Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Cranberry? Is Cranberry safe for nursing mother and child? Does Cranberry extracts into breast milk? Does Cranberry has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Cranberry influence milk supply or can Cranberry decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Cranberry lactation summary

Cranberry is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Cranberry is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Cranberry is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Cranberry does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Cranberry safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Cranberry usage in lactation

Juice of ripe fruit is used. It contains proanthocyanidins (PAC), anthocyanins, flavonoids and phenolic acids.It has bacterial anti-adhesion effect and is used as a preventative of UTI. At last update were not found published data on excretion in breast milk. Plant often used even during pregnancy, in many countries.Its common use, low toxicity and because it is consumed as food, moderate consumption during lactation is considered of little or no risk. It may be wise not to exceed the amount contained in a meal portion.

Answer by DrLact: About Cranberry usage in lactation

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit contains phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, and ellagitannins. Some products are standardized based on quinic acid and others are standardized based on phenolics. Cranberry is most often used for prevention of urinary tract infections. It has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of cranberry into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of cranberry in nursing mothers or infants.[1] Cranberry preparations are generally well tolerated as a food, although stomach discomfort and diarrhea can occur with large doses. Cranberry should be avoided in patients allergic to cranberries, blueberries and other Vaccinium species. Some cases of elevated INR have been reported in patients taking cranberry and warfarin. No recommendations can be made on the use of large quantities of cranberry products during breastfeeding. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information #about dietary supplements# is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.

Alternate Drugs

Aloe(Low Risk)
Ginger(Safe)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Garlic(Safe)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Melatonin(Safe)
Hops(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Sage(Low Risk)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Calendula(Safe)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Chamomile(Safe)
Cumin(Safe)
Caraway(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Alfalfa(Unsafe)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Coenzyme Q10(Low Risk)
Castor(Unsafe)
Lecithin(Safe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Garlic(Safe)
Hops(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Caraway(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Alfalfa(Unsafe)
Lecithin(Safe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Ginger(Safe)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Hops(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Sage(Low Risk)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Calendula(Safe)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Caraway(Safe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Cumin(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Lecithin(Safe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Castor(Unsafe)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Aloe(Low Risk)
Garlic(Safe)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Hops(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Sage(Low Risk)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Calendula(Safe)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Caraway(Safe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Cumin(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Lecithin(Safe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Castor(Unsafe)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Aloe(Low Risk)
Garlic(Safe)
Ginger(Safe)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.