Can you drink elderflower when pregnant?
Hannah Weiss
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Find out if it's safe to drink elderflower cordial, tea and lemonade during pregnancy. Plus, precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.
The official advice on drinking elderflower in pregnancy
Elderflower drinks, including cordial, tea and lemonade, are safe to enjoy in moderation while you're pregnant. However, it's best to avoid elderflower health supplements during pregnancy.
There isn't enough research available to fully confirm whether elderflower supplements are safe to use as a herbal remedy during pregnancy, so most medical experts advise avoiding them.
However the concentration of elderflower in a supermarket cordial, tea or lemonade is very low and is considered safe to drink. Many mums-to-be enjoy the crisp, sweet flavour.
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It's best to enjoy elderflower in moderation alongside other healthy drinks like water and fruit mocktails. Buy your elderflower tea, cordial or lemonade from a supermarket rather than making your own, just to be on the safe side.
What is elderflower?
The Elder plant is known for its medicinal antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Elderflowers and elderberries have traditionally been used in Europe as herbal remedies to treat colds and flu.
It's important to note that all other parts of the Elder plant, including the leaves, bark and roots, are toxic and will cause food poisoning. The berries are only edible when cooked.
Delicious elderflower drinks
- Elderflower cordial is an alcohol-free liqueur made with elderflower syrup. Tart citrus fruits are often mixed in to balance the sweetness.
- This flavour combination makes elderflower lemonade the perfect fresh, sweet summer drink. The fruit syrup is diluted with carbonated water to add a refreshing fizz.
- Elderflowers can also be dried and steeped in boiling water to make a light, flowery herbal tea. This comforting drink is also caffeine-free, which makes it a great replacement for your morning coffee during pregnancy.
Elderflower supplements
While you're pregnant, it's safest to avoid taking any elderflower pills, tinctures or supplements to treat a cold or flu.
Herbal remedies and supplements like elderflower are less closely regulated than medicines. This means they can contain hidden or harmful ingredients, and may not provide the advertised health benefits.
Elderflower wine
The NHS advises that if you're pregnant or trying for a baby, the safest approach is not to drink any alcohol at all. This includes elderflower wine.
The Chief Medical Officers for the UK strongly advise that you cut out all alcohol while you're pregnant. This is because experts are unsure how much alcohol, if any, is safe to drink.
When you drink elderflower wine, the alcohol passes through the placenta to your baby. Your growing baby can't process alcohol yet, because the liver is one of the last organs to develop, and won't mature until the later stages of your pregnancy.
This means that drinking alcohol when you're pregnant could have a serious impact on your baby's development. Drinking alcohol could increase the risk of miscarriage, low birthweight and premature birth. Research also suggests that drinking while pregnant can lead to behavioural and learning difficulties in your child as they grow.
If you're worried about avoiding alcohol, you can talk to your midwife, who will be able to offer advice and support.
Pregnancy-safe drink recipes
Love elderflower? Why not try these pregnancy-safe drinks?
The Day-by-Day Pregnancy Book: Count Down Your Pregnancy Day by Day by Dr Maggie Blott is packed full of advice from a team of experts to help guide you through your pregnancy from conception to birth. See more details here at Amazon.
Looking for more pregnancy diet info? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other mums-to-be in our forum.
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