In a panic, nettle and spinach extract in smoothie, is it safe?

[realnappiesmum]

Just drunk 1/4 bottle of well known brand of smoothie. Looked at ingredients and saw it has dash of nettle and spinach extract. In bit of panic as quick Google search gave conflicting advice on whether these are safe in pregnancy. 22 weeks pregnant and my precious little girl has DS and a couple of potential health issues.( Have thread in antenatal tests and choices and special needs). Panicking that I may have made things worse for her. Only a small bottle and only drank about 1/4ish of it. Does anyone know about nettle extract or spinach extract in pregnancy?

what is it you are worried about exactly

I love that particular smoothie :)

Its a pitiful amount of it in there, I really wouldn't worry :)

surely it wold just contain some chlorophyl and vit c?

Just read on Google about nettle extract not being safe in pregnancy. Think I may be a bit hormonal and worrying about my little girl already potentially facing a rough ride in next few months and after she is born. Google search didn't say why it wasn't safe and some results said it was ok. Just not come across it in a smoothie before and know that some herbal ingredients etc aren't safe in pregnancy. Just wondered if anyone knew.

go into a pharmacy and ask them. it is in their big book (forgot what it is called)

Thank you for replies. Might pop to chemist and ask, nearest one is same place I bought the smoothie. Starting to feel a bit silly now. Think I will give rest of smoothie to DH though , can't do him any harm apart from making him pee more!

I've been drinking nettle tea all the way through my pregnancy (21 weeks) and it's not done me any harm so far. It's been recommended by my acupuncturist and in a pregnancy book I've got as being good for pregnant women.

There is tonnes of conflicting info on the internet and I think the main problem with lots of things, especially herbal stuff is that there just isn't the research into it to say whether or not it's safe so people err on the side of caution and say to avoid.

Personally I'd say there is zero chance of the nettle (or the spinach for than matter) in your smoothie harming you or the baby, even if nettle was dangerous you'd pobably need to drink a lot more than a 1/4 of a bottle for it to have an effect!

It's clearly stressing you out so chuck the rest away and don't give it another thought.

Thank you Sunshinesue. Wish I hadn't looked at ingredients now but I was trying to see if one bottle counted as 1 of my 5 a day. If I hadn't looked I wouldn't have read nettle extract and started panicking. Remaining smoothie now heading for bin and will eat an apple instead.

Thank you maples. I didn't know that about expressing, I always thought expressing could bring on labour. Sounds good, but may discuss with my Obs consultant as will need to have planned cesearean due to previous emergency section and consultant will be monitoring little one and may have to deliver her a bit early.

Hello, I tend to follow this on what to avoid: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/foods-to-avoid-pregnant.aspx
If it's not on there, I assume it's ok. You'll be absolutely fine (although I completely understand your panic- I'm constantly worrying about the smallest thing too).

Try not to Google!

Thanks Londonmrss. Had a look at that. Doesn't mention nettle extract so longer panicking. Will stick to orange juice in future though.

I had lots of nettles in my pregnancies, supposed to be very good for iron, nettle tea, too. What harm are they supposed to do?

Can't be asked to Google, DC are fine, I was fine. Good cheap iron & anti-oxidants in stewed nettles.

Sorry but that sounds rank!
I'm sure you and DD will be fine :)

Sorry DontEat,but I don't think I could eat stewed nettles either. Google was a bit unclear about what could be bad about extract and some sites said it was fine. Just been out for dinner and had lamb in a redcurrant sauce. It was delicious so think I will be getting iron that way in future.

Nettle soup recipe! What is fine about spinach or leeks but not nettles? :)