Categories of Herbs Safe in Pregnancy

Categories of Herbs Safe in Pregnancy

Staying fit is step one to a healthy pregnancy. Only when you are fit and healthy can you expect to deliver a healthy and well-developed baby. This is why you should ensure good health right from the time you think about getting pregnant. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here

You should continue your regime of good health through pregnancy and even afterwards for the sake of your baby. You can take supplements, medicines, and herbs if you think that you are not able to get all the nutrients required, from your food. Herbs are, of course, the best choice because they are safer and they can benefit you a lot.

Know what’s not safe

However, know that there are a few unsafe herbs too. You should never blindly take any herb that you can lay your finger on. That will only make things worse for you instead of helping you with your pregnancy. While it is nigh impossible to actually categorize all the safe herbs and eliminate all the unsafe herbs, you can research about the herbs you want to take and find out whether they are safe.

You should be very careful because what may be safe during the first trimester may not be safe during the later periods. Also, the doses you should take will vary from one manufacturer to the other. Thus, before taking any herb you should talk to your doctor because she will have enough knowledge to tell you whether you are going the right way.

Here is more about a few different herbs:

Cooking herbs

Cooking herbs are usually safe when taken in appropriate quantities. You don’t need to worry about cooking herbs at all as long as you don’t exceed the normal limit. Going overboard with some herbs can cause a lot of problems. For example, sage, nutmeg, oregano, cinnamon, parsley, chili, basil, and fennel must be taken in limited quantities. When taken in large quantities, they can cause many harmful effects such as uterine stimulation, which can lead to a miscarriage.

Herbal teas

Many people are under the impression that all herbal teas sold in the grocery store are safe. However, that is not completely true. There may be herbal teas that contain more quantities of herbs and this can be dangerous, as explained earlier. Too much of anything is too bad and this applies to herbs too. More concentration of herbs can cause a number of problems during pregnancy.

Also, what works for you may not work for someone else. Raspberry leaf tea is an excellent example. Some people claim that it is very helpful but there are others who have actually complained about uterine stimulation due to this herb. Rose hips, peppermint, and ginger teas containing only small amounts of these herbs are safe.

First trimester

Take herbs during this period if and only if your doctor asks you to. This is because the first three months are very crucial for the baby. Taking even slightly harmful herbs can affect your baby’s growth in a very big way. Steer clear of all herbs during the first three months, thus.

Third trimester

Lastly, don’t ever take uterine stimulants towards the end of your pregnancy without the advice of your doctor. They can be very strong and may cause complications that can put your child’s life at risk. Lavender, goldenseal, oregano, chamomile oil, anise oil, etc. are some examples of uterine stimulants.

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Maureen Stephens, BS, RN
Maureen Stephens, BS, RN | ConceiveEasy
Ms. Stephens has spent over twenty years in the healthcare world, specializing in obstretical and medical/surgical nursing. She joined ConceiveEasy as she has a strong interest in educating and empowering women and promoting fertility awareness.

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