Drinking kombucha from a trustworthy brand while breastfeeding is possible and may have some health benefits for both mom and baby.
Breastfeeding has several great benefits, not unlike drinking kombucha. Breastfeeding (like kombucha) can improve the levels of healthy bacteria in the infant's gut, aid in immunity, and so much more. Some mothers worry that when they're pregnant or breastfeeding, they may not be able to have their favorite kombucha. In reality, drinking kombucha while breastfeeding can offer benefits to both mom and baby—but you may need to choose your beverage carefully. Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of kombucha and breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is a great source of natural nutrition for your baby. It is also a special way for moms and babies to bond. According to growing bodies of research, breastfeeding offers a number of important health benefits.
Many moms choose to breastfeed for all of its benefits—just like they may choose to drink kombucha for all the health benefits the beverage can bring to the table. But that brings us back to the big question: Can you drink kombucha while breastfeeding?
Women hear a lot about what they can and cannot eat and drink when they're pregnant and breastfeeding. Much of that advice is accurate: for example, avoiding raw fish while pregnant is important to help keep mom and baby healthy. On the other hand, some pieces of advice are outdated or misinformed, like the advice to stay away from all kombucha while pregnant or breastfeeding. There are a couple of key myths that often get passed around as reasons why women should avoid kombucha while breastfeeding, and we think it’s best to read about them, understand them, and draw a reasonable conclusion about your own situation.
The La Leche League recommends 300 milligrams of caffeine or less per day while pregnant or nursing. However, some infants may be more or less sensitive to caffeine than others. They may cry, seem overstimulated, or even get colicky. Furthermore, some infants may have underlying health problems that make it important for moms to avoid caffeine while breastfeeding.
Despite being brewed with tea, kombucha contains a very small amount of caffeine. Most 14 oz bottles have 15 mg of caffeine or less. That means you would have to consume a lot of kombucha to reach the caffeine in even one cup of coffee!
Most moms know that they should avoid alcohol when breastfeeding so that they do not risk negative impacts on their infant when some of the alcohol transfers through the breastmilk.. Because kombucha is fermented, it is impossible to avoid alcohol entirely during the creation process, and prior to alcohol extraction, a batch may contain 2% to 5% alcohol. However, in most cases, professionally brewed kombucha is carefully monitored to ensure it contains only trace amounts of alcohol. Professional brewers then use several strategies to eliminate the remaining alcohol in the fermented drink. They do this by:
Note that while commercial kombucha companies remove the alcohol from their brews, you may want to be particularly careful of home-brewed kombucha, where the methods used are likely not so measured and precise. Professionally-brewed kombucha will have a very low alcohol content as a basic standard--and if the alcohol content is higher, the bottle will clearly display it so that you know what you're drinking ahead of time. This precaution will help you stay safe during your breastfeeding journey.
If you want to drink kombucha while breastfeeding, here are a few things to consider.
When breastfeeding, you have to be particularly careful about anything that goes into your body. You want to make sure that you're drinking the best option not only for you but for your baby. Choose professionally-brewed kombucha while breastfeeding or pregnant, rather than choosing one made in someone's kitchen. While many home brewers are perfectly reliable, you want the testing and security of a professional brew during this particular time in your life.
Some brands of kombucha have different ingredients or different expectations for quality. For example, you may find that home-brewed kombucha is subject to relatively few quality-testing standards, which can make it more difficult for you to trust what you're drinking. You may also want to know things like:
Get to know the brand of kombucha you plan to drink on a regular basis—what you can expect to find in your bottle, how often they're quality tested, and more. Just as you research many of the other foods you eat, do your research regarding kombucha so that you feel comfortable with your choice.
Sometimes, your baby is the best evidence of whether drinking kombucha is an acceptable part of your breastfeeding diet. Babies have different responses to different things. You may find that drinking kombucha helps improve your baby's overall gut health since you will have a more diverse microbiome yourself and can help share that diversity with your infant.
On the other hand, some babies may have responses to specific ingredients in kombucha, including types of tea and more. Pay attention to your baby's reactions, especially if you're having any problems with food consumption. Your baby will let you know if you're drinking or eating anything that upsets them. A food journal can help you better track what might be causing a specific reaction, including problems like gas or fussiness.
When you know where your kombucha comes from and what goes into it, you'll feel much more confident, overall, about adding it to your diet--and about the benefits it can offer.
Drinking kombucha while breastfeeding may offer some other noteworthy benefits that you haven’t yet considered alongside the ones we’ve discussed here:
Drinking kombucha can become an important part of your routine and help keep you healthier, happier, and more energetic for your little one. There are many delicious, carefully crafted kombucha options that allow you to enjoy your favorite flavors while providing great nutrition for your baby. Of course, you should always consult your doctor any time you have questions about how well kombucha fits into your diet.
An organic, professionally-brewed kombucha with clear regulations in place can be the perfect, probiotic and antioxidant-rich beverage to include in your diet, even when you're nursing your little one. Whether you're sipping on a refreshing brew while feeding your baby or using it as a morning pick-me-up when your little one had you up at the crack of dawn, there are plenty of ways to incorporate kombucha into your diet. Are you looking for an organic kombucha option? Want to learn more about how your kombucha is brewed or how we craft the best ingredients into such a delicious beverage? Contact us at Brew Dr to learn more about our great line of kombucha options.
