thread: Breastfeeding teas question?

  1. #1
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    Sep 2007
    Northern - WA
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    Breastfeeding teas question?

    Ok so i've been looking into Breastfeeding teas and wondering one what they taste like and two are they helpful at all?

    I would like to cut down my caffeine intake before baby arrives so i don't end up with a hyperactive baby that won't sleep, but would also like to enjoy a morning cuppa. Would the two cups of tea i have a day now really make that big an impact on the baby through breast milk?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Melbourne
    3,300

    All babies are different but I prob had at least two cups of tea and one coffee daily with both pregnancies and after the birth and both DD and DS were/are far from hyperactive and good sleepers so in my opinion enjoy your cuppa, and only cut it out later if necessary.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth, WA
    2,315

    I went off tea when I was pregnant and switched to decaf late in my pregnancy. I haven't tried breastfeeding teas so can't help you there. You could try gradually making the tea weaker if you're worried about caffeine. I don't think two cuppas a day is too much caffeine, but but might feel differently.... you'll probably have to wait and see though!

  4. #4
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    All babies are different but I prob had at least two cups of tea and one coffee daily with both pregnancies and after the birth and both DD and DS were/are far from hyperactive and good sleepers so in my opinion enjoy your cuppa, and only cut it out later if necessary.
    Might just try and cut down to the one over the next couple of months and go with that then. It's only really if i have a coffee i notice she become quite active afterwards as well - maybe stay away from that.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    Mornington Peninsula, Vic
    1,624

    I drink Rooibos tea which is caffeine free - it is the South African red bush - you can get it in Coles and Safeway.

  6. #6
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    Feb 2006
    Newcastle, NSW
    4,219

    They don't taste too bad. I don't drink tea or coffee and I didn't mind the breast feeding tea.

  7. #7
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    Feb 2009
    Central Coast NSW
    592

    Well I brought some breastfeeding tincture teas and they tasted like umm, lawnmower juice . . but liptons make a decaf tea bag? I haven't given up my coffee, tea, cola intake as it's still within the moderate range they say you can have when you're pregnant. I read somewhere it's more likely to affect baby if you didn't have caffeine when you're pregnant, I suppose they must be used to it if you've used it so don't notice through breastmilk.

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Member

    May 2008
    1,110

    My DS was hopelessly caffeine sensitive. I would have one "normal" tea in the morning, and then decaf tea (which tastes the same) and decaf coffee.
    Tetley make a reasonable decaf tea and decaf green tea. Personally I hate instant coffee, so I used decaf coffee beans; the decaf coffee bags are OK too.
    It's all a bit trial and error - what you really really have to watch out for is the horrible cycle that goes:
    bub doesn't sleep/need coffee to be awake enough not to drop bub/bub gets caffeinated/bub really really doesn't sleep/need more coffee/etc.....

  9. #9
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    My DS was hopelessly caffeine sensitive. I would have one "normal" tea in the morning, and then decaf tea (which tastes the same) and decaf coffee.
    Tetley make a reasonable decaf tea and decaf green tea. Personally I hate instant coffee, so I used decaf coffee beans; the decaf coffee bags are OK too.
    It's all a bit trial and error - what you really really have to watch out for is the horrible cycle that goes:
    bub doesn't sleep/need coffee to be awake enough not to drop bub/bub gets caffeinated/bub really really doesn't sleep/need more coffee/etc.....
    That's what i am worried about. Might try to cut down to one normal strength a day and then if i really want another i can get some decaf bags.

    O and lawnmower grass doesn't sound very appealing to me what so ever

    Also another quick question - if i had a normal strenght tea in the morning how long would it take to go through my breast milk? Just something for me to look out for.

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Member

    May 2008
    1,110

    About as long as it takes to go to your brain - once things are in your blood they're in your milk as a general rule, especially if they are fairly small molecules like caffeine. The big thing is the rate that it goes out - you "process" caffeine fully in a few hours, a newborn can take a day or more to do the same. As they get bigger they should process faster - but my DS was well over 2 before I could have a second tea without it affecting his sleep.

  11. #11
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    About as long as it takes to go to your brain - once things are in your blood they're in your milk as a general rule, especially if they are fairly small molecules like caffeine. The big thing is the rate that it goes out - you "process" caffeine fully in a few hours, a newborn can take a day or more to do the same. As they get bigger they should process faster - but my DS was well over 2 before I could have a second tea without it affecting his sleep.
    Kmn thanks for the info - might just stick to the one then.