Herbal Tea for Pregnancy Guide

First Trimester

The best all-around tea to drink in the first trimester is Rooibos tea. Rooibos tea is antioxidant-rich (also great as a fertility tea) it also helps with digestion, prevents acid reflux, and prevents constipation. Studies have found that taking Ginger tea can ease nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, especially with lemon. But pregnant women should be careful with ginger. One serving a day could prevent miscarriage but some experts worry that higher amounts could increase the risk of miscarriage. Sticking to one cup a day is a great approach. Lemon can curtail nausea so drinking water with lemon and even smelling fresh lemons or smelling (not ingesting) essential oil of lemon can also reduce nausea in the first trimester.

Second trimester

The best tea to drink in the second trimester hands down is Nettles leaf tea. Drinking this tea is like taking a prenatal in a mug! The second trimester is all about building up good nutrient levels and supporting the ever increasing demands for iron and calcium. Nettles leaf tea is one of the most nutrient-dense teas and especially high in valuable pregnancy nutrients like iron and calcium and even some folate. Nettles also strengthens the adrenals, nourishing energy during pregnancy and preparing us for. more supported postpartum. Nettles can also reduce swelling and fluid retention and prevent varicose veins and hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Continue to drink Nettles leaf tea throughout your entire pregnancy and postpartum for ongoing benefits.

Third trimester

Red Raspberry leaf tea is the ultimate third trimester tea. Begin drinking this tea in the third trimester to help strengthen the walls of your uterus and overall tonify your uterus and prepare for an easier labor, shorter labor and reduce the chances of needing interventions from forceps to cesarean section, yep Red Raspberry leaf tea can do all that! There are general recommendations for drinking Red Raspberry leaf throughout pregnancy. Birth professionals and Herbalists like myself strongly disagree, taking this tea too early on in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester could increase the risk of contractions and therefore possible miscarriage. Some birth professionals recommend starting in the second trimester and others recommend the third trimester. I lean towards recommending 2 cups a day in the third trimester. Consult with your birth professional to decide when is the best time to start for you.

What about other herbal teas in pregnancy?

One cup of Chamomile tea or Lemon Balm tea (but no more) can be supportive to the nervous system in pregnancy, but this is not a unanimous assessment, most pregnancy experts, practitioners, and research sources see these teas are safe, but there are a few sources that recommend avoiding these during pregnancy. I don’t agree, but you should take note and decide if you would rather wait at least until the second trimester or discuss with your birth professional. Avoid teas with Spearmint, Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Licorice, Ginseng, Kava, and Valerian. If you are allergic to ragweed then there is a laundry list of teas in that family that you may want to avoid. The good news is most herbal teas are safe. To err on the side of caution, generally do not have more than one cup of any one kind of herbal tea daily unless it is Rooibos or Nettles leaf tea, and when in doubt consult with your birth professional.