Herbal tea in pregnancy?

[goodegg]

I'm a tea addict - at work I have a massive mug and I can easily drink 8 big cups of milky tea a day

I switched to redbush tea when ttc, because I can have it with milk it gives me the same comfort, and also lemon and ginger and peppermint teas.

Anyway I discovered I'm pg last week, so researching all the do's and don'ts foodwise, and herbal teas are apparently not allowed according to my pregnancy tracker app. I'm already giving up caffeine, throw me a bone here!

You don't have to give up caffeine, just don't go mad with it. I think that's the point, in moderation most things are fine.

We moved onto decaf tea here. My favourite is the Yorkshire Tea decaf, and I like the decaf Earl Grey too, although it takes ages to brew to a decent strength.

I like the lemon/ginger/mango fruit tea which Asda do - I've definitely preferred sharper flavours rather than anything sweet.

I'm still drinking redbush tea, not heard that that isn't 'allowed'?

the only thing I was told about herbal teas is that it would be better to change the tea you're drinking every couple of weeks because herbs can obviously have effects on your body, and with prolonged use they get stored in your system.

I onlly drink herbal tea and have been doing it all pregnancy, just check on what you drink before you buy it. having said that, a cup or two isn't going to do any harm in any case, I think.

Yikes. I am drinking decaff Yorkshire tea. Don't tell me I can't. I WILL cry!

I think you can drink most herbal teas in pregnancy, there might be a few it's recommended to be careful about like raspberry leaf (though it should say on the packet if this is the case) but most are fine as far as I know. So is normal tea/coffee in moderation!

I am a huge tea drinker - (work provide free tea and coffee in the staffroom but I take in my own Yorkshire Tea bags!!).

I have found giving up alcohol a breeze even though I am a red wine freak but giving up my Yorkshire tea has been VERY difficult! I allow myself a 'full fat' YT in the morning and then switch to the 'SKINNY' YT for the rest of the day.

Is Yorkshire Tea caffeine-free the best alternative then? Didn't know raspberry leaf wasn't allowed, just googled and apparently echinacea not recommended either, so my fave raspberry and echinacea tea is a no go!

They use raspberry in last weeks to bring on labour!! Hold steady Goodegg!!

sorry jill it's not raspberry, it's raspberry leaf, and it isn't used to bring on labour, just to tone the uterus :)
if it's just the normal raspberry tea you don't need to worry, that's a fruit tea.
also, there are lots of people who drink RLT all the way through their pregnancies and they are absolutely fine, it's just not recommended if you've had a section, I think, or premature labour..

Oh dear I think I'm bring a bit pfb about my unborn child, amn't I

Ok will stock up on a variety of fruit teas, redbush and decaf tea, and aim to have max 2 cups of each all day.

goodegg I recommend apple and cinnamon tea :) personal favourite, I drank absolutely gallons of it this pregnancy.

Ivy that sounds tasty, will see if Tesco have any. My current fave to steady my already squiffy tummy is some lemongrass and ginger fresh tea (ie not bags) that I got from Bettys in Harrogate at the weekend. It comes out pink and the smell is divine [teasnob]

I got mine from holland and barretts, I think. it's by the same company that does the RLT I drink Heath and Heather :)

I'll confess to being a tea snob, too, have a rather extensive collection of different herbal and fruit teas for all sorts of situations in my cupboard. Much treasured are my green/vanilla and cocoa teas that I got from a little tea shop in germany.

Mmm I got some green tea with vanilla from Lidl - the vanilla really takes the edge off the green tea. I must get some more

Roffle @ 'for all sorts of situations'

oops! I stand corrected!!! thanks for headsup Ivy :)

goodegg lidl actually have some nice teas! (also, having grown up in germany it cures my homesickness a little :) )
I haz diuretic tea, detox tea, tea for coughs, sore throats, "women's troubles", spots, mood swings, tiredness, restlessness, muscle tone and just a load of really nice tasting teas. enough situations? :o

(btw, raspberry leaf tea is REALLY yummy with orange juice!)

Hi goodegg I am a tea addict too. I made myself really miserable in my last pregnancy by giving up tea and coffee because a stupid pregnancy book told me to (It was one I bought in Costa Rica where I live) I managed about 4 months of tealess melancholy before I found a "British" recommendation for tea drinking - it said a patriotic 5 cups of tea was OK! Huzzah! I was ecstatic Just tried to find you the original link though and see that since 2008 it has now been revised to 3 but still, thats better than none, right?

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/pregnancy/Pages/healthyeating.aspx

*footnote: This pregnancy, I am considering sticking to 5 a day, because DS was born 9 pounds and very healthy, so I am not really convinced that my caffeine intake does any damage.

Like Mummy I also drank quite a lot of tea but cut out coffee almost entirely. DS was 8lbs 11 too.

Re Green Tea I'd read this can reduce the efficiency of folic acid so should be avoided during the first trimester.