Green Tea and Pregnancy- is it safe to drink green tea during conception, while pregnant and then - when breastfeeding? After much research this is what I found out. Green Tea and Conception
There is a lot of conflicting information out there about how green tea will delay or assist in conception. The main ingredient which has lead to some experts warning caution on drinking green tea during conception, is the caffeine content in green tea.There is about 30mg of caffeine per 8 ounce cup (240mls) of green tea. This is considerably less than a cup of regular brewed coffee of the same amount, which is around 100mg. High caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to delayed conception and an increase in the risk of miscarriage.
High caffeine intake would be considered over 300mg. If you stay inside this range you can still enjoy a few cups of green tea. Of course, the caffeine content will vary depending on how you brew the tea.If you are concerned just brew the tea for a shorter period (about 1 minute), or only drink the green tea from the second or third brewings.
Green Tea and Pregnancy
As mentioned above, women should monitor their caffeine content, and try to keep it within 300mg per day. The other concern about green tea and pregnancy, has been that green tea contain compounds called phenols, which have been said to make it more difficult to absorb iron. It is advised to drink green tea between meals, as this will have less affect on absorbing iron.Other studies have indicated that high levels of green tea consumption during conception and while pregnant, can lead to an increased incidence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Defects have been linked to a lack of folic acid. It is thought that the compund EGCG, causes a substantial drop in folic acid levels.
