Can You Take Creatine While Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

Short answer: There isn't enough human research to say creatine supplements are safe for all pregnant or breastfeeding people. Creatine is a natural compound your body makes and gets from food, and it is naturally present in breast milk. But no large human trials have tested creatine supplements in pregnancy, and no one has measured how much creatine passes into breast milk after a mother supplements. 

For that reason, creatine is not recommended as a routine supplement while pregnant or breastfeeding unless your healthcare provider specifically clears it. If you were taking creatine before pregnancy, ask your provider whether to pause it.

• Pregnancy: Human evidence so far is limited to small studies (dosing and natural-level research). No safety trials exist, so the lack of reported harm is not proof of safety.
• Breastfeeding: NIH LactMed advises avoiding creatine supplements unless a healthcare professional prescribes them. Milk levels after supplementation haven't been measured, and creatine can raise a baby's creatinine readings.
• What to do: Tell your provider if you take creatine, partly because it can affect creatinine on routine labs. Focus on food sources unless you're cleared.

Get most of your nutrition from a balanced diet of whole foods that support your recovery and overall health. Supplements should fill the gaps that sleep loss, recovery and feeding a baby make hard to close with meals alone.

Is creatine safe during pregnancy?

There’s simply not enough evidence to say for sure. No randomized controlled trial has tested creatine supplements in pregnant women, so their safety hasn't been established. Most reviewers and clinicians advise against routine use during pregnancy unless your healthcare provider recommends it. 

What human research exists

So far, human studies describe how the body handles creatine during pregnancy. None was designed to test whether supplementing is safe.

• Natural creatine levels (no supplements tested). A 2024 prospective cohort study followed women with low-risk pregnancies at a Melbourne health service clinic. Maternal plasma creatine stayed stable from early pregnancy to birth, while urinary creatine fell late in gestation. The authors concluded that creatine metabolism adjusts across pregnancy. Participants were not given creatine supplements.
• Dosing only. A small 2025 open-label dose-escalation trial gave a single 5 g dose of creatine monohydrate to seven women in their third trimester and eight non-pregnant women. Blood creatine rose and fell similarly in both groups. The trial (ANZCTR registration) measured how creatine moves through the blood. It did not measure pregnancy or baby outcomes.
• Earlier observational work. A retrospective cohort of 287 pregnant women (Dickinson et al., BJOG 2016) linked natural maternal creatine excretion with fetal growth. It also did not test supplements.

None of these studies show that creatine supplements are safe in pregnancy. They are early steps toward the trials that could answer that question.

What animal research suggests

In animal models, giving creatine to the mother before birth helped protect newborns from the effects of low oxygen during delivery. A 2025 guinea pig study found that maternal creatine throughout a full-term pregnancy did not change gestational weight gain, fetal growth or blood flow to the baby.

While these results are encouraging, animal findings can't establish human safety. Placental transport and creatine metabolism differ between species.

[H3] What experts conclude

A 2025 meta-data review rated the human evidence on creatine in pregnancy as limited and the risk as unknown. Its authors concluded that, until randomized trials are done, creatine supplementation shouldn't be recommended in clinical practice outside of research. 

Another review on creatine for fetal neuroprotection found no completed human trials to include.

So creatine isn't banned in pregnancy, but it’s not cleared as safe, either. You may see claims online that research now shows 3–5 g a day is "generally safe" for healthy pregnant women. No published trial has shown this.

Special considerations

• Kidney history or high blood pressure: If you have kidney disease, high blood pressure or a history of preeclampsia, talk to your provider before taking any creatine supplement.
• Lab tests: Creatine breaks down into creatinine, a marker used in routine bloodwork. Prenatal care can use creatinine to check kidney function and screen for preeclampsia, so tell your provider if you take creatine.
• Hydration: Creatine draws water into muscle cells. Hydration needs already rise in pregnancy, so drink enough fluid whether or not you use creatine.

Can you take creatine while breastfeeding?

You shouldn’t unless your provider recommends it. The NIH LactMed, the National Library of Medicine's reference on medicines and supplements during lactation, echoes that sentiment. It’s not because it’s unsafe, but because there’s no definitive data on how much creatine reaches breast milk after a mother supplements. 

If you are taking creatine, consider a few things.

Creatine is already in breast milk

Creatine is a normal part of human milk. According to LactMed, it supplies about 9% of a baby's daily creatine needs, though amounts vary by country and diet. A 2024 study found that levels are highest in colostrum and decline over the first two weeks after birth. Your baby's own body makes the rest.

What we don't know about milk transfer

No one has measured milk creatine levels in humans after a mother takes a creatine supplement. So we don't know whether supplementing changes how much creatine your baby receives, or whether any change would matter.

Your baby's lab results

Creatine converts to creatinine in both your body and your baby's. LactMed notes that creatine can raise an infant's serum creatinine, which may change estimates of the baby's kidney function. If your baby has bloodwork, tell the pediatrician about any creatine you take.

 Talk to your provider or lactation consultant first

If you're considering creatine while nursing, speak with your healthcare provider, and bring the following to the conversation:

• the product and dose you're thinking about
• why you want to take it (energy, training, something else)
• your baby's age, feeding pattern and any health concerns
• any other supplements or medications you take

If you're ever unsure about a supplement, always consult a healthcare professional.

