The best teas to drink during pregnancy & what to avoid

Caffeine intake during pregnancy should be limited, so cutting back on coffee is most definitely a good idea. However, before you substitute your daily coffee with tea, let’s take a look at why caffeine during pregnancy should be avoided:

Caffeine during pregnancy: how much is safe?

When consuming caffeine during pregnancy, it moves from the mother’s body through the placenta and umbilical cord to her developing baby. Because babies cannot metabolise caffeine the way adults can, there is controversy on how much caffeine is safe, or if it should be avoided altogether. What is known is that the less caffeine you consume, the better it is for your baby.

Not all hope is lost, however, as not all tea is off limits. Certain teas have been deemed safe and even beneficial for expectant moms!

“Rule of thumb is to stay away from any tea sporting the words ‘weight loss’ during your pregnancy.”

Teas that are safe to drink during pregnancy!

• Ginger tea: This is a fabulous option for morning sickness and digestive problems. Make your own by adding four or five slices of ginger to freshly boiled water.
• Peppermint tea: Like ginger tea, this option will help ease nausea with the added benefit of relaxing your muscles.
• Rooibos tea: You can’t go wrong with a good old cup of rooibos! This tea is caffeine-free and often recommended for pregnant women. It is also a fantastic source of calcium and magnesium, and is packed with anti-oxidants.
• Dandelion leaf tea: This tea helps combat the fluid retention that you may experience in the later stages of pregnancy. It has a slightly bitter and grassy taste, so you may want to add it to another tea.
• Chamomile tea: This tea is safe, as long as you do not have a history of hay fever.

Teas to avoid during pregnancy

Weight-loss tea: Most weight-loss teas have a high content of caffeine in them, so rule of thumb is to stay away from any tea sporting the words “weight loss” during your pregnancy.

Other teas to avoid during pregnancy due to their high levels of caffeine include earl grey, green tea, oolong tea and pennyroyal.

What about iced tea?

Lovers of iced tea may find their fondness for the soothing beverage increased during pregnancy. However, the ones you can purchase come with a high sugar content. If you want that cup of iced tea, it’s best to make your own from the safe teas already mentioned. Also, rather use honey than sugar to sweeten the tea.

They say that there is nothing a good cup of tea cannot solve. If you are pregnant, just make sure that tea is on the safe list.