Is Herbal teas & pregnancy / lactation tea blends safe during pregnancy?
Check with your clinician before herbal tea blends — including ones marketed for pregnancy or milk supply.
What the sources say
Mayo Clinic advises not drinking herbal tea in pregnancy unless your clinician says it's OK, including teas made for pregnancy; NHS suggests no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day and avoiding liquorice root. MotherToBaby notes most herbal products haven't been studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding and may contain contaminants or unlisted ingredients. Lactation blends often include fenugreek, whose milk-boosting effect is uncertain and which has side effects (LactMed).
Common alternatives
Also listed as
herbal tea, tisane, pregnancy tea, lactation tea, mother's milk tea, nursing tea, milk-boosting tea, detox tea, wellness tea, fennel tea, nettle tea
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- MotherToBaby: Herbal Products
- NIH LactMed: Fenugreek
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.