Tea For Two

Drinking tea may ease nausea and even shorten your labor. But you need to know which kinds are safe.

By Amy Paturel

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The ritual of making and drinking tea has been practiced for tens of thousands of years, and for good reason. It's a calming and low-calorie treat any time, and one with countless health benefits. The polyphenols in tea protect your heart, while the antioxidants may lower your risk of cancer. Some varieties even contain nutrients that boost your immune system.

Best of all for you right now, there are benefits to drinking certain teas when you're expecting. A comforting cup may ease morning sickness, help you fall asleep and even make for a shorter labor. However, some types are potentially dangerous and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Helpful Herbals
"Herbal teas can help hydrate the body when women tire of drinking plain water," says Amelia Hirota, D.Ac., an herbalist and acupuncturist at The Center of Balance in East Greenwich, R.I. And some provide important pregnancy nutrients, including calcium, magnesium and iron. Rooibos tea, in particular, is a good one to try because of its antioxidant properties; it's also caffeine free.

Other herbal teas may help alleviate morning sickness (ginger and mint), prevent insomnia (chamomile) and promote more effective contractions during labor (red raspberry leaf). "Many midwives and herbalists believe that raspberry leaf tones the uterine muscle, which may help make contractions more efficient," says Hirota.

Hirota also recommends tea made from nettle leaf (also known as stinging nettles), an herb commonly found in pregnancy teas and recommended by many herbalists and midwives. "It's a fabulous source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamins A, C and K, and potassium," she says. However, make sure any nettle tea you drink uses the dried leaves, not the root (the label should list nettle leaf), and don't drink too much, especially in the first trimester, because of its stimulating effect on the uterus. However, it is safe to drink throughout the second and third trimesters, Hirota says. To make it, add one ounce of dried nettle leaf to a quart of boiling water. >>

Teas to avoid

Some herbal teas are unsafe when you're expecting; these include PMS, diet, cleansing and detoxification teas, as well as those with the herbs black cohosh, blue cohosh, Dong Quai and more (for a complete list, go to fit pregnancy.com/tea).

Also avoid herbal laxatives, so read tea labels carefully. "In high doses, some naturally occurring substances, such as rhubarb, cascara sagrada, aloe or senna, can cause changes in electrolytes," says Laurie Green, M.D., an obstetrician in San Francisco. (Electrolytes, which include chloride, sodium and potassium, are required for normal cell and organ functioning.) These herbal laxatives can promote diuresis (increased urination) or diarrhea, both of which can cause dehydration, says Green. Such varieties are best avoided until after you deliver and finish breastfeeding; even then, use caution.

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October/November 2008