Herbal Teas

misscarrieann12 · August 2014

I'm currently 13 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I just had a medium Starbucks very berry hibiscus drink all the while not knowing I was supposed to avoid herbal teas, hibiscus being one of them. I'm freaking out. Am I okay? I'm scared that I could miscarry or deliver prematurely. I need answers!

jennjilljo · August 2014

Stay calm. I drink herbal teas all the time. I had hibiscus and chamomile tea prior to knowing I was pregnant on more than 1 occasion and my LO is completely healthy.

It's OK to accidentally have something off the unapproved list. If you aren't cramping or bleeding than everything is fine.

Eta: words are hard

MrsTucker2011 · August 2014

You're fine if it's just 1 drink. High concentration is when it's dangerous. Just be sure to avoid that in the future and you'll be good.
Also, stevia sweetener isn't on the approved list. A lot of women don't know that one.

brroseb · August 2014

I use stevia all the time

Had no idea. Now I am curious to what all is included in Herbal teas... Green tea?

beagee413 · August 2014

Just FYI, the reason herbal teas are on the no-no list is that they're not technically regulated. That being said, most of them are totally, totally harmless, and actually really good for pregnancy! Hibiscus is a pure flower - it's not some weirdo herb that could do unintended things to your body. I drink the Traditional Medicinald pregnancy tea all the time. My CNM told me not to worry at all. You just might want to check if you're drinking any herbs that have detoxifying or cleansing properties; they can put your body under stress and interact with you in a way that might not be ideal in pregnancy.

Just relax and drink that tasty tea!

beagee413 · August 2014

And just to add: everything in moderation! Just because the occasional hibiscus or stevia etc. will not do you harm, it's still a good idea not to consume anything in extremes (unless we are talking spinach, in which case eat away!).

foxslaw · August 2014

One won't kill you but my OB said to STAY AWAY FROM PASSION TEA AT ALL COSTS. I am not trying to freak you out, but Hibiscus & lemongrass in particular can cause you to miscarry. I work at Starbucks so I asked very specifically about that tea & did quite a bit of research on hibiscus & pregnancy. See, I love tea & was looking for alternatives to drink.

Again, I'm sure one is fine, so take a big sigh of relief...just don't make a habit of it!

beagee413 · August 2014

brroseb said:
I use stevia all the time Had no idea. Now I am curious to what all is included in Herbal teas... Green tea?

Green tea is not an herbal tea

green tea is totally fine in moderation. Things to watch for are caffeine content (maybe don't drink 10 cups) and also you might want to drink it several hours before or after your prenatal vitamin; some studies suggest it can interfere with your body's absorption of folic acid.

freegiraffe · August 2014

Um, what? Herbal teas?

And I just googled stevia and it's on the list of FDA approved items that are safe for pregnancy.

MrsTucker2011 · August 2014

Www.healthline.com/natstandardcontent/stevia
"Extracts of leaves from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni have been used for many years in traditional treatment of diabetes in South America. Paraguay's rural and indigenous populations have used Stevia rebaudiana for the control of fertility."

Below is just talking about the processing of stevia for consumption.
https://foodbabe.com/2013/04/25/stevia-good-or-bad/

There is also this article that talks about how stevia is safe.
https://natural-fertility-info.com/does-stevia-cause-infertility.html

I personally choose not to use any artificial sweeteners, but each lady has to make their own choice.

aybo · August 2014

I have been drinking a cup or non everyday.... I didn't see anything about tea. WTF? My baby is perfectly normal had my NT Tuesday. Hmmmm this is news to me and eceryone I know told me to drink hot tea for nausea Nd it helps.....

foxslaw · August 2014

aybo said:
I have been drinking a cup or non everyday.... I didn't see anything about tea. WTF? My baby is perfectly normal had my NT Tuesday. Hmmmm this is news to me and eceryone I know told me to drink hot tea for nausea Nd it helps.....

Certain teas really help & certain ones contain herbs that can bring on contractions, or miscarriage. There aren't a lot of studies that have been done on the effects of herbal teas in pregnancy, so that's why a lot of doctors are wary of them. Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger teas are probably fine. Black & green teas in small amounts (if you're comfortable drinking caffeine) are fine...you just have to really watch out for hibiscus & a couple of others because they cause contractions or miscarriage. Again, moderation & all that. Not trying to scare anyone.

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