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Can You Take A Pre-Workout While Breastfeeding?

Planning to workout while breastfeeding? Good for you! But can you take a pre-workout while breastfeeding? Great question! People often ask me whether it’s safe to take a pre-workout while breastfeeding. Moms also wonder if taking a pre-workout increase milk supply? You will find the answers to your questions here. Our experts address pre-workout supplements, breastfeeding, and more.

You can take a pre-workout while breastfeeding provided that you are absolutely sure it doesn’t contain any caffeine or stimulants. If you’re taking a pre-workout that contains caffeine-like an energy drink-then there’s no question: no, it’s not safe for breastfeeding moms to take pre-workout while they’re nursing. But if your pre-workout supplement contains ingredients like creatine or beta alanine, then there’s more evidence that it could be safe for moms to take them while they’re pregnant or nursing.

It’s natural to want an extra energy boost to help you power through an intense workout. However, before taking a pre-workout supplement, consider how the extra caffeine might affect your baby through breast milk. This is the article for you if you’re a new mom looking for pre-workout options or just curious about them. So, keep reading to find out if you can take pre-workout supplements while breastfeeding.

Is It Safe To Take Pre-Workout For Nursing Mothers?

Babies react differently to certain ingredients in pre-workout drinks, such as caffeine. However caffeine consumption of up to 300 milligrams (mg) per day is safe while breastfeeding, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Current research show that you can take pre-workout that is low in caffeine while breastfeeding and it is safe. However, you should always go to your doctor about your specific situation. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind.

The main concern with pre-workout supplements and breastfeeding is that the caffeine in the pre-workout will affect breast milk. Fortunately, there are many stimulant-free pre-workout supplements on the market. These are excellent alternatives to pre-workout supplements that are not intended for pregnant women to consume.

Many pre-workout supplements will state on the label that they shouldn’t be used while pregnant or breastfeeding or that you should consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

When To Breastfeed After Taking Pre-Workout?

Some recommend waiting 2 to 3 hours after taking your pre-workout drink before starting breastfeeding. Others believe that one to two hours of waiting should suffice. You should wait at least 3 hours before breastfeeding if you consume a high-sugar or caffeine pre-workout. Some babies handle sugar and caffeine extremely well, so waiting that long is unnecessary.

You should also consider monitoring your baby’s response after taking pre-workout supplements the first few times you breastfeed.

What Are The Best Pre-Workouts For Breastfeeding Mothers?

The best pre-workout for nursing is one that contains just the right dose of caffeine to give you the energy you require while not causing harm to your child. The following are some of the best pre-workouts for breastfeeding women. These pre-workouts contain just the right ingredients, making them ideal for breastfeeding women.

  • Flume’s Flow: This is a plant-based pre-workout supplement. It contains ingredients that aid in hydration while improving stamina, focus, and mood. According to reviews, it tastes like tea and goes well in oatmeal or smoothies. Flume is also committed to environmental stewardship, employing sustainable packaging and responsible sourcing. The following are the best pre-workouts for breastfeeding women:
  • C4 Pre-Workout: For good reason, C4 is one of the most popular pre-workout supplements. Their supplements are also packed with vitamins to keep you feeling your best. They are caffeine-free, containing only 135 mg. They are also NSF certified and FDA approved, so you can rest assured that they are a safe option while breastfeeding.
  • PEScience High Volume: When breastfeeding, the PEScience High Volume Pre-Workout is an excellent choice. It is completely caffeine-free, so you won’t experience any of caffeine’s negative side effects. Despite being caffeine-free, it provides a lot of energy by increasing nitric oxide levels. It also lacks beta-alanine, so you won’t experience any tingling or itching.
  • Bucked Up: With 200 mg of caffeine, this pre-workout is ideal for breastfeeding mothers who require more stimulants and want to keep their babies nourished. It’s sugar-free but still has that distinctive Red Raz flavor. Bucked Up is a bit pricey for pre-workout, but many people say it is well worth it.
  • Pump Surge: Another stimulus-free option is Pump Surge. Instead of caffeine, it contains nootropics to improve cognitive function and memory. There are no artificial food dyes or fillers, so you know what you’re getting.

Taking Pre-Workout While Breastfeeding: What Ingredients To Avoid?

Before you go out and buy a pre-workout pack, you should know a few things. Before purchasing one for yourself, you should know the ingredients to avoid in a pre-workout supplement.

