White Mulberry Leaf in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

White mulberry leaf has been used in studies lasting up to 12 weeks without serious harmful effects. The most common side effect is digestive upset, including bloating, constipation, gas, and loose stools. There is a potential risk for low blood sugar when taken with diabetes medications. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of white mulberry berries. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use white mulberry leaf during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

There have been several studies on the potential health benefits and safety of using white mulberry leaf, but most of the studies have been preliminary, and clinical studies (research in people) are limited.

What the research has found

Several studies suggest that white mulberry may reduce elevated blood glucose levels, but some of these studies have been preliminary or were not conducted in humans. Other trials have found no effect on blood glucose levels. Some studies have shown that white mulberry leaves contain numerous chemical compounds that act as antioxidants and may provide therapeutic benefits.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.