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May 2014 Moms
sisterjanet
member
tea ingredient information
sisterjanet
member
With my first pregnancy, I couldn't get a definitive answer about whether drinking tea is ok, and the stuff I found on my own was vague, and either overcautious or completely permissive. (I think that's the right word. 'Drink all the teas!' basically.) So this time I asked the midwife, with the boxes in tow since I knew I wouldn't remember the ingredients in my head. The good news is now I know a database I can check at work, because I saw where they looked it up, so I don't have to keep bringing tea in and asking. The bad news is my favorite tea is on the no-fly list, at least if I listen to the database. (Probably I will. Grumble.)
The other good news is that if anyone has a tea they've been leaving alone but really wanting, I can look up the ingredients and copy/paste what the database says for you.
The other good news is that if anyone has a tea they've been leaving alone but really wanting, I can look up the ingredients and copy/paste what the database says for you.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: tea ingredient information
Miss it, though.
DS: 11/8/11 | 9 lb 7 oz, 22 in
DD: 5/22/14 | 9 lb 9 oz, 21.5 in
I've been missing my Celestial Seasonings fruit zingers too. I keep reading that they should be fine but some of their ingredients are on some no-no lists. Most likely, the CS teas don't contain enough to be harmful but I've still been paranoid.
For most of the last 2 months, morning sickness has made me want to avoid tea but lately I've been missing it and am stuck not being comfortable with the ones I want most! I just end up going for regular old black tea.
ETA: I've read that rooibos is ok but don't usually drink it so I'm not sure where I found that info. It was a little while ago.
DS: 11/8/11 | 9 lb 7 oz, 22 in
DD: 5/22/14 | 9 lb 9 oz, 21.5 in
https://www.babycenter.com/0_herbal-teas-during-pregnancy_3537.bc
DS: 11/8/11 | 9 lb 7 oz, 22 in
DD: 5/22/14 | 9 lb 9 oz, 21.5 in
Could you make a reasonable match by combining some of the other ingredients with crushed fennel seed?
I've never tried mixing my own teas before but that's a good idea..
My midwife me today that licorice root is fine though? Ugh gotta love all the conflicting pregnancy info..
PREGNANCY: LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Lemongrass seems to have uterine and menstrual flow stimulating effects (12); avoid using.
Rosehips they don't have much information but it says:
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using in amounts greater than those found in foods.
Rooibos it says insufficient information; avoid using. (and then I told my husband and he was like "listen to the database! don't do it!" so now I feel like a baby-hating rebel if I drink my favorite tea. My husband is such a lawful good. I would mind more if I hadn't been totally that paranoid with my first pregnancy.)
To avoid caffeine, and the extra peeing it brings, I've been drinking peppermint tea mostly.
The database just said it doesn't have information one way or the other for rooibos in pregnancy and thus recommends not using it. I had been having a cup a day or so of the Good Earth sweet spicy tea, with rooibos as the first listed ingredient and lemongrass somewhere down in there, so the midwife advised I not drink that one anymore.
Hibiscus looks like a maybe not. This is what it says:
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Hibiscus is thought to be a menstrual stimulant, and might have abortifacient effects (19).
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally in moderate amounts. Due to the caffeine content of green tea, mothers should closely monitor their intake to ensure moderate consumption. Caffeine crosses the human placenta, but is not considered a teratogen. Fetal blood concentrations of caffeine approximate maternal concentrations (4260). The use of caffeine during pregnancy is controversial; however, moderate consumption, less than 200 mg/day, has not been associated with clinically important adverse fetal effects (2708,2709,2710,2711,9606,11733,16014,16015). However, consuming amounts over 200 mg/day is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage (16014). Advise mothers to keep caffeine consumption below 200 mg/day. This is similar to the amount of caffeine in about 2 cups of tea. Based on animal models, green tea extract catechins are also transferred to the fetus, but in amounts 50-100 times less than maternal concentrations (15010). The potential impact of these catechins on the human fetus is not known, but animal models suggest that the catechins are not teratogenic (15011). POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used orally in large amounts. Caffeine from green tea crosses the placenta, producing fetal blood concentrations similar to maternal levels (4260). Consumption of caffeine in amounts over 200 mg/day is associated with a significantly increased risk of miscarriage (16014). Advise mothers to keep caffeine consumption from all sources below 200 mg/day. This is similar to the amount of caffeine in about 2 cups of coffee or tea. High maternal doses of caffeine throughout pregnancy have also resulted in symptoms of caffeine withdrawal in newborn infants (9891). High doses of caffeine have also been associated with spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, and low birth weight (2709,2711). Some research suggests that fetal birth weight is reduced by 28 grams for every 100 mg/day of caffeine consumed during pregnancy. But this is unlikely to be clinically significant except for women consuming more than 600 mg of caffeine daily (9606).
