What do medical sources say about Chamomile during pregnancy?

1st Trimester: NCCIH says little is known about chamomile in pregnancy; it describes amounts common in tea and food as likely to pose little concern, but this does not cover concentrated products. MotherToBaby says herbs used in food in moderation are not expected to be of concern, though its page does not address chamomile specifically. A 2025 review of 23 studies involving 2,065 women found mixed results and said the evidence could not support pregnancy-use recommendations. Two observational studies reported pregnancy-outcome signals, but they could not show chamomile caused them; EMA distinguishes German chamomile tea from other preparations and separately reviews Roman chamomile. The reviewed sources do not provide a reliable first-trimester-specific estimate, so evidence is insufficient for this period. Ask your provider about your situation. 2nd Trimester: NCCIH says little is known about chamomile in pregnancy; it describes amounts common in tea and food as likely to pose little concern, but this does not cover concentrated products. MotherToBaby says herbs used in food in moderation are not expected to be of concern, though its page does not address chamomile specifically. A 2025 review of 23 studies involving 2,065 women found mixed results and said the evidence could not support pregnancy-use recommendations. Two observational studies reported pregnancy-outcome signals, but they could not show chamomile caused them; EMA distinguishes German chamomile tea from other preparations and separately reviews Roman chamomile. The reviewed sources do not provide a reliable second-trimester-specific estimate, so evidence is insufficient for this period. Ask your provider about your situation. 3rd Trimester: NCCIH says little is known about chamomile in pregnancy; it describes amounts common in tea and food as likely to pose little concern, but this does not cover concentrated products. MotherToBaby says herbs used in food in moderation are not expected to be of concern, though its page does not address chamomile specifically. A 2025 review of 23 studies involving 2,065 women found mixed results and said the evidence could not support pregnancy-use recommendations. Two observational studies reported pregnancy-outcome signals, but they could not show chamomile caused them; EMA distinguishes German chamomile tea from other preparations and separately reviews Roman chamomile. A 2026 labor-massage trial measured maternal symptoms, not fetal outcomes, and the reviewed sources do not provide a reliable third-trimester-specific estimate. Ask your provider about your situation.

What do medical sources say about Chamomile while breastfeeding?

LactMed reports no published data on chamomile levels in milk or effects in breastfed infants; it says milk amounts are expected but have not been measured. LactMed considers usual maternal doses unlikely to cause harm, but this is an estimate rather than measured infant exposure. NCCIH also says little is known about breastfeeding use. EMA considers one German chamomile tea preparation differently from other forms, while its Roman chamomile monograph says data are insufficient; sources therefore differ by species and preparation. A 2025 review found no studies of infant outcomes after maternal chamomile use, so evidence remains limited. Ask your provider about your situation.

Where do sources disagree on Chamomile in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy use of German chamomile tea versus other preparations and Roman chamomile The EMA monograph for German chamomile flower says its herbal-tea preparation has established use during pregnancy and lactation; the monograph treats other preparations separately. NCCIH says little is known about chamomile in pregnancy. The EMA Roman chamomile monograph says pregnancy and lactation use is not recommended because data are insufficient. MotherToBaby's general herb sheet does not make a chamomile-specific finding. The EMA German chamomile monograph addresses a defined tea preparation and separates it from other preparations. The Roman chamomile monograph addresses a different species. NCCIH gives a broad summary, and the 2025 review covers varied products, doses, and study designs. These sources do not assess the same species or preparations. The sources do not establish one conclusion for every chamomile species and preparation. The EMA tea statement is specific to German chamomile; it does not extend to Roman chamomile or every supplement. Human pregnancy findings are mixed and mostly observational, so the entry remains insufficient for a trimester-specific conclusion.

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Chamomile

Herbal

Also called · 8 names▾

German chamomile, Roman chamomile, Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile, Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, camomile, chamomile tea

Herbal supplement (sleep and anxiety)

Herbs and supplements are not FDA-approved before sale. About these sources

Tea
Food / spice
Topical
Other

Pregnancy

Ferguson and Gordon (2025) reviewed 23 studies (16 clinical trials and seven observational studies) involving 2,065 women in nine countries; the authors said the evidence could not support clinical recommendations because products, doses, and study methods varied. The review found mixed pregnancy-outcome results. Cuzzolin et al. (2010) interviewed 392 Italian pregnant women and reported higher rates of threatened miscarriage and preterm labor among regular users of chamomile and licorice; its abstract does not give chamomile-specific counts or adjusted estimates, so the association cannot be attributed to chamomile alone. EMA's 2015 assessment described the same study as showing no statistically significant outcome for Matricaria users. Trabace et al. (2015) considered 600 interviews and reported regular chamomile use was associated with preterm delivery, lower birth weight, and shorter newborn length; retrospective self-report cannot establish cause. Other observational reports in the 2025 review did not find some of these outcomes or had uncertain results. A 2026 randomized trial of 154 primiparous women compared labor massage with chamomile oil, massage without it, and routine care; it measured maternal fear, anxiety, depression, and stress, not fetal or newborn outcomes. A 2009 PubMed case report is titled as fetal ductus arteriosus narrowing after maternal chamomile tea use, but PubMed has no abstract, and the report details could not be independently verified.

