Tea And Breastfeeding

Drinking lots of tea and breastfeeding? If you are drinking tea while breastfeeding you need to remember that most teas contain caffeine. Caffeine is not recommended in large quantities, breastfeeding moms are advised to stick to no more than two or three cups per day. Read more on caffeine and breastfeeding.

Also when drinking tea with caffeine its best to drink a cup after breastfeeding to ensure that the caffeine does not enter your breast milk. Excess caffeine can cause baby to become fussy and may cause trouble sleeping. Mom can start drinking more tea once baby is about 6 months old.

Most herbal teas are caffeine free (always read the label though), so why not substitute your regular tea for some herbal tea. Some herbal teas are safe to drink while breastfeeding and can even help with several breastfeeding problems like low milk supply and even thrush.

Tea and breastfeeding ~ Herbal tea breastfeeding

Read more on safe breastfeeding herbs

Precautions when drinking herbal teas while nursing

- Make sure that it is caffeine free if you are drinking more than three cups daily.

- Make sure that the specific herb is safe to take while breastfeeding (list of some safe and unsafe herbs listed below)

- Make sure that the specific herb in the tea does not decrease breast milk supply.

- If you are allergic to plants or pollen it’s best to stay away from related herbal plants.

- Always buy those teas with proper labeling of ingredients

- Avoid the pharmacologically active herbal teas

- Always check with your pediatrician before drinking any herbal teas while breastfeeding.

Teas that a breastfeeding mom should not drink (not a complete list)

- Borage tea, Comfrey tea

- Or any teas containing any of the following herbs:

Bladderwrack, Buckthorn, Chaparral, Coltsfoot (Farfarae folium), Dong Quai (Angelica Root), Elecampane, Ephedra / Ephedra sinica / Ma Huang, Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Evodia, Black Cohosh, Valerian, Indian Snakeroot, Kava-kava (piper methysticum), Petasites root, Phen-fen, Rhubarb root, Star anise, Tiratricol (TRIAC), Uva Ursi, Wormwood, Sophora root, Ginkgo, Coptis, Aloe, Senna, Borrage, Licorice, Basil, Rue

Herbal Teas that may reduce milk supply

- Sage tea, Menthol, spearmint or peppermint teas

Teas that are safe to drink while breastfeeding (also not a complete list)

- Ginger tea, Linden flower tea, Orange peel & Citrus peel teas, Rose hip tea(contains extra vitamin C), Orange cinnamon tea, Lemon tea, Raspberry teas

Herbal Teas safe for increasing milk supply

- Organic mothers milk tea ~ Mother's milk tea ingredients: Mothers milk herbal tea contains fennel, aniseed, and coriander. Does mother's milk tea work? Organic mother milk tea works really well for moms who have periods of decreased supply or for extra milk during nighttime nursing.

- Fenugreek tea (large amounts may lower blood sugar levels)

- Blessed thistle tea can be taken in small amounts.

- Fennel tea also taken in small amounts

- Raspberry leaf tea

- Goat’s rue teas

- Nettle tea

- Teas containing the following herbs: Hops flowers, brewer’s yeast, Milk thistle, Alfalfa.

- Other galactagogues

Specific herbs / teas and breastfeeding

- Green tea and breastfeeding ~ Can you drink green tea while breastfeeding? Most green teas do contain caffeine, but you can find green tea without caffeine. High amounts of green tea are not recommended for breastfeeding women. This herb has not been tested for safety while nursing.

- Fennel tea while breastfeeding ~ Small amounts are safe. If you are taking the fennel tea to help a gassy baby you can read more on

- Feverfew and breastfeeding ~ Not enough info is available on this herb and it should be avoided while breastfeeding. Sometimes moms might want to use this herb to relieve headaches…read more on headaches while breastfeeding.

- Red raspberry leaf tea breastfeeding ~ This is a great tea for lactation ( increasing milk supply ) and contains loads of minerals.

- Nettle tea breastfeeding ~ This herb is usually combined with other herbs to make lactation teas that increase milk supply.

- Chamomile tea breastfeeding ~ Camomile tea is sometimes used to help mom rest or sleep better and can even help calm a teething baby. Make sure it’s decaffeinated, if its not decaffeinated you can drink three cups per day depending on whether you are consuming other caffeine products like chocolate, coffee etc.

- Alfalfa breastfeeding tea ~ Can be used safely to increase milk supply. Can increase milk supply from 50 – 100% Can also be used in combination with fenugreek, blessed thistle and marshmallow.

- Milk thistle breastfeeding tea ~ Used as a galactogogue to increase milk supply.

- Echinacea breastfeeding immune support tea ~ Is safe if drank in small amount (1 cup per day) No bad side effects have been reported.

- Ginger tea breastfeeding ~ Ginger tea is great for soothing tummies and increasing circulation and is safe to drink while breastfeeding.

- Oregano breastfeeding tea ~ Oregano tea can decrease your milk supply.

Want to share your personal experiences on different teas and breastfeeding? Share them here...

Leave a comment

Want to share your stories? Ask a question or just say hello...

What Other Moms Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...