Your Guide to Drinking Tea During Pregnancy

Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.
·4 min read

The ritual of making and drinking tea has been practiced for thousands of years, and with good reason. Tea contains polyphenols that protect your heart, antioxidants that may lower your risk of cancer, and nutrients that boost your immune system. When you're expecting, the benefits get even better: A comforting cup may ease morning sickness and help you through labor. But while many teas are safe for pregnancy, some are potentially dangerous and should be avoided. Read on to find your best bets.

An image of a pregnant woman with a mug.
An image of a pregnant woman with a mug.

Getty Images.

The Best Teas for Pregnancy

If you're looking for a pregnancy-safe tea, consider picking something herbal. "Herbal teas can help hydrate the body when women don't want to drink plain water," says Amelia Hirota, D.Ac., an herbalist, acupuncturist and founder of the Phoenix Fertility Center in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Some herbal teas also provide nutrients needed during pregnancy, including calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Rooibos tea is a top pick for pregnant people; it's full of antioxidants and caffeine-free. Ginger and peppermint tea are commonly used to alleviate morning sickness, while chamomile may prevent insomnia; red raspberry leaf is said to shorten labor by promoting more efficient contractions. "Many midwives believe that drinking it during pregnancy tones the uterine muscle," explains Hirota.

All of these teas are considered safe in moderation, but you should speak to a health care provider before drinking them. Herbal teas are not scrutinized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and there are few studies on the effects of imbibing them while pregnant. Some evidence suggests that large amounts of peppermint tea can stimulate menstruation, and excessive chamomile tea intake has been linked to miscarriage; red raspberry leaf tea could also potentially promote uterine contractions. Many experts suggest skipping these in the first trimester, and recommend sticking to well-known brands.

Herbal Teas to Avoid During Pregnancy

Some herbal teas are unsafe or ill-advised when you're expecting, among them diet, cleansing, and detox teas, and those with herbs such as black cohosh, blue cohosh, and dong quai. Always do your research, and ask a health care provider if you're concerned about the safety of certain ingredients.

Pregnant people should particularly avoid herbal laxative teas, because they can promote diuresis (increased urination) and diarrhea, both of which can cause dehydration, says Laurie Green, M.D., an OB-GYN in San Francisco. "In high doses, some naturally occurring laxative substances, such as cascara sagrada or senna, can cause changes in electrolytes," she notes. Electrolytes are essential to the continued health of your body, and must be level for your cells and organs to function normally. Avoid these tea varieties until after you deliver and finish breastfeeding (and even then, use caution).

No matter what kind of tea you drink, it's important not to overindulge during pregnancy. In one key study, it was suggested that high consumption of tea (more than three cups per day) may interfere with the absorption of folic acid, that essential nutrient for preventing neural tube defects like spina bifida. "If you limit your intake to two to three cups per day, there's no evidence of any harm coming from that," says David Elmer, M.D., a consultant gynecologist at Nantucket Cottage Hospital in Nantucket, Massachusetts. As with anything else in pregnancy, it's best to practice moderation.

What About Black Tea, Green Tea, and Oolong Tea?

Once again, experts advise caution. Unlike herbal teas, which contain about 0.4 milligrams of caffeine per cup, these non-herbal teas have about 40 to 50 milligrams per cup. Sip four or five cups a day, and you've gotten about 200 milligrams of caffeine. In a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Division of Research, it was found that pregnant women who drank more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day doubled their risk for miscarriage. Another study from the National Institutes of Health found that even minor caffeine consumption diminished newborns' size and mass.

Some research maintains that a low level of caffeine is safe for those expecting. Other studies say there is no safe level. In the absence of a definitive answer, most experts recommend you limit intake to less than 200 milligrams a day. "Caffeine in any form is too stimulating during pregnancy," affirms Hirota. "It also increases the load on the liver, which is already busy processing pregnancy hormones."

Just can't do without your favorite cup? You could try decaffeinated tea, though it will still contain small amounts of caffeine. To make any tea decaf, steep the leaves or tea bag for 30 seconds, dump the water, then refill your cup with hot water and steep again. Most of the caffeine will be removed. You could also try cold-brewed tea, which contains less caffeine in a large serving than its hot counterpart.