I was taking creatine before I got pregnant. Should I stop?

Many providers suggest pausing creatine supplements because of limited safety data. Your provider can weigh your health history, why you were taking it, and how far along you are. In the meantime, keep eating creatine-containing foods as part of a balanced diet if they're already part of how you eat.

What creatine is and why it matters in pregnancy

Creatine is a natural compound made from amino acids that helps the body produce energy quickly and recycles adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This molecule supplies quick energy to muscles and the brain. Your liver, kidneys and pancreas make about half of what you need. The rest comes from food, mainly meat and fish.

Pregnancy changes how your body handles creatine. The 2024 AJCN cohort study found that maternal blood creatine stays steady while urinary creatine falls late in pregnancy, which suggests creatine metabolism adjusts as pregnancy progresses. Researchers are studying what this means for mother and baby. It does not mean pregnant women need creatine supplements.

Food sources of creatine

Creatine is found almost entirely in animal foods. Approximate amounts in raw food, per a review of dietary creatine (Brosnan & Brosnan, Amino Acids 2016):

Creatine for vegetarians and vegans

If you're vegetarian or vegan, your body creatine stores are likely lower. In a randomized trial, women who switched to a vegetarian diet for three months saw their body creatine pool decline. LactMed also notes lower blood creatine in vegan than omnivorous mothers. If you eat a plant-based diet, mention it to your provider when you discuss prenatal nutrition.

Side effects, creatinine and labs

Please note: this section is for general information, including for anyone whose provider has cleared creatine:

• Digestive issues: Bloating, nausea or loose stools can happen, mostly with large single doses. A 2025 review found these effects are usually mild and less likely when single doses are kept at 5 g or less.
• Water retention: Creatine draws water into muscle cells, which can cause a small, temporary rise in body weight.
• Dehydration and cramping: The same review found that controlled studies in healthy adults have not shown creatine causes dehydration or cramps.
• Creatinine and kidney tests: Creatine breaks down into creatinine, and supplements can raise blood creatinine. Many labs use creatinine to estimate kidney function. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found that in healthy adults, this rise doesn't reflect true kidney damage. People with existing kidney conditions should be monitored more closely.
• Pregnancy labs: There are no studies on how supplementation affects creatinine-based screening in pregnancy. If you take creatine, tell your provider so they can interpret your bloodwork.

If your provider clears creatine: what to look for 

Supplement quality varies widely, so if you and your provider decide creatine is right for you, the product matters. Look for:

• Creatine monohydrate - It's the most-studied form. Other forms haven't been shown to work better.
• Third-party testing -  Certifications such as NSF Certified for Sport and Clean Label Project verify that the product contains what's on the label and screen for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides.
• Clear dosing - The label should state exactly how much creatine is in each serving, with no proprietary blends.

Needed's Women's Creatine is creatine monohydrate in a Biomicronized™ powder designed to dissolve fully in water. It is NSF Certified for Sport® and has earned Clean Label Project's Purity and Pesticide-Free Awards. Women's Creatine is not formulated or cleared specifically for pregnancy or breastfeeding, so talk with your provider before using it during either stage.

Other ways to support energy while pregnant or nursing

Fatigue is common in pregnancy and the months after birth. These basics have the strongest track record:

• Eat regularly: Small, frequent meals that combine protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats help keep energy steady. Try these healing foods for postpartum recovery.
• Stay hydrated: Fluid needs rise in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Electrolytes, such as Needed's Hydration Support, can help you meet them.
• Rest when you can: 8 hours of sleep if possible, and naps count.
• Move gently: Walking and stretching can lift energy once your provider says you're ready.
• Keep up your prenatal: A prenatal multivitamin helps you meet higher nutrient needs before, during and after pregnancy. Many women continue theirs while breastfeeding; here's why you shouldn't stop supplementing postpartum.

Other supplements to discuss with your provider

Some supplements have more research behind their use during lactation than creatine does. Ask your provider whether any of these fit your needs:

• Omega-3 DHA
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium glycinate
• Collagen protein

Frequently asked questions

Is creatine safe while pregnant?

There isn't enough human research to say for sure. No randomized trials have tested creatine supplements in pregnancy. The few human studies measured natural creatine levels or how a single dose is absorbed, not safety. Most clinicians advise against routine use unless your provider specifically recommends it. Creatine from food is a normal part of a balanced diet.

Can you take creatine while breastfeeding?

NIH LactMed advises avoiding creatine supplements while breastfeeding unless a healthcare professional prescribes them. Creatine is naturally in breast milk and provides about 9% of a baby's daily needs, but no data show what happens if a mother supplements. Supplementation may also raise a baby's creatinine readings. Talk to your provider or lactation consultant first.

Can you take creatine while pregnant?

Only if your healthcare provider specifically clears it. Creatine supplements haven't been tested for safety in pregnancy. 

Is creatine safe during pregnancy?

Its safety hasn't been established. Animal studies are encouraging, but they can't show safety in humans, and no human trial