinking chamomile tea.
Dandelion tea
Dandelion tea can reduce water retention during pregnancy so should only be drank in moderation.
Rose hip tea
There is an extreme lack of research into the safety of rose hip tea, so for this reason it should definitely be avoided.
Other herbal teas
There are countless other other herbal teas to avoid, that also have connotations with endangering pregnancy, but those listed above are the biggest problem-causers and should be avoided always.
Teas that are safe to drink
Luckily, there are lots of herbal teas around that are safe to drink and can actually benefit your health and the side-effects of pregnancy! Obviously, remember to always drink them in moderation (aim for no more that 2 cups of tea a day) and understand certain exceptions for certain teas.
Green tea and matcha
Green tea isn’t a herbal tea which means it does contain a small amount of caffeine but, in comparison to other teas, there is much less. You could safely have 3 cups of green tea a day.
Similarly, matcha can also be safe due to coming from the same roots as green tea. However, there is a very small risk that it can slow down your body’s ability to absorb folic acid and folate which can potentially affect the spinal development.
Black tea
Black tea can be safe but only in moderation.
It contains significantly less caffeine than some but still more than some others which is important to remember. However, it contains a lot less sugar that other teas which is highly beneficial.
White tea
White tea has the same caffeine levels as black tea but is deemed safe.
This tea can also help with reducing nausea.
Red Raspberry leaf tea
This tea supposedly helps to induce labour and is advised by many doctors for this reason, despite not being actually proven. However, it is advised to be avoided during the first and second trimester.
Ginger tea
Ginger tea is safe for the most part and can help to ease morning sickness.
However, it has also shown potential links to vaginal bleeding and effecting the sex hormones of your baby so shouldn’t be consumed in large amounts.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is proven to be safe during your pregnancy.
However, it is not advised to consume regularly during your first trimester as it could possibly induce your period, and increase heartburn and acid reflux levels.
Lemon balm tea
This tea is safe and can help to ease anxiety.
In summary
Every type of herbal tea has its own effects and before drinking, you should always research to ensure you and your baby are safe.
If your favourite tea is now unsafe due to your pregnancy, try other options like peppermint tea, green tea or red raspberry leaf tea, which are all safe and have various benefits. Or, there are lots of other things you can do to help you while pregnant such as using essential oils, which we cover in our blog here.
As a rule, you should be drinking fewer than four cups of anything while pregnant, especially herbal tea and always be wary of teas that cause miscarriage during pregnancy. At the first sign of any unusual symptom, we urge you to speak with a doctor or midwife and inform them of the tea you have been drinking.
For more information about what is and isn’t safe during pregnancy, why not read our other articles: can you get your nails done while pregnant? and can pregnant women eat hotdogs?