Breastfeeding

LactMed (last revision February 15, 2021) says published information was not found on chamomile levels in maternal milk, infant levels, or effects in breastfed infants. It says smaller amounts in milk are expected but not demonstrated, and considers usual maternal doses unlikely to cause harm. A 2018 case report describes one woman who noticed breast fullness and increased milk after consuming chamomile; an uncontrolled report does not establish a milk-supply effect. LactMed says no scientifically valid clinical trials support chamomile as a galactagogue. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's 2018 protocol says a lactation expert should evaluate the full feeding process before galactagogue use. Ferguson and Gordon's 2025 review says no articles were identified on possible risk to breastfeeding infants from maternal chamomile use; postpartum trials it reviewed focused on maternal outcomes.

Pregnancy use of German chamomile tea versus other preparations and Roman chamomile

Source A says: The EMA monograph for German chamomile flower says its herbal-tea preparation has established use during pregnancy and lactation; the monograph treats other preparations separately. (EMA: EU monograph on Matricaria recutita flower)
Source B says: NCCIH says little is known about chamomile in pregnancy. The EMA Roman chamomile monograph says pregnancy and lactation use is not recommended because data are insufficient. MotherToBaby's general herb sheet does not make a chamomile-specific finding. (NCCIH: Chamomile, EMA: EU monograph on Chamaemelum nobile flower, MotherToBaby: Herbal Products fact sheet)
Why they differ: The EMA German chamomile monograph addresses a defined tea preparation and separates it from other preparations. The Roman chamomile monograph addresses a different species. NCCIH gives a broad summary, and the 2025 review covers varied products, doses, and study designs. These sources do not assess the same species or preparations.
Other sources: The 2025 review found mixed pregnancy-outcome results and said evidence did not support clinical recommendations. Cuzzolin (2010) and Trabace (2015) reported observational signals, but neither study establishes that chamomile caused the outcomes. (Ferguson and Gordon, 2025 systematic review of chamomile during pregnancy and postpartum, Cuzzolin et al., Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 2010, Trabace et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2015)
What the evidence shows overall: The sources do not establish one conclusion for every chamomile species and preparation. The EMA tea statement is specific to German chamomile; it does not extend to Roman chamomile or every supplement. Human pregnancy findings are mixed and mostly observational, so the entry remains insufficient for a trimester-specific conclusion.

Interpretation of the 2010 observational study on pregnancy outcomes

Source A says: The EMA 2015 assessment report says Cuzzolin et al. found no statistically significant effects for any Matricaria user and no Matricaria-specific pregnancy issue. (EMA: Assessment report on Matricaria recutita flower)
Source B says: Cuzzolin et al.'s 2010 abstract reports a higher incidence of threatened miscarriage and preterm labor among regular users of chamomile and licorice. (Cuzzolin et al., Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety 2010)
Why they differ: The EMA report interprets the study as showing no statistically significant Matricaria-specific effect, while the abstract reports an incidence signal among regular users of chamomile and licorice. The abstract does not report chamomile-specific counts or adjusted estimates. The EMA report predates the separate 2015 Trabace study. The 2025 review rates the observational evidence as limited and heterogeneous; the exact reason for the difference in interpretation cannot be resolved from the available abstracts.
Other sources: The 2025 review identifies mixed pregnancy-outcome findings. Trabace et al. (2015), a later observational study, reports associations with preterm delivery and lower newborn weight and length, but does not establish cause. (Ferguson and Gordon, 2025 systematic review of chamomile during pregnancy and postpartum, Trabace et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2015)
What the evidence shows overall: Keep both the EMA assessment and the primary abstract visible. The Cuzzolin signal is not a quantified or causal estimate, and the later Trabace study is observational. The available pregnancy findings remain mixed and do not support a trimester-specific conclusion.

Breastfeeding use of German chamomile tea versus the absence of measured milk and infant data

Source A says: The EMA German chamomile monograph says its tea preparation has established use during lactation and calls for topical products to be removed from nipples before nursing. (EMA: EU monograph on Matricaria recutita flower)
Source B says: LactMed reports no published data on chamomile levels in milk or effects in breastfed infants, and NCCIH says little is known about use while breastfeeding. (LactMed: Chamomile, NCCIH: Chamomile)
Why they differ: The EMA monograph concerns a specified German chamomile tea preparation and reflects a medicinal-product assessment. LactMed focuses on measured milk levels and infant outcomes, which it says have not been reported. The statements differ in scope and evidence threshold, rather than establishing a shared risk estimate for every product.
Other sources: MotherToBaby reports little information on herbal products during breastfeeding, and the 2025 review found no articles on possible infant risks from maternal chamomile use. (MotherToBaby: Herbal Products fact sheet, Ferguson and Gordon, 2025 systematic review of chamomile during pregnancy and postpartum)
What the evidence shows overall: Direct evidence about milk transfer and infant outcomes remains very limited. The EMA statement applies to German chamomile tea, while LactMed's data gap applies to measured milk and infant outcomes. The broad breastfeeding rating remains insufficient, with the species and preparation distinction shown to readers.

Last reviewed 2026-10-14

Independent check 2026-10-14

Not yet clinician-reviewed

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Chamomile

Chamomile — Breastfeeding

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