What teas are okay/ not okay in pregnancy?

[sweetred]

I am a big coffee drinker and miss that hot somthing in the morning, and want to replace it with decalf tea. Are there any kinds, herbal, etc, that you shouldn't have in pregnancy? What do you think are ok?

[kathywiehl]

Hi! I have been drinking a special blend of pregnancy tea that my midwife recommends. It contains Nettles, Oat Straw, Red Raspberry leaf, and Alfalfa. All of these contain loads of necessary nutrients that are needed for toning and nourishment during pregnancy, especially the Alfalfa. I need to get offline now, but if you want more info, like how to make it and how much of each, let me know and Ill post again tomorrow.

[sweetred]

Yeah, that tea sounds good and good for me & baby. Please let me know more of the details. Thanks!

[Periwinkle]

First, switching to decaf coffee might be easier for you - and if you love it a lot you might enjoy to continue the ritual. :)

But I think whichever tea or coffee you choose, you should make sure it's organic. Tea is notoriously loaded with all sorts of chemicals due to the pesticides used to grow it combined with the contaminated water used to irrigate it - one bad example: some of the countries in which teas are grown still allow DDT!

One side note.... red raspberry leaf tea is widely considered to be safe and even beneficial for *most* pregnant women, but there's some controversy over whether it should be consumed by women with a history of miscarriages, preterm labor, or irritable uteruses. If this is you, consult your midwife.

Also, consuming large quantities of Alfalfa, while not harmful, can affect your hematocrit levels due to the fact that it's a natural source of Vitamin K - it's something to be aware of when you get your blood drawn (e.g., the 28-week check of hemoglobin/hematocrit).

Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy!

[Raine]

Hi. Yogi brand makes some great organic teas. The one I like most (when I don't feel like mixing my own) is Mother-to-be. I also was a coffee drinker and I drink decaf in the morning even though it still has trace amounts of caffiene (midwife said no biggie).

[mom2threenurslings]

What about teas safe to drink while pregnant and nursing? Are all teas that are safe for pregnancy safe for nursing, too?

[Quirky]

www.kellymom.com has great information on the safety of herbs during nursing. Various herbs that make great tea (like peppermint) shouldn't really be consumed in large quantities while nursing because they may affect your milk supply, for example.

I still drink one or two cups of black tea (organic caffeinated) a day. I don't think cutting out caffeine altogether is necessary, so if you want one cup of coffee in the morning that should be fine. Just make sure it's organic, and never ever use artificial creamer - that stuff is toxic! :LOL

As far as herbal teas, you can buy tea bags from the health food store or you can make your own much more cheaply from bulk organic herbs. www.mountainroseherbs.com is a wonderful source for bulk organic herbs. There's a sticky at the top of the health and healing forum with a link; if you shop through that link it supports MDC.

My homemade pregnancy tea, adapted from a recipe by Aviva Jill Romm, is roughly as follows:

1 part red raspberry leaf
1 part nettles
1 part alfalfa
1/2 part oatstraw
1/2 part red clover leaf
1/4 part red clover flower
1/4 part rose hips
1/4 part peppermint

Mix all dried herbs together and store in an airtight container away from heat and light. Use 4 T per quart of boiling water. Let steep for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 2 hours. Strain and sweeten as desired (I like it straight but it's an acquired taste - add more mint if necessary).