Is It Safe to Drink Chamomile Tea During Early Pregnancy?

Herbal tea is made from different parts of plants like roots, berries, flowers, and seeds. Actual herbal tea is naturally free from caffeine. Chamomile tea is herbal tea made from flowers of daisy-like herb. It gives a refreshing and wonderful aroma to the chamomile tea which relaxes the body and mind. This herb is used in several products related to health, cosmetic, food and used traditionally to cure insomnia, menstrual cramps, and to boost immunity.

Nowadays many mothers/ pregnant women do not prefer to take the chemicals in via pills because they fear it can affect their baby’s health. While this is true to an extent, maybe you cannot really afford to withdraw totally from pills. You may not want to take the risk. Even then, you can always replace the pills, at least in part, with an occasional sip of chamomile tea.

During pregnancy, all type of teas is not safe to consume, especially the non-herbal containing caffeine as it can adversely affect the baby’s health. Pregnancy is the essential time period in which a lot of care should be taken in respect to the diet and health of the mother. Herbal tea is a better and safer option in this case. It is not safe to rely totally on the pills recommended by the doctors. So, to get to decrease the intake of chemicals in the body, mothers can go for the natural chamomile tea.

Chamomile Tea is Beneficial to Health in Many Ways

1. Uplifting the Mood Swings

Pregnant women may undergo a lot of mood swings. Chamomile tea helps to eliminate the mood swings. It has a pleasing fragrance that soothes the senses and refreshes the mind internally. During the gestation period, it helps to improve the mood. Taking of a cup of chamomile tea is a good way to feel relaxed at any time.

2. Boosting the Immune System

Chamomile tea helps to strengthen the immune system during pregnancy. It can be beneficial in recovering from a mild fever. This tea must be avoided if the mother is suffering from cold as it contains pollens, which can worsen your allergic response. It improves the condition of constipation, gas and bloating, and digestion.

3. Replacing Caffeine

It is a very good way of getting rid of caffeine dependency. It is not good to have a high intake of caffeine during pregnancy at all. It is better to go for the non-caffeinated herbal tea as it will not affect the baby. Many other products containing caffeine like chocolates, coffee, ice-cream, yogurt should also be avoided during early pregnancy. Smoking and consuming alcohol must be strictly avoided for the sake of baby’s health.

4. Prevents Insomnia

Pregnancy is a highly anxious time. It helps when having trouble falling asleep by soothing the brain. This relaxing tea can really aid deeply to deal with sleeping problems. It should not be consumed beyond a safe limit otherwise it will keep you awake.

Special care needs to be taken at the time of early pregnancy. There are some side-effects of consuming chamomile tea also. There are cases of miscarriages which are linked with consumption of too much of chamomile tea. Chamomile tea contains anti-inflammatory agents, which may be dangerous during pregnancy. It depends on the consumption level of tea and other factors.

Chamomile does not contain caffeine and thus safe for pregnant woman. There is no complete evidence regarding the safety of chamomile tea during pregnancy. The complete effects of chamomile with respect to other herbs and medicines have not been studied conclusively. Chamomile has been considered ‘generally recognized as safe’ or GRAS, under the Code of Federal Regulations. According to FDA, there are some false marketing claims of drugs related to chamomile.

Chamomile flowers are intimately related to other aster flowers like the daisy and can cause a slight risk of allergic reaction in women with hay fever. Chamomile tea must be avoided, especially if the pregnant woman is allergic to daisies, ragweed or other asters. The tea acts as an abortion-inducing drug, causing the uterus contracting very early and increasing the risk of miscarriage. If chamomile intake is more than recommended it may cause preterm labor and excessive uterine contractions. Finally, this could lead to a premature birth or circulation problems in babies. So, doctors suggest limiting the chamomile tea consumption during pregnancy.

Everything should be consumed in an appropriate quantity, especially during pregnancy. While making a cup of chamomile tea, the maximum amount of tea to be taken is 15g. It is always good to the limit and balances everything. It’s essential to keep in mind that all herbal teas are not the same. Some doctors may suggest limiting the level of chamomile tea, while others may recommend not drink it at all. Some doctors strictly recommend using commercially prepared chamomile tea during pregnancy. Herbal teas that are commercially processed using herbs from safe sources.

During pregnancy, it is always suggested to stay away from the herbal teas that are marketed for weight loss or dieting. The green teas containing nutritional supplements should also be not allowed in pregnancy. These supplements can cause adverse effects like complications or interactions with other medications. In such cases, it is better to avoid these teas and be on the safer side.  Pregnancy is a very valuable time for the mother and the baby. So, everything needs to be done with a lot of care and accuracy.

• There can be many alternatives for chamomile like pregnancy safe teas are easily available and are fully certified and approved.
• Ginger tea can also be an alternative tea as it possesses some of the same stomach-soothing properties of chamomile.
• Raspberry leaf tea can also be very beneficial for a happy, healthy pregnancy, and helps in preventing complications such as postpartum hemorrhage.
• There is limited information on the safety of green teas and herbal teas in pregnancy. So, it is better to drink them in moderate amount. The final and most accurate consultation for all the things related to pregnancy should be taken from the doctor. No one can afford to take a risk during pregnancy.

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