Tea and Pregnancy

There was a comment on the last post about tea and pregnancy. I thought I'd just do a posting on what I've found. I am not a medical person, so definitely ask your health care provider. Here's just my thoughts on it.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is recommended for pregnancy. It's not really a tea, but an herbal infusion. Theoretically, it's to strengthen the uterus. Personally, I struggled to swallow the stuff with Pumpkin! And this morning, my friend who had her son last week was carrying a box of it to pass on to someone else. She had been told it would get her contractions going. It didn't help her at all. (Can I just say that in spite of my great love of tea, it was the last thing I was thinking of when I was in labor?!) Health food stores also sell Pregnancy Tea, which list the raspberry leaf as a main ingredient. I tried mixing it with other herbal teas to alter the taste, but still didn't like it. I don't plan on buying any more.

I would think you'd be okay with any decaf tea, in moderate amounts. Tea in and of itself is good for you. It contains antioxidents and all sorts of good stuff. Even black teas, like English/Irish Breakfasts, Earl Grey and Lipton, contain less caffeine than coffee. I personally think it's got to be healthier to have a little caffeine in a natural drink of tea, even with the caffeine, than to be loading up on decaf sodas. Most black teas come in decaf as well, if you look.

Also, since most of the caffeine is released in the first 30-60 seconds, you can cover your tea leaves, or bag with boiling water, let it sit for 30-60 seconds, pour off the water and then fill your cup or pot with boiling water to steep for 3-5 more minutes. You'll still have all the flavor, but with considerably less caffeine.

Most herbal teas are okay, but there are herbs pregnant women should avoid because they can cause your uterus to begin to contract! These herbs include autumn crocus, barberry, golden seal, juniper, male fern, mandrake, pennyroyal, poke root, rue, sage, southernwood, tansy, thuja, and wormwood. (From: http://www.vitaminstohealth.com/herb-pregnancy.html) I know I use sage in cooking on occasion. I've also seen golden seal, tansy, and pennyroyal in herbal teas, so be sure to read the label before brewing that cuppa!

While writing this, I took a quick tour around the internet looking up "tea and pregnancy". One site will say to avoid green teas, and the next site says green teas are fine! One site said tea can disrupt your body's ability to absorb iron, the next site up to three cups (of tea or coffee) a day should be just fine! Hmm. All the information at our fingertips is amazing, isn't it? And overwhelming, and contradictory!

I think, like most things in pregnancy and life in general, moderation and common sense are essential. People will always have their advice and it will usually contradict what the last person told you! What to do? I don't know, but I'll think about it while I go brew a cup of (decaf) tea myself. Then, I'll ask my midwife at my first appointment what she thinks. Let's hope it's not to drink the Red Raspberry Leaf Tea...