Lemon verbena creates a lemon-forward flavor mixed in with lactogenic ingredients, including fennel seed, goat's rue, alfalfa, anise, and blessed thistle. Talk with your physician or pediatrician before including any galactagogue in your diet to ensure safety for both you and your little one. Tea comes in single-serve sachets or as loose leaves. Consider how you prefer to prepare your tea, and what is most convenient for you. Make sure you are staying in tune with their feeding cues to identify if they are enjoying the taste of the teas or not.
If a baby is exhibiting fussy behavior or appears to be uncomfortable, consider your diet, including supplemental beverages such as teas. Always speak with your pediatrician before adding a galactagogue to your routine. Always take a look at the ingredients panel of a breastfeeding tea to ensure you know exactly what is in the product. Some teas use artificial sweeteners, which you may want to avoid. Consider what the active lactogenic ingredients are, and discuss their safety with your pediatrician and maternal health care provider.
Herbal breastfeeding teas are generally considered safe, but there are always exceptions. Because there are many different brands and stores that offer herbal nursing teas, read labels carefully and check to make sure each ingredient is safe.
Many of the herbs used in nursing teas have been used as medications throughout history. Just as with any other drug, herbs can have side effects when taken in large doses. Always consult your doctor or a lactation consultant before using any herbal supplements, including teas, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. When you start a new herb or tea, it is always best to begin by taking a small amount and gradually increasing it over a few days.
A slower, gradual start can help to prevent or minimize the risk of side effects. Dosages vary depending on the person. A small amount may work very well for some women while very high doses will not work at all for others.
Tea can be made by the cup or by the pot. Check the directions on the package, because they may vary from these. The amount of time the herbs steep sit in hot water will determine the strength of the tea and varies depending on the herbs used. In general, steep one to three minutes for a weaker tea and five minutes or longer for a stronger dose. Some herbs are bitter, so you may not want to steep them too long. By the Cup: Pour 1 cup 8 oz of boiling water over one tea bag or 1 teaspoon of dried herb.
Cover and steep for the desired amount of time. By the Pot: Add one tea bag or 1 teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of boiling water in your teapot.
Allow the tea to remain in the pot for the desired length of time and then remove the tea bags or strain the tea to remove the loose herbs. Do not drink the entire pot of tea in one sitting. Divide it into portions and drink it a few times throughout the day.
Most teas can be consumed multiple times in a day. However, even tea can be dangerous depending on the dose or how much you drink. It is not recommended to drink more than 32 ounces per day.
It's always a good idea to check before you take any herbs while you're breastfeeding, especially if you are also taking prescription medicine. As a general rule, choose teas that are made from fruits and herbs you would use in cooking. Never make your own herbal tea from plants you've collected while you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Large amounts of some herbs may possibly start contractions and increase your risk of preterm labour, or they may affect your baby.
Peppermint tea : Peppermint is one of the most commonly used herbal medicines in pregnancy. Red raspberry leaf tea : Some women drink raspberry tea during the last trimester to help them prepare for the birth.
Ginger tea : Ginger can help relieve nausea. It should be safe in moderation while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Green tea : Green tea isn't a true herbal tea. It contains caffeine, so you should limit how much you drink during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Chamomile tea : A cup of chamomile tea before bed may relax you, but again, avoid drinking large quantities. There is a suggestion it could stimulate the uterus or lead to circulation problems in your baby.
Rose hip tea : There isn't enough information on rose hip tea to know whether it's safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Dandelion tea : There isn't enough information on dandelion tea to know whether it's safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Lemon balm : This tea is considered possibly safe and commonly used to relieve anxiety, irritability and insomnia. Parsley tea : Avoid parsley tea during pregnancy. If you drink large amounts, it may increase your risk of miscarriage and affect how your baby develops.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Herbal preparations are not required to have the same level of testing and proof that they work as do prescription medicines. As a result, we know less about their side effects during breastfeeding. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Share on Pinterest. Breast-Feeding and Caffeine. Green Tea and Caffeine. Parenthood Baby 06 Months.
Sleep Disorders in Children. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. What the Latest Science Is Saying About Breastfeeding Mothers Using Cannabis Experts say the science still isn't clear about the health effects on infants of cannabis in breast milk, so they recommend new mothers avoid the drug.
And very few herbs have been studied to learn their effect on nursing infants — so even the experts aren't completely sure what's safe and what's not. Herbs such as fenugreek and fennel , for example, have been used for centuries to boost a nursing mom's milk supply, but there's little data to show that they're safe or effective in nursing moms and infants.
Echinacea , which is used to prevent or treat colds, is another commonly used herb to approach with caution. Some experts cite a lack of safety data and advise moms to avoid it while breastfeeding. Also, echinacea is often paired with goldenseal , which can be toxic in even moderate doses. Most herbs used to season food — such as cumin , rosemary , and cilantro — are fine to include in your everyday diet in moderate amounts. But some, like sage , can cause problems if you consume them in large or concentrated amounts, such as medicinally or in teas.
There are some interactions between herbs — and between herbs and drugs — that you should be aware of. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. When researching herbs online, look for reliable, noncommercial sites rather than those that are selling herbal products. The National Institutes of Health , U. It's just as important to protect your baby from the effects of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and marijuana while breastfeeding as it was when you were pregnant.
The chart below describes how these substances can affect your breast milk — and what you can do to safeguard your baby. How much alcohol your baby gets from breast milk depends on how much you drink and when.
Alcohol levels in breast milk peak about 30 to 90 minutes after your last drink. But it takes two to three hours for one drink to clear your system. Drinking alcohol can harm your baby's motor development and adversely affect his eating and sleeping. Taking in more than mg of caffeine a day might affect your baby. When caffeine enters your bloodstream, a small amount ends up in your breast milk.
Limit your caffeine intake to less than mg per day — maybe even less if you're nursing a newborn or preterm baby. This is about the amount in three 5-ounce cups of coffee. When you smoke marijuana, small amounts of THC the psychoactive component of the drug appear in your breast milk.
Secondhand smoke increases your baby's exposure to the drug. There are no conclusive studies on the effects of THC on breastfed babies, so the risks are unknown. Studies show THC can decrease the quantity of breast milk. If you smoke, the amount of nicotine in your breast milk is greater than the amount in your bloodstream. Cigarette smoke contains about 4, chemicals, including more than 60 carcinogens. How many of these chemicals are found in a smoker's breast milk, and at what levels, has not been determined.
Studies show that babies sleep less when their mothers smoke prior to breastfeeding. Heavy smoking can significantly reduce your milk production and cause early weaning. If you can't quit yet, limit yourself to as few cigarettes as possible, consider switching to cigarettes with less nicotine, and try not to light up before a feeding. Smoking immediately after breastfeeding provides some time for the amount of nicotine in your milk to decrease.
Nicotine patches are safe to use when breastfeeding; the lower the dose of the patch, the less nicotine your baby will get.
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