BEST Herbal Tea for Pregnancy (and Postpartum) (2024)

Harness the power of herbal tea during pregnancy and postpartum! This post explores some of the best herbal tea for pregnancy. Herbal tea is a healthy pregnancy drink option loaded with vitamins and nutrients so that you can grow a healthy baby. During the postpartum period, herbal tea can provide nourishment for the body to heal.

Are you wondering if you can you drink tea when pregnant? Wondering what teas are safe during pregnancy? Want to know the best pregnancy tea?

Tea is not only a safe drink during pregnancy, but also a nourishing one. Drinking tea is actually a secret weapon of many mamas to having a healthy pregnancy and preparing for an easy labor.

For thousands of years, women have used herbs to strengthen their bodies for labor and childbirth. Today it is easier than ever to access this wisdom and the herbal teas that can help nourish and heal your body throughout the childbearing period.

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This post is Part 2 of the Nourishing Your Pregnant Body Series dedicated to helping you learn how to care for yourself during pregnancy and postpartum by focusing on what you put in your body.

Drinking tea during pregnancy is one of those essential things you really should be doing in conjunction withstarting a healthy pregnancy routine and nourishing your body.

Read on to learn which herbal teas are the best to drink when pregnant, how to use herbal tea to ease pregnancy related ailments, and how to heal during postpartum recovery.

Make sure to download your FREE PDF – it’s a quick list of some of the BEST foods and supplements for having a healthy pregnancy (and baby).

Common questions about herbal tea during pregnancy

Here are the answers to a few common questions that mamas ask about drinking herbal tea during pregnancy.

What is herbal tea?

Herbal tea, or what some might call herbal tonic or infusion, uses flowers, seeds, roots, berries or leaves of plants that aren’t from the tea plant. Steeping the herbs in hot water for an extended time (anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours), just as you would tea releases the medicinal properties.

Is tea safe for pregnancy?

Yes! Tea has less caffeine than coffee and many beneficial nutrients for mom and baby.

Teas that are generally considered safe for pregnant women include:

black tea
green tea
rooibos tea
chai tea
the herbal teas listed below
matcha green tea while pregnant

Why should I be drinking tea during pregnancy?

Well the simple answer is because its good for you. Herbal tea is packed with nutrients including calcium, iron and magnesium that you need to nourish your pregnant body and grow a healthy baby.

Plus herbal tea is caffeine free, making it a good alternative to coffee.

And herbal tea can relieve pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and swelling, as well as help your body recover from childbirth naturally.Herbal tea is a natural alternative to over the counter medications during pregnancy.

Is it safe to drink herbal tea during pregnancy?

It is always best to consult your care provider for guidance, but all of the teas listed in this article are generally accepted as being safe to drink during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Always look for adverse reactions with anything you put in your body during pregnancy and discontinue if unwanted symptoms occur.

How often should I drink herbal tea while pregnant?

With most daily, up to 3 times is generally safe. According to Susun Weed, the author of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year,

Most tonics need to be used regularly, for a tonic is to the cells what much like exercise is to the muscles: not much use when done erratically.

Best Herbal Tea for Pregnancy

Always having been fascinated by the healing power of herbs, I was blessed to be gifted a copy ofWise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Yearearly in my motherhood journey.It is filled with excellent advice on how to use herbs to nourish your body during pregnancy and postpartum. I used the advice that I found in this book and my personal experience as the basis for the best pregnancy tea recommendations.

#1 – Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Perhaps the most widely recommend tea for pregnancy, red raspberry leaf is known for its ability to tone the uterus and aide in fast and easy births. I drank red raspberry leaf tea religiously during my pregnancies.

It has a wonderful taste and I ended up with 4 relatively fast, easy labors. (But its not the magic pill!There are a few other things that will help you have a natural delivery that shouldn’t be ignored.)

Here are the benefits of drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy:

First Trimester:

Prevent miscarriage – Red raspberry leaf tones the uterus
Morning sickness – relief of nausea and stomach discomfort

Throughout pregnancy:

Added nutrients -Red raspberry leaf contains a high amount of vitamin C, as well as, vitamin E, calcium and iron. It also contain vitamin A and B complex.
Toning the uterus and preparing the pelvic region
Reducing pain during labor and after birth
Encourages the uterus to let go and function without tension and more effectively
Can help to bring down an undelivered placenta.

Red Raspberry Leaf – the best pregnancy tea! Click image to get it on Amazon.

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To get the full benefits of red raspberry leaf while pregnant drink 1-3 times daily throughout pregnancy.

I highly recommend bulking up on this tea, as you will go through A LOT of it if you drink it daily. This is my favorite big bag of loose red raspberry leaf to make tea available on Amazon. It’s organic and super fresh!

There is conflicting information all over the internet in regard to when to start drinking red raspberry leaf tea. The book I trust is the Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year which recommends it for morning sickness.

Other sources say to err of the side of caution and wait until at least 16 weeks.Consult sources you trust and your care provider before drinking red raspberry leaf tea in the 1st trimester.

Ways to Drink Raspberry leaf in Pregnancy

Give thisrecipe for Red Raspberry Leaf Pregnancy Iced Teawith a few of the best teas for pregnancy listed here.

