Teas Safe While Breastfeeding and Which to Avoid

Caffeine-free herbal teas such as chamomile, rooibos, and lactation blends with fenugreek, moringa, and milk thistle are popular, gentle choices while breastfeeding. Limit sage and large amounts of peppermint, which have long been believed to lower milk supply, and keep caffeinated tea within a daily caffeine limit.

Health Canada advises breastfeeding mothers to keep caffeine to no more than 300 mg a day. [1] For herbs, the best single source is LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's database on medicines and herbs in breastfeeding. [2] Here is what the evidence says, tea by tea.

Quick Guide: Teas While Breastfeeding

Can I Drink Chamomile Tea While Breastfeeding?

Chamomile is one of the most popular teas for nursing mothers, and it has research in new mothers specifically. In a randomized controlled trial, sleep-disturbed postnatal women who drank chamomile tea for two weeks had better sleep quality and fewer symptoms of low mood than those who did not. [3] It is naturally caffeine-free.

Keep it to a few cups a day, and skip it if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies or marigolds. Our Quiet Mind blend is caffeine-free with lavender and rooibos; for chamomile, see Sleep Restore (note: it also contains valerian, so ask your provider first). For chamomile in pregnancy, see Is Chamomile Tea Safe?

Can I Drink Green Tea or Black Tea While Breastfeeding?

Yes, in moderation. A cup of black tea has roughly 40 to 70 mg of caffeine, and green tea 25 to 45 mg. Count every cup toward Health Canada's 300 mg daily limit for breastfeeding mothers. [1] Small amounts of caffeine pass into breast milk, and young babies clear it slowly, so some are sensitive. If your baby seems unsettled, cut back. Full numbers: Caffeine in Tea Explained.

Can I Drink Peppermint Tea While Breastfeeding?

A cup now and then is fine for most mothers. Large, regular amounts of peppermint have long been believed to reduce milk supply, so if supply is a concern, choose another tea.

Which Teas Should I Avoid While Breastfeeding?

• Sage: traditionally used to dry up milk at weaning.
• Large amounts of peppermint: traditionally believed to reduce supply.
• Licorice root: can raise blood pressure; skip blends that contain it.
• "Detox" or "skinny" teas: often contain laxatives such as senna.
• High-caffeine drinks: keep total caffeine under 300 mg a day. [1]

When in doubt, check LactMed [2] or ask your lactation consultant.

The Best Tea for Breastfeeding Mothers

A lactation tea made for the nursing months. Milky Moon brings together fenugreek, moringa, and milk thistle, the three most studied herbs for milk supply, caffeine-free. [5] [6] [7] Full guide: Lactation Tea: Does It Work?

The Avodah Moment: Something Warm, Just for You

Avodah means devotion and service. Breastfeeding is round-the-clock devotion, and it is thirsty work.

Keep something warm within reach for you. A lidded mug of caffeine-free tea beside the feeding chair, sipped slowly while your baby feeds. It is a small thing. It is also a moment of care for the person doing all the caring.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. This is where you fill yours.

Shop Milky Moon | Shop the Fourth Trimester Bundle

Frequently Asked Questions

What teas are safe while breastfeeding?

Caffeine-free herbal teas such as chamomile and rooibos, and lactation teas with fenugreek, moringa, and milk thistle, are popular choices. Black and green tea are fine in moderation.

Can I drink chamomile tea while breastfeeding?

Yes, for most mothers, a few cups a day. In a trial, chamomile tea improved sleep in sleep-disturbed postnatal women. Skip it if you have a ragweed allergy.

What teas should I avoid while breastfeeding?

Sage, large amounts of peppermint, licorice root, laxative detox teas, and too much caffeine.

How much caffeine can I have while breastfeeding?

Health Canada advises no more than 300 mg a day, about four to six cups of black tea.

Does peppermint tea reduce milk supply?

Large, regular amounts have long been believed to. An occasional cup is fine for most mothers.

Can I drink green tea while breastfeeding?

Yes, in moderation. Count its caffeine toward your 300 mg daily limit.

Your day. Your tea. Your Avodah Moment.

References

1.          Health Canada. Caffeine in Food. Government of Canada.

2.          National Library of Medicine (US). Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Bethesda (MD).

3.          Chang SM, Chen CH. Effects of an intervention with drinking chamomile tea on sleep quality and depression in sleep disturbed postnatal women: a randomized controlled trial. J Adv Nurs. 2016;72(2):306-315.

4.          Joubert E, de Beer D. Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) beyond the farm gate: from herbal tea to potential phytopharmaceutical. S Afr J Bot. 2011;77(4):869-886.

5.          Di Pierro F, Callegari A, Carotenuto D, Tapia MM. Clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of BIO-C (micronized Silymarin) as a galactagogue. Acta Biomed. 2008;79(3):205-210.

6.          Khan TM, Wu DB, Dolzhenko AV. Effectiveness of fenugreek as a galactagogue: a network meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2018;32(3):402-412.

7.          Raguindin PF, Dans LF, King JF. Moringa oleifera as a galactagogue. Breastfeed Med. 2014;9(6):323-333.