Nettle Tea in Pregnancy: What You Need To Know

Nettle Tea in Pregnancy: What you need to know

Pregnancy is a time when many mothers are looking to find extra sources of nutrients to nourish their body and their baby . Nettle Leaf is packed with nutrients and often described as a “powerhouse of a plant” due to it’s high vitamin and mineral content. But how safe is nettle tea during pregnancy? How often should you drink it? Where should you purchase it from? These are all great questions that we’ll answer in this article. So if you’re a pregnant mama, here’s what you need to know about Nettle Tea!

This article may contain affiliate links which means that I receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you choose to purchase an item through my link. I only recommend products that I personally use and love!

Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice

Can Nettle Tea Cause Miscarriage?

There is little to no scientific studies specifically looking at nettle tea in pregnancy.

However, nettles have historically been used for hundreds (if not thousands) of years during pregnancy to help nourish women and bring nutrients to mother and baby. Nettle is known as a very safe herb and is commonly recommended by herbalists and midwives. It is commonly added to pregnancy teas due to it being such a gentle, nourishing herb with very few side effects.

I have also personally drank Nettle Tea during my second pregnancy and I really depended on it for nutrients. I felt very safe drink it given all of the historical evidence that it is nourishing and safe.

Can you drink nettle tea in the first trimester?

You can do whatever you want – trust your intuition. You know your body best.

I personally felt very comfortable drinking nettles in my first trimester. It was one of the few nourishing foods that I wasn’t aversioned to.

However, If you have a history of miscarriage, or you try nettles and it doesn’t sit right with you, then you can always wait until after the first trimester to start drinking it. Waiting until after the first trimester to consume any herb is a very safe general rule of thumb to play it safe and make sure nothing will stimulate any uterine contracting.

Nettle Tea Benefits in Pregnancy

Nettle is often a favorite among herbalists, because it’s such a powerhouse of a plant! 

Nettle infusions are extremely high in calcium and magnesium. Some sources say that one quart of a nettle infusion contains 1000mg of Calcium and 300mg of Magnesium! For reference, that amount meets the daily recommendation for women for both calcium and magnesium.

Nettle also contains Vitamin A, C, E, F, K, Zinc, magnesium, iron, copper, selenium, boron, bromine, chlorophyll, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, chromium, and many of the B Complex Vitamins. It also has more protein than almost any other plant. 

Nettle Leaf is extremely nourishing and has little to no side effects, therefore I think it’s a perfect herb to drink during pregnancy!

When Should You Start Drinking Nettle Tea during pregnancy?

To play it safe, the general rule of thumb for consuming any herb is to wait until after the first trimester. I personally drank nettles all throughout my pregnancy and felt quite safe doing so. However, the second trimester is a great time to start drinking nettle as well!

How Often Should You Drink Nettle Tea in Pregnancy?

How often you should drink nettle tea depends on how much and how strong of a brew you are making!

I personally find infusions to be the best way to drink my nettles.

Herbal infusions are long-steeped teas to allow for maximum nutrients to be extracted into the water!

The general rule of thumb for nettles is to allow the herb to steep overnight. The ratio should be around 1-3tsp of herb per cup of hot water. Using 3tsp of herb will make a really strong brew and using less will be a little less strong. The easiest way to make it is to let it steep in a french press overnight!

Here’s a great article on how to make an herbal infusion: How to Make An Herbal Infusion

Where to buy quality nettle tea?

You can often find nettle tea at your local health food store or herbal apothecary.

If you don’t have a health food store near you, another fantastic option is purchasing it from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Mountain Rose Herbs has some of the highest quality, organic bulk herbs that I have been able to find anywhere on the market! They have great prices too. You can just go to their website and search “nettle” in the search bar.
NOTE: Some people say that the North American Nettles has less of an “earthy” taste compared to the European Nettles. Just wanted to mention that in case you’re sensitive to earthy tastes, you may prefer the North American variety.

I buy lots of different bulk herbs from them for my tea business – Wild Mother Tea – and I’ve always had a great experience.

If you are interested in purchasing my pregnancy tea, Baby & Me, here’s a link to my Etsy shop where you can purchase it in a variety of sizes.
Shop my teas here

Nettle and Raspberry Leaf: The Perfect Nourishing Combination

Nettle and Red Raspberry Leaf mixed together really is the perfect combination for a pregnant mama. Nourishing, toning to the uterus, rich in minerals and nutrients and safe for both mama and baby!

If you’re interested in learning how to make your own pregnancy tea, check out my article containing my delicious pregnancy tea recipe!

Nourishing Pregnancy Tea (That actually contains tons of minerals and nutrients)

Don’t forget to shop at Mountain Rose Herbs if you decide to make my tea recipe!

I hope this answered all of your questions about drinking nettle tea in pregnancy! Best of luck and healthy pregnancy to you!

You Might Also Enjoy:

• How To Prepare Your Toddler for a Homebirth
• How to Prepare for Post Partum (Natural post partum essentials)
• Sample Birth Plan: Birth Plan Example for a Natural Birth