Is peppermint tea post c-section ok if breastfeeding?

[marchpoppy]

...please?

Should be, can you check on kellymom? They have a page on what's safe during breastfeeding.

Yes it's fine

Is your tum hurting? Sincere sympathies if so, it's horrid!

blackteaplease thanks I found this at kellymom just now:

Large amounts of peppermint or spearmint are known to decrease milk supply, and mint tea is traditionally used for decreasing milk supply ? breastfeeding mothers should avoid drinking mint tea regularly or in large amounts.

kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/gassybaby/

But surely you'd have to drink almost ridiculously large amounts to decrease milk supply?

I had a CS, I drink 2-3 cups of mint tea a day, still breastfeeding DS (like a newborn ) at 15 months. In fact, in the early days I had 'problems' of oversupply.

Thanks Tripped! Lady thanks for your sympathies but I am actually just being organised as c-section planned for 3 weeks' time and last time I had terrible wind after EMCS and didn't know about the p tea remedy.

I wouldn't risk it, even Vicks nasal inhalers or Olbas nasal inhalers (which really only contain a little peppermint oils) should not be used. I would avoid anything with peppermint to be honest. Fennel on the other hand is said to increase milk supply - so maybe that is an alternative? Health food stores sell fennel tea.

It's not exactly a huge risk. I mean, if you notice your supply dwindling, you just stop drinking the tea. Supply doesn't suddenly cut-off, with no chance of return.

They give peppermint after a c-section, if you have trapped wind, which sounds mild, but beleive me, is INCREDIBLY painful - so much so that when someone suggested it was only wind, I scoffed with indignation.
But once I was given peppermint, the pain totally went away.
Multiple doses are thus not required.
IF it is true, that it reduces supply, really that shouldn't be an issue, because if you do need it for pain, you would only need a single dose, anyway, so this is not really going to effect supply.

But does fennel tea reduce wind dikkertjedap? Also it tastes horrid!

I tend to think Tripped is right - if reduction in supply is the only issue with peppermint tea, I can see how it goes - will be eating lots of lactogenic foods as well like oats, almonds etc.

But are there some other risks of peppermint and breastfeeding which are why Vicks and Olbas are banned...?

Had no idea that Vicks and Olbas are banned.

(Surely they're not?)

I had elcs, took peppermint oil capsules and never had any trouble with supply (mild over supply early on, in fact).

Obvs I know that anecdote doesn't trump research-based evidence! but is there any for the notion that peppermint decreases supply? Any links to actual evidence that Vicks nasal inhalers should not be used during bf due to danger of low supply would be welcome. I admit I am sceptical about that one.

What Oblomov said.

Sucking mints worked after I had a laparoscopy. Not the same thing I know but it was to do within helping release the trapped wind as a result of procedure.
Red bush tea is very soothing on tummy and digestion, as is fennel as someone mentioned ....

I had a CS and found peppermint tea to be a lifesaver. I was given it in the hospital by a midwife who knew I was breastfeeding.

I then went on to drink 4 or 5 cups a day for the first few weeks if breastfeeding, and I'm still feeding 19 month old twins now ...

I agree that anecdotal evidence is not as good a proper research, but I really hadn't ever heard of this in 19 months of feeding, attending LLL groups, an active breastfeeding group and completing breastfeeding peer supporter training.

Ah, well, good luck! I was given peppermint oil in hospital and recommended tea by my MW and drank a few cups a day for about a week. The pain was really severe and even had I known it might affect supply that would have the lesser of two evils as it was a real struggle to BF while I was in pain anyway...Let's hope it passes you by!

Fennel tea really helps milk supply and you get used to the taste.

I wouldnt worry about mint tea- you must have to drink loads to have a negative effect on your breast feeding.

Um we actually give pepper mint water to post c section ladies on the ward with trapped wind!

I drank it because of the horrid shoulder tip pain I got post c-section - was recommended by the midwifes - had no idea it was in any way controversial. The pain went very quickly so I didn't drink that much of it.

I drank peppermint tea and only needed 1 cup to sort the wind out after elcs. To be honest, I'd have drank a muddy puddle if that would have stopped the pain!

Thanks again ladies, peppermint teabags are going into my hospital bag! I know that hot drinks (unless provided by the staff) are not allowed on the ward, but I can add peppermint teabag to cold water, swish it around abit, and have peppermint water that way - if needed. I definitely could have done with it last time.

I've had 3 c-sections and only got the shoulder tip pain with the last one and lordy it really hurt.

March - hope all goes well