There is also concern that consuming large amounts of green tea consumption might have antifolate activity and potentially increase the risk of folic acid deficiency-related birth defects. Catechins in green tea inhibit the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase in vitro (15012). This enzyme is responsible for converting folic acid to its active form. Preliminary evidence suggests that increasing maternal tea consumption is associated with increased risk of spina bifida (15068). More evidence is needed to determine the safety of using green tea during pregnancy. For now, advise pregnant women to avoid consuming large quantities of green tea.
The black tea info looks like the same list as the green tea info: safe in moderate amounts, mostly stay moderate because of the caffeine content.
This is the thing for red raspberry leaf tea. (Estrogenic effects means it could stimulate the contraction of smooth muscles, which includes the uterus, which is why it can be a good idea in late pregnancy, especially if you're going over your due date, but the database is really on the side of healthcare supervision with this.)
PREGNANCY: LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods (13622). POSSIBLY SAFE ...when red raspberry leaf is used orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts during late pregnancy and under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Red raspberry leaf is commonly used by nurse midwives to facilitate delivery. There is some evidence that red raspberry leaf can be safely used for this purpose (6481,9796). Make sure patients do not use red raspberry leaf without the guidance of a healthcare professional. LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally in medicinal amounts throughout pregnancy or for self-treatment. Red raspberry leaf might have estrogenic effects (6180). These effects can adversely affect pregnancy. Tell pregnant patients not to use red raspberry leaf at any time during pregnancy without the close supervision of a healthcare provider.
PREGNANCY: UNSAFE ...when used orally. Licorice has abortifacient, estrogenic, and steroid effects; and can cause uterine stimulation. Heavy consumption of licorice, equivalent to 500 mg glycyrrhizic acid per week (about 250 grams of licorice per week), during pregnancy seems to increase the risk of delivering before gestational age of 38 weeks (7619,10618); avoid using.
I can't find white tea on there, but if white tea is made from white peony, then the jury is still out about whether it's safe or not. This is what it says:
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Preliminary research suggests that peony can cause uterine contractions (13400). However, other preliminary research suggests a combination of peony and angelica might be safe (11015). Until more is known, avoid use.
For ginger, it looks like a good ingredient, but limit it a little late in pregnancy:
PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally for medicinal purposes. Using ginger during pregnancy is controversial (1921,7083). There is some concern due to preliminary evidence that ginger might affect fetal sex hormones (7083), and an anecdotal report of spontaneous abortion during week 12 of pregnancy in a patient who used ginger for morning sickness (721). However, studies in pregnant women suggest that ginger can be used safely for morning sickness without harm to the fetus. The risk for major malformations in infants of women taking ginger does not appear to be higher than the baseline rate of 1% to 3% (721,1922,5343,11346,13071,13080). Population research from 1020 women who used ginger during pregnancy, including 466 in the first trimester, did not show any increased risk of congenital malformations, stillbirth, perinatal death, preterm birth, low birth weight, or low apgar scores associated with ginger use (18211). Ginger use was associated with an increase in vaginal bleeding, including spotting, after week 17 of pregnancy, but the association was not significant for severe bleeding episodes. Because ginger can inhibit thromboxane synthesis and platelet aggregation in vitro, there is concern that use close to labor might increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (18211).
As with any medication taken during pregnancy, the potential benefit to risk must be weighed.
Gahh this is so confusing, when I asked my midwife today she told me that teas with licorice root are fine. She also said that red raspberry leaf teas are fine too as long as you're not drinking 10 cups a day. Reading that scary info though.. don't think I could even enjoy it!
I've never mixed my own tea but maybe I should give that a try..
But still...it's likely impossible to get a harmful dose of licorice root extract from tea alone. The quoted figure is 100 mg/day of pure licorice. I doubt any herbal tea contains even the tiniest fraction of that.
https://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/study-shows-pregnant-women-should-avoid-licorice
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006093349.htm
DS: 11/8/11 | 9 lb 7 oz, 22 in
DD: 5/22/14 | 9 lb 9 oz, 21.5 in
The only part of that I disagree with in those articles is that there is actual licorice in red Twizzlers. There's just no way. It tastes like red sugar, not like licorice. (Do they make black Twizzlers?)
This is what the database said about nettles:
PREGNANCY: LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally due to possible abortifacient and uterine-stimulant effects (4,6,19).
and this is red raspberry leaf:
PREGNANCY: LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods (13622). POSSIBLY SAFE ...when red raspberry leaf is used orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts during late pregnancy and under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Red raspberry leaf is commonly used by nurse midwives to facilitate delivery. There is some evidence that red raspberry leaf can be safely used for this purpose (6481,9796). Make sure patients do not use red raspberry leaf without the guidance of a healthcare professional. LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally in medicinal amounts throughout pregnancy or for self-treatment. Red raspberry leaf might have estrogenic effects (6180). These effects can adversely affect pregnancy. Tell pregnant patients not to use red raspberry leaf at any time during pregnancy without the close supervision of a healthcare provider.
ETA: I wouldn't assume any alternative medicine thing is a good idea necessarily, since I've seen a lot of articles and a review of a book all demonstrating that mostly the stuff is harmless and ineffective at best, but that's just me.