Is Yerba mate safe during pregnancy?
Yerba mate contains caffeine — count it toward your daily limit (under 200 mg in pregnancy).
PregnancyUse with care
BreastfeedingUse with care
EvidenceLimited
What the sources say
LactMed lists yerba mate with cola, energy drinks and guarana as caffeine sources with similar dose-related effects on a breastfed baby. ACOG's pregnancy limit is under 200 mg caffeine a day from all sources. The sources reviewed don't give a standard caffeine figure per cup of mate, so check labels. It's an herbal product too — talk with your clinician about regular use.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
guayakí, mate tea, chimarrão
Sources
- NIH LactMed: Caffeine
- ACOG: How much coffee can I drink while I'm pregnant?
- CDC: Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding
- MotherToBaby: Herbal Products
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.