The ingredients are typically listed on the supplement’s label. To ensure the supplement does not contain the ingredients listed below, carefully read the label.

The following are some pre-workout ingredients to avoid while breastfeeding:

  • Artificial Flavors: Most pre-workout powder mixes contain artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors. These are simply empty calories and chemicals with no nutritional value.
  • Beta-alanine: It is a naturally occurring amino acid found in meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products. In high doses, beta-alanine can cause tingling and prickly sensations under your skin, a condition known as paresthesia. Paresthesia is not dangerous but can be uncomfortable and even painful for you and your baby.
  • Sugar: Sugar in pre-workout supplements can take the form of sucrose, maltose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, or dextrose. Sugar in moderation is beneficial, but anything more than 10g per serving harms nursing mothers because it raises insulin levels.
  • Taurine: Taurine is a protein found in both tissue and skeletal muscle. While taurine is generally considered safe, some believe it may cause dehydration in a newborn baby. Taurine can also cause diarrhea and stomach cramps and increase hunger.
  • Bitter Orange: If breastfeeding or pregnant, you should avoid this weight-loss ingredient.
  • Alpha GPC: This ingredient should be used cautiously because Alpha GPC’s stimulant form can interfere with breastfeeding.
  • Yohimbine: Yohimbine is a plant native to West African herb with aphrodisiac properties. Yohimbine is safe when you’re healthy, but you should avoid it if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Pre-Workout While Breastfeeding?

A pre-workout product can be dangerous due to a lack of regulation and knowledge about the ingredients listed on the label. Because there is no regulation, products can be stocked and sold until the agency decides to remove them.

To ensure that a pre-workout supplement contains what it claims to contain and does not contain unlisted ingredients, look for one that has been certified by a third-party regulating agency such as NSF or Informed Choice.

Third-party testing ensures the product’s safety and quality. NSF and Informed Choice both use a stringent process to ensure the quality and purity of supplements.

So Can You Take Pre-Workout While Breastfeeding? Let’s Recap:

If you want to feel energized when you work out, then pre-workout supplements can be an important tool in your nutrition arsenal. If you are expecting or lactating and want to use a pre-workout, always read the labels and consult your doctor if unsure. They may have personalized recommendations for the safety of pre-workout use for your body and current life stage. So, if you’re a breastfeeding mom, it’s time to get out and feel energized while working out! You just need to make sure that the product you’re using doesn’t contain any ingredients that could be harmful to your baby. For example, some pre-workouts contain stimulants like caffeine or taurine, which are both known to be toxic in high quantities. On the other hand, there are plenty of pre-workouts that don’t contain these ingredients and won’t affect your baby at all.

Resources:

  1. https://thebreastfeedingmama.com/is-pre-workout-safe-while-breastfeeding/
  2. https://choosingnutrition.com/pre-workout-while-breastfeeding/
  3. https://urbanmamaz.com/pre-workout-while-breastfeeding-is-it-safe/
  4. https://maxhealthliving.com/pre-workout-for-breastfeeding/
  5. https://garagegympro.com/pre-workout-while-breastfeeding/
  6. https://www.meaganswanson.com/supplements-vs-breastfeeding/
  7. https://www.prelabpro.com/blogs/nutrition/is-pre-workout-safe-to-take-while-nursing

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Marzia Khan
Marzia Khan

Marzia Khan, editor-in-chief and research manager of the HealthyRex platform, is a board-certified Physician Assistant whose practice locations include West U.S. She brings her years of experience in healthcare technology and clinical expertise, helping the team create high-quality, top-notch, and engaging contents that uphold the highest medical integrity. She began her journey with HealthyRex as the Senior Medical Writer since its launch in 2019. Before joining HealthyRex, she was a Medical Transcriptionist specializing in orthopedics, cardiology, IMEs, and record reviews. After years of practice, Marzia Khan transitioned from healthcare technology via her work at Augmedix, where she helped EHR system, secure messaging products, and clinical decision support tools for the healthcare system, to The U.S. Oncology Network overseeing areas of contents based on her medical expertise. She is now expanding her editorial oversight to the entire website and responsible for ensuring the accuracy of health information on HealthyRex. She also writes new articles, reviews and oversees the national network of doctors complying with the materials. Of note, she loves to travel and takes photos of the most colorful pockets.

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