Drinking yerba mate and breastfeeding

Changes in the diet of a Paraguayan holly infusion enthusiast concern the amount of Yerba mate consumed during pregnancy and the time after childbirth, especially when the newborn is breastfed. Restrictions on the consumption of certain beverages are related to their caffeine content, so it’s better to drink weaker infusions in smaller amounts. Sacrifices often apply to all stimulating substances that a tired mum might crave. While breastfeeding, many women don’t sleep well and have no time for a nap during the day, so they turn to caffeinated drinks such as coffee, Yerba or energy drinks. Is this healthy for the body of a breastfed baby? How can you avoid the negative impact of caffeine on a baby’s body during breastfeeding?

Is drinking Yerba Mate while breastfeeding healthy for the baby?

Breastfeeding is not a contraindication for drinking Yerba Mate, so new mums don’t have to give up their favourite drink. However, it’s worth remembering that yerba mate is a plant whose leaves accumulate caffeine. A strong infusion can contain quite a lot of it. During lactation, this stimulant passes into the mother’s milk and is consumed by the baby. It can have a negative effect on both the baby and the parents. When the mother exceeds the allowed caffeine dose during the day, the infant may have trouble falling asleep. Other problems that may appear in the baby include appetite disturbances and signs of excessive excitability.

How to recognise if an infant is too agitated? Infants usually love being carried, cuddled, gently rocked and swayed in someone’s arms. They respond to these gestures with pleasure, calm down, and even fall asleep. Overexcited babies can’t stand this and react with crying or screaming, quite differently from other infants. If a baby’s arms and legs stiffen or it arches and bends backwards while trying to feed from the breast or bottle, this may be a sign of overexcitability.

Caffeine intake – safe doses during lactation

Women who choose to breastfeed are advised to limit their Yerba Mate consumption to two servings of infusion per day and to opt for milder types of dried leaves. It’s better for the baby’s health to stick to smaller portions of dried leaves and drink no more than 500 ml of infusion. This is not only safe, but also good for health. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can drink yerba mate and freely reuse the leaves from the first infusion several times a day, without exceeding the recommended limit. It’s enough to steep the same leaves several times, instead of brewing a fresh batch each time and providing the body with a new dose of caffeine. The Food Standards Agency recommends limiting caffeine intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding to a maximum of 200 mg per day. 

Breastfeeding and drinking Yerba Mate – research from southern Brazil

A study conducted in southern Brazil from January to December 1993 involved more than 5,300 pregnant women. The analysis included only single births, excluding data from twin pregnancies. Interviews were conducted with mothers, of whom 68% consumed Yerba Mate at least once a week throughout their pregnancy. The study found no link between drinking Yerba Mate and premature birth or below-average birth weight. It’s worth noting that in South American countries, people drink an average of 1.8 litres of mate infusion per day, which contains about 17 mg/100 ml of caffeine, corresponding to a caffeine intake of 300 mg per day. 

Contraindications to consuming mate for pregnant and breastfeeding women 

Contraindications apply to people who, due to the caffeine content, should not  drink beverages high in alkaloids, including coffee or strong tea. Yerba Mate belongs to this group of products as well. To sum up, drinking Yerba Mate during pregnancy and later while breastfeeding is safe, as long as there are no medical contraindications, no side effects occur, and the recommended consumption limits are followed.