Is It Safe to Drink Nettle Tea in Pregnancy?

Some people believe that nettle tea is a very nutritious drink during pregnancy, and others believe that it can be harmful. According to nutritional experiments on nettle leaves, this leaf contains nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, but can you drink nettle tea in pregnancy?

This article on Hipregnancy will examine drinking nettle tea while pregnant. So, if you want to know whether it is safe to drink nettle tea in pregnancy, read this article until the end.

What is nettle tea?

Nettle tea is a herbal tea made by using the leaves, root, or stem of the plant, typically made using both. It is good to know that nettle has three main types;

• Stinging nettle (urtica dioica)

• Dwarf (urtica urens)

• Roman (urtica pilulifera)

Botanically, nettle leaves have a dark green color with more chlorophyll than other green plants. This feature makes it taste good. The types of vitamins in this leaf include vitamins A, C, D, and K. Also, in terms of minerals, include calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur. It also has many healthful antioxidants.

Let’s continue to learn the relationship between nettle tea and pregnancy to know whether it can be added to your pregnancy diet.

Also Read: Traditional Medicinals Pregnancy Tea

Is nettle tea safe in pregnancy?

No acute or unsafe side effects have been reported for nettle tea. Due to a lack of information about drinking nettle tea in pregnancy, it is better not to consume it during pregnancy, but if you crave it, you should consult your doctor before adding this type of tea to your diet plan. Nettle is not dangerous for adults. Like other herbal remedies, some people may experience side effects.

For example, some people have an allergic reaction to it and have urticaria. Some people may be allergic to nettle pollen, which can lead to hay fever in the warmer months. Very rare cases have been reported to affect estrogen levels in both men and women.

These side effects are uncommon and do not seem to pose a serious risk to pregnant women. This tea also contains some iron and folic acid. Folic acid is needed to complete the nervous system and prevent neural tube defects (NTD) in the fetus.

Also Read: Peppermint Tea Pregnancy

If the mother consumes enough folic acid before pregnancy and early in pregnancy, it can prevent fetal neural tube defects and the baby’s spinal cord defects in utero. Iron plays a key role in red blood cell protein hemoglobin and is useful in preventing anemia. [1: medicalnewstoday]

Nettle tea benefits for pregnancy

Here are some benefits of nettle leaf tea during pregnancy, including;

• Nettle tea helps the kidneys to purify their blood better. Pregnant women have more blood volume, so nettle can help strengthen the kidneys. The infusion of this plant helps to gradually dissolve and eliminate harmful minerals that accumulate in the kidneys, such as sand or stones.
• Mothers and fathers who want children can use nettle tea to increase fertility. Also, due to its nutritional properties, it can help increase breast milk during breastfeeding.
• Because of the high calcium content of this tea and its easy absorption, having stinging nettle during pregnancy can reduce the muscle pain mothers experience during childbirth.
• One of the vitamins in nettle tea is vitamin K. Vitamin K has anticoagulant properties and, therefore, can help prevent bleeding and postpartum complications.
• Stinging nettle has a slightly astringent effect that can help strengthen blood vessels. It also helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and arteries. [2: nightingalebirth]

Also Read: is chamomile tea safe during pregnancy

What are the disadvantages of nettle tea in pregnancy?

Pregnant women are not recommended to drink all the drinks because some, such as Chamomile tea during pregnancy, are dangerous for the fetus. So far, not much scientific research has been done on nettle tea. Most research has been done on dried nettle leaves. Only one study was conducted in 2015 on nettle. The result of this study was that it is indeed generally safe, but it is likely to affect women’s menstrual cycle.

There is a possibility that if it causes the uterus to contract, it may contribute to abortion along with other factors. Uterine contractions in the first trimester of pregnancy may be a problem, but they are not very important in late pregnancy.

In addition, some people believe that nettle can be useful in treating allergic reactions, but it has not been scientifically proven; there have even been reports of people being allergic to nettle leaves or nettle pollen for pregnant women or other people.

The side effects of nettle are generally minimal and will be safe if taken as directed by a physician or nutritionist. It may have several side effects, including mild gastrointestinal disorders, allergic reactions, and urticarial or red welts for pregnant women or other people.

It is better to know that, in some people, inhaling nettle pollen or touching the nettle plant may cause an allergic pimple, which has a short-lived effect. [3: mountsinai] If you don’t want to consume nettle tea in pregnancy and you are looking for the best tea for pregnancy, you can refer to an article about this on the site.

How much nettle tea can I drink during pregnancy?

How to drink nettle tea for pregnant women is as follows:

• Drink according to the doctor’s instructions and consult your doctor before taking it or according to the instructions on the box.
• If a pregnant woman wants to make nettle tea, she can brew a glass of nettle leaves with two glasses of water. Each glass of water is about 240 ml. There is also tea powder that she can dissolve in water and drink.
• Avoid chewing tea leaves, as Having too much nettle leaf during pregnancy can increase the chance of side effects.
• If you want to see the positive effect of nettle leaf tea for pregnancy, it is better to drink limited amounts of it.

Do not use certain substances such as antacids, dairy products, tea, or coffee. Pregnant women are advised to avoid excessive consumption of coffee, dark chocolate, and some sports drinks due to the effects of caffeine on pregnancy. [4: healthline]

Conclusion

Examination of the properties of the nettle has shown that it has some nutrients and can have beneficial properties. In general, drinking nettle tea in pregnancy seems not too dangerous, but in some people, it may cause side effects such as allergies.

Pregnant mothers should consult their physician or nutritionist before using nettle. In this case, they are informed about the side effects or possible interactions with some drugs. One study has shown that nettle tea may cause uterine contractions in pregnant women.

Since complete research on nettle tea has not been done, pregnant women should consume it, according to the physician.

FAQs

1. Can nettle tea cause miscarriage?

Drinking nettle tea first trimester is not recommended as it may increase the chance of miscarriage.

2. Can you drink nettle tea during the second trimester?

It is okay to drink limited amount of nettle tea second trimester, but you should consult your doctor beforehand.

3. Can pregnant women have nettle tea in the third trimester?

Pregnant women can drink nettle tea pregnancy third trimester, but consulting a doctor is a must beforehand.