What to drink during confinement: water, red date tea, tonics, kopi and alcohol, with breastfeeding limits

Plain water is the best thing to drink during confinement, despite the old rule against it. KKH's dietitians suggest at least 8 to 10 glasses of fluid a day, and red date tea, ginger water, soup and milk all count. HealthHub suggests limiting sweet drinks like red date tea to one glass a day, coffee or tea to 2 cups, and avoiding alcohol in the first week. After that, KKH allows up to 30 ml of alcohol a day with a 3-hour wait before you breastfeed. Herbal drinks need a check with a registered TCM physician, especially if your baby has G6PD deficiency. Here is each common confinement drink, what Singapore's doctors say, and how much is sensible.

How much to drink

Singapore's sources give slightly different numbers, but they agree on the direction: drink more than usual if you are breastfeeding.

The simplest rule is to keep a glass of water next to wherever you feed, and drink more if you are thirsty or your urine is dark, as KKH's dietitians advise. HealthHub warns that breastfeeding mothers who don't drink enough will have a lower milk supply.

Some Chinese families still avoid plain water during confinement and drink a brew of herbs and preserved dates instead, to reduce water retention. KKH's doctors say to drink enough fluid, especially if you are breastfeeding. HealthHub's answer to water retention is to cut down on salt, sauces and seasoning, not water.

Common confinement drinks and what doctors say

Coffee, tea and kopi

HealthHub and KKH's dietitians both say 2 cups of coffee or tea a day, and HealthXchange puts the caffeine limit for breastfeeding women at 300 mg a day. Local kopi counts for more than you might think: HealthXchange says it uses Robusta beans, which have twice the caffeine of the Arabica beans used in most coffee chains. Caffeine also turns up in strong teas, cola and energy drinks.

HealthHub's advice is to stop caffeine altogether if your baby isn't sleeping well or is generally irritable. If you take iron tablets after the birth, HealthHub says to space them at least 2 hours from coffee, tea and milk so the iron is absorbed.

Alcohol, rice wine and tonic wines

Singapore's pages are not all equally strict, so here they are side by side:

• HealthHub's first-days page says alcohol should be avoided during confinement and while breastfeeding, and its nutrition page says new mothers should not regard alcohol as essential to recovery.
• KKH's dietitians say to avoid alcohol in the first week while your milk supply is established, and from the second week to keep to 30 ml a day and wait at least 3 hours before breastfeeding.
• HealthHub's medicines page says up to 1 standard drink a day is not known to be harmful for a breastfeeding mother.

Rice wine cooked into confinement dishes is a separate case: KKH says it is fine if the dish simmers for at least 30 minutes with the lid off. Drinking tonic wine is not the same as eating a dish cooked with it. Some Indian families give D.O.M. to keep the body warm, KKH's doctors note; check the label, and if it contains alcohol, the same limits apply. Our guide to foods to avoid during confinement covers the rice wine dishes.

Herbal drinks and tonics

Malay mothers may drink jamu or air akar kayu, tonics made from medicinal plants, and Indian mothers may take garlic milk. HealthHub's advice for any traditional herbal preparation is to consult a registered TCM physician first, to make sure it is safe while you breastfeed. KKH's doctors add that alcohol and other substances in confinement tonics can pass into breast milk and may worsen jaundice in a newborn who already has it.

Take extra care if your baby has G6PD deficiency, which NUH says affects about 5% of the Chinese population. NUH's list of things to avoid with G6PD deficiency, which it says applies to breastfeeding mothers too, includes fava (broad) beans, and it advises caution with herbal supplements. Ask the hospital which herbs to avoid before you start any tonic. Our confinement herbs guide covers dang gui, ginseng and the other common tonics.

A simple drinks plan for a confinement day

For what to eat alongside, see our confinement soup recipes, our guide to what to eat while breastfeeding and the confinement guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink plain water during confinement?

Yes. KKH's doctors advise drinking enough fluid, especially if you are breastfeeding, and KKH's dietitians call water the best thirst quencher. To ease water retention, HealthHub says to cut down on salt rather than water.

Is red date tea good during confinement?

It counts as fluid, but HealthHub says sugary drinks like it are best limited to one glass a day. Don't let it replace water, especially if you had diabetes in pregnancy.

Can I drink coffee during confinement if I'm breastfeeding?

Yes, up to 2 cups of coffee or tea a day, as HealthHub advises. Local kopi has about twice the caffeine of chain coffee, so count it carefully, and cut caffeine out if your baby is sleeping badly.

Can I drink alcohol or tonic wine during confinement?

Not in the first week. After that, KKH's dietitians allow up to 30 ml of alcohol a day with at least a 3-hour wait before you breastfeed, though HealthHub's own advice is to avoid it while breastfeeding.

What should I avoid drinking if my baby has G6PD deficiency?

NUH's avoid list for G6PD deficiency, which it says applies to breastfeeding mothers too, includes fava (broad) beans, and it advises caution with herbal supplements. Ask your baby's doctor before taking any herbal tonic or tea.