Wow, I go away from my computer for a few days and.....
Baffy, I'm reeling from your news. Huge congrats - though I can only imagine what a turmoil of emotions you must be going through! I do hope all goes well and lol at conceiving on HER birthday (wicked )!
It's many long years since my baby days...but I remember I went right off coffee and stuck to tea - it's lighter on caffeine - and you can drink some herbal tea like peppermint, but watch others as they can react badly with pregnancies (I think raspberry's a nono). Also, avoid alcohol as much as poss (I was mightily sick after a half glass of white wine to celebrate my exh's 40th birthday ), and any unpasteurised dairy products. Eat plenty of dark green veg.
I just found this:
Is it safe to drink herbal teas while I'm pregnant?
Many pregnant women carefully avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and unnecessary medications but think nothing of drinking cup after cup of herbal tea. If this sounds like you, take heed: Herbal teas can be harmful, especially if you drink too much of them. Most of the ingredients in herbal teas are safe, but many are not. Herbs are drugs and thus can be as potent as some medications. What's more, only a few of the herbs used for teas have been studied in pregnant women.
How can I tell which herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy?
Although no U.S. regulations specifically address herbal teas, most of the herbs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers safe for food use are presumed safe for teas as well. For example, teas made from ginger, lime blossom, peppermint, roasted barley, rose hips, and thyme are probably safe to drink occasionally in small amounts while you're pregnant or nursing. However, drinking excessive amounts of any teas can cause health problems for you and your developing baby.
Which teas are not safe?
Many of the herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage. These include anise, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.
Although some midwives use raspberry leaf (also known as red raspberry leaf) to aid delivery, its effectiveness hasn't been proven. In any case, it should be used only near term and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Avoid the rest of the herbs in this list during pregnancy and lactation.
Note: You can still eat food that contains herbs like rosemary and sage, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea ? and not as potent (the brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs).
Among other reasons to avoid certain herbs used in teas:
? Coca (also known as mate de coca) contains small amounts of cocaine.
? Comfrey, kava root, skullcap, valerian, and woodruff may damage your liver.
? Lobelia contains nicotine.
? Mate (or yerba mate) can contain as much caffeine as coffee.
None of these herbs should be taken while you're pregnant or nursing.