Chamomile tea during first trimester?

seannasmommy16

I've heard tons of different things about herbal tea. Is it safe for me to drink? It's the only thing that helps me sleep threw the night and it calms me down so much. Anyone know the facts?

jap618

So I just read something to avoid chamomile and other herbal tea's while pregnant but some of the fruit based ones are okay.  In my first pg my doctor told me to avoid fish more then 3 times a week, limit my caffeine intake and avoid alcohol & drugs & OTC medications (other than tylenol and benadryl).  I'm sure there are other things I should avoid and I've read up on them on my own but I am not stressing about having 1 cup of tea.  Could you switch to another kind of tea?  If the stress of drinking the tea is going to keep you up then it may not be worth it?  I would call your doctor and ask for their recommendations!!  Good luck.

Serenla

Also if your looking for tea I think the best tea for pregnancy are the teas with the fewest ingredients. It's easier to figure out what is and isn't good for you.

WifeofaComposer

The midwife at my doctor's practice told me to drink chamomile to calm my stomach and help me sleep. I haven't done it because I don't like chamomile, but I would think it's okay if a midwife recommended it.

seannasmommy16

The tea I drink only has chamomile in it. I use it for stress relief and to help me sleep at night I only have like 2 or 3 cups a weeks nothing over the top. I just don't want to cause a miscarriage. I'm so freaked out by it

MrsG325

I'm freaked out by it too but still have a cup here and there. I bought mint leaves to put int hot water to make my own mint tea and its wonderful, maybe that would calm you? A slice of lemon in it is great too and calms you. I think we're all afraid of everything at this point and we need to do whatever we must to make ourselves feel better about it.

seannasmommy16

Yeah. I've just read so many different things about tea that I don't know if it's good or not and I don't have a doctors appt until the 17th I'm almost 10 weeks, so I have 4 more weeks till I'm out of the miscarriage range but these past two weeks I've just been non stop freaking out, I've stopped doing so much cause of a fear of miscarriage

NicoleAnne416

I have mint green tea sometimes during the day and celestial sleepytime tea at night, usually one cup. Hopefully that's ok because I didn't think there'd be anything wrong with that.

MrsG325

seannasmommy16 said:

Yeah. I've just read so many different things about tea that I don't know if it's good or not and I don't have a doctors appt until the 17th I'm almost 10 weeks, so I have 4 more weeks till I'm out of the miscarriage range but these past two weeks I've just been non stop freaking out, I've stopped doing so much cause of a fear of miscarriage

Totally with you

Stasi

https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/herbaltea.html

This is a pretty good reference article. It says there is "insufficient evidence" that chamomile is dangerous and that most herbal teas are ok during pregnancy (with the exception of a few certain herbs, which they list).

homershippo

My dr. always told me that they were fine. Just avoid the raspberry leaf, black kohosh and licorice root ones. Since those are known to cause contrations.

hlm184

Licorice, really?  Huh.  Learn something new every day.

KatieGummow

Got this from https://www.babycenter.com/0_herbal-teas-during-pregnancy_3537.bc

How can I tell which herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy?

Although no U.S. regulation specifically addresses herbal tea, most of the herbs the FDA considers safe for food use are presumed safe for tea as well. This may or may not be the case.

Teas made from herbs like peppermint and thyme may be safe to drink occasionally in small amounts while you're pregnant or nursing. But drinking excessive amounts of any tea can cause health problems for you and your developing baby. The herbs in teas are more concentrated than in food, so drinking them may be harmful even if eating them isn't.

There's not much research about the safety of herbal products, so if that's a concern, it's probably best to steer clear of all herbal teas while you're pregnant and nursing. If you choose to drink them, do so in moderation and let your doctor know beforehand so you can be sure they're safe for you and your baby.

Which teas are not safe?

Many herbs used in teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can be harmful. Some may even increase the odds of miscarriage, early labor, or low birth weight.

Herbs that may cause problems include anise, ginger, lime blossom, rose hip, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine and banned in the U.S. since 2004), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.

Ginger is commonly used to ease morning sickness during pregnancy, and studies have shown its effectiveness and safety for this purpose. But there's also some evidence that it may negatively affect fetal sex hormones. So before you drink ginger tea, be sure to discuss its benefits and risks with your healthcare provider.

Although some midwives use raspberry leaf (also known as red raspberry leaf) to aid delivery, its effectiveness hasn't been proven. It should be used only near term and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Avoid the rest of the herbs mentioned above if you're pregnant or nursing.

Note: You can still eat food that contains some of these herbs, like rosemary and anise, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea—and not as potent. (The brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs.)

Other reasons to avoid certain herbs used in teas:

• Coca (also known as mate de coca) may contain small amounts of cocaine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
• Comfrey, kava root, and woodruff may damage your liver.
• Mate (or yerba mate) can contain as much caffeine as coffee.

None of these herbs should be taken while you're pregnant or nursing.

Rrrrrachel

Raspberry leaf tea doesn't really start labor. That's a misconception that comes from hearing that it tones the uterus, and thinking contractions, and thinking labor. Lots of herbalists recommend raspberry leaf tea in the first trimester for morning sickness. There's a great book called "heart and hands" that has lots of good information about this kind of thing and what's safe and what's not. The boy herbs it contraindicates during pregnancy are goldenseal, ephedra, cotton root bark, blue cohosh (this really does cause contractions and is sometimes used late in pregnancy), pennyroyal, and birth root. It specifically recommends chamomile for several conditions.

Rrrrrachel

Also, most commercial herbal teas aren't strong enough to hurt you anyway, frankly.

sophiecwk

Chamomile tea is fine! I had a m/c in Jan and am currently pregnant again. 7wks. I drink chamomile almost every night. Chamomile is known as a nerve tonic, it soothes the nerves due to the fact it contains magnesium which helps you relax. (Unlike other herbal tea which can cause uterine contractions) I use organic to avoid pesticides and brew it myself in a teapot with whole flowers & boiling water. Many people recommend chamomile for nausea also. Peppermint and chamomile are my staples Relax and enjoy xxx

cczp8211

I've read and Doc told me that Chamomile and peppermint are fine. Stay away from fruit ones especially raspberry. Someone wrote the opposite above and I know it is completely wrong!

jlrschmidt

Herbal teas are fine. I just bought some Rooibos tea because African women take it all the time while they are pregnant. And a vanilla Rooibos tea latte at Starbucks is very soothing and delicious!

Rrrrrachel

Since these kinds of things aren't regulated by the FDA there is often conflicting information out there. The best thing I to find a hcp or source you trust and go with what it says.

Rrrrrachel

This looks like a pretty good resource. https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/herbaltea.html Keep in mind when it talks about insufficient data its only talking about from formal, mainstream sources. Midwives and herbalists might feel better recommending something because they're more aware of a long history of safe use.