Tea In Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know

Drinking tea during pregnancy has been common for years. During pregnancy it is very common for alterations or discomfort typical of this stage to occur, so the consumption of these can alleviate them.

Although taking infusions, especially those that are prepared with medicinal plants, has been done for centuries, many of the women who ingest them are unaware of the effect they can have. With some teas nothing will happen, but with others you have to be careful.

Can you drink tea during pregnancy?

Having a cup of tea, whatever it is, does not have to be harmful to pregnancy. It should be understood that the mere fact of drinking the infusion, in a timely manner, does not represent a problem.

However, when certain types of teas are consumed, prepared with specific medicinal plants, and especially when this occurs in excess or is routine, it can become a risk during pregnancy.

According to the study “Consumption of medicinal plants by pregnant women”, it is estimated that up to 55% of pregnant women use medicinal plants to prepare tea or other infusions. Most of them are unaware of the effects they can have.

What Happens During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the woman’s body undergoes temporary changes with the appearance of new organic structures, such as the placenta. Likewise, any substance, natural or synthetic, that can produce an alteration of the physiological processes of this stage, are contraindicated.

An important fact is that the consumption of tea during the first trimester of pregnancy is the most relevant. It is in this period where the development of the fetus is most sensitive to the influence of environmental factors.

In this sense, from the second week to 3 months of pregnancy, any damage related to drugs, chemical substances, metabolites of medicinal plants or any disease, can affect the normal development of the fetus. This, together with the properties of the different active metabolites, influences the appearance of disorders.

Teratogenesis, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and other terms refer to the detrimental changes that embryonic cells undergo during their formation. The woman must be attentive to which are the substances that are most associated with these processes.

Just as alcohol or tobacco are chemicals that interfere with embryogenesis, medicinal plants can also be negatively involved. The fundamental thing is the precaution that is taken at the time of consumption.

What tea can be taken in pregnancy?

Herbal products have broader therapeutic effects and fewer side effects than synthetic ones. This has contributed to the perception in the population that the natural is equal to the innocuous. Now, what are the types of tea that do not generate complications? We mention them below:

• Peppermint: used for colic and is useful during pregnancy to prepare the breasts for lactation.

• Kidron: for burning in the pit of the stomach, nausea, insomnia, colic and digestive discomfort.
• Ginger: used to treat nausea and vomiting.
• Rosemary: for sore throats, insomnia and stress.
• Valerian: as a relaxant.
• Melissa or lemon balm: helps with digestive discomfort and acts as a relaxant.

Although, they are not the only ones that can be taken, and there are many others, they are the ones that are used most frequently. There are no precise contraindications for them and pregnant women can take them with confidence.

Herbal teas that are contraindicated

Just as there are teas that can be consumed during pregnancy, there are plants from which infusions are made that should not be taken in the middle of a pregnancy. We will tell you about the most relevant ones, which are the following:

• Chamomile and brevo: accelerate labor and in high doses can dilate the cervix.
• Pennyroyal: can induce contractions.
• Ruda:  accelerates labor, is associated with uterine involution and swelling, and is abortifacient.

• Aloe vera aloe: causes uterine bleeding and bleeding, which is why it is also considered abortifacient.
• Wormwood: by activating the uterine blood flow it could cause spontaneous abortions.
• Boldo: one of the active principles is thujone, whose doses can cause problems with spontaneous births.

What should you remember about drinking tea during pregnancy?

It is widely believed that medicinal plants are safe because they have been used since ancient times. Due to the fact that they are natural, there is no absolute guarantee of safety.

Before, during and after pregnancy or breastfeeding, women who wish to take herbal preparations should consult with a knowledgeable healthcare professional. Many of the effects of plants on pregnancy are unknown, including those that are beneficial.