Are you getting close to labor? This labor inducing tea is worth a try if you want a fast labor.

Wondering if drinking this tea will help you have an easier labor? Read more about raspberry leaf benefits here (it includes several Moms sharing their personal labor outcomes with drinking this herbal tea!)

#2 – Nettle Leaf Tea Pregnancy

After reading about nettle tea in Wise Woman Herbal, I was sold on drinking it daily. I actually like mine with a little almond milk and honey. I love the flavor so much that I still drink it almost daily now for postpartum.

What are the benefits of nettle leaf tea during pregnancy?

Has more chlorophyll than any other herb
It is high in calcium, vitamins A, C, D and K, as well as, potassium, phosphorus, iron and sulfur.
Aids in kidney function
Helps ease leg cramps – I had severe leg cramps during my 1st pregnancy. After adding nettle tea to my daily routine during my later pregnancies, I rarely experienced leg cramps.

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This nettles tea for pregnancy will help boost nutrients and tastes great mixed with other teas!

#3 – Ginger Tea

This is my go-to morning sickness remedy. Ginger tea has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, aids in digestion, and contains a wealth of antioxidants (source) making it perhaps the best tea for the first trimester. You can use either fresh ginger root or prepackaged tea.

Here are some additional benefits of drinking ginger tea during pregnancy:

Lowers blood sugar
Can help reduce muscle pain and soreness
Eases indigestion – if you are having a lot of indigestion early in pregnancy, maybe you are having a boy! (That’s an old wives tales that turned out true for me.) But really, drinking ginger tea during pregnancy reduces indigestion.

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#4 – Dandelion Tea and Pregnancy

The earthy taste of dandelion root makes this tea one of my favorites. I used it to help with bladder and kidney issues.

Fair warning you may find yourself going to the bathroom more (I know, you are thinking – as if that is even possible), but the cool thing about it is the bladder actual feels more empty and relieved.

The benefits of drinking dandeliontea during pregnancy: (source)

High in vitamins A, B, C, D, calcium, potassium and iron. Source of folic acid.
Cleanses the liver
Gentle diuretic that can be used for pregnancy related water retention and swelling.
Reduces risk for urinary track infections.
Helps to purify the blood, regulate blood sugar and improves blood circulation.
Helps with constipation
For preeclampsia – In Wise Woman Herbal, Susun has a whole section on the best herbs for preeclampsia and diet recommendations used to help women have healthy pregnancies. It’s a great resource for anyone diagnosed with preeclampsia. Definitely check it out.

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#5 – Peppermint tea

Peppermint is another safe herb for pregnancy. Drinkingpeppermint tea while pregnant can have an uplifting affect. Many moms find drinking peppermint tea in early pregnancy helps with nausea. While many prefer the taste alone, I like to mix it with other teas.

For example:

3 tea bags of red raspberry leaf tea + 1 bag of peppermint tea + 4 quarts of water + 2 tbsp of raw honey. Then chill. It makes a lovely pregnancy iced tea.

Here are the benefits of drinking peppermint tea during pregnancy: (source)

High in potassium, and a good source of manganese, copper and vitamin C.
Helps ease morning sickness
A safe, natural way to treat coughs and cold during pregnancy
Helps with indigestion, heartburn and bloating
Relieve headaches

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Be advised that while peppermint is considered safe for pregnancy, it is also known to decrease milk supply. Consider discontinuing use in the final weeks of pregnancy so that milk supply is not affected. See the comment section below for more on this.

Also, take a look at this article on Matcha during Pregnancy. While it’s not an herbal tea, it is a safe tea option for pregnant Moms.

Best Herbal Teas for Postpartum Recovery

What is the best postpartum tea to drink? These teas are all safe for breastfeeding moms and baby!Wondering what to eat to produce quality breast milk? Read this post for foods that can increase your milk supply!

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea–Again red raspberry leaf is the star herb for postpartum recovery.

Drink it for aiding in relief from after pains.
Help with producing adequate supply of breast milk.

Nettle Leaf Tea–

Can help with postpartum bleeding – contains vitamin K and increase the available hemoglobin
Helps ease pains after birth – due to its high calcium content, nettle is an excellent choice for easing uterus and leg pain in the days after childbirth.
Encourages breast milk production

Dandelion Tea –

Can help to prevent jaundice in newborn
Aides in kidney and liver function

Lemon Balm Leaf Tea –

Mood booster
Helps with baby blues and postpartum depression

{ TIP: Lemon balm can decrease breast milk supply, so be mindful of this if your are breastfeeding}

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Chamomile Tea –

Mental relaxer
Reduce pain after birth
Helps to go to sleep easily

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Fenugreek –

Helps ease digestive issues (source)
Aids in healthy breast milk production
Reduces inflammation in the body

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Love tea? You’ll love this lactation latte recipe just for breastfeeding moms!

The recommendations in this post just barely touch the surface of the wealth of wisdom that lies withinWise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. It covers pregnancy, postpartum and infant herbal care. It’s a resource that all natural mama’s should have on hand! Read it for FREE here with Amazon Kindle Unlimited!

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Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended to replace medical information. Do your own research and consult your care provider before consuming any of the products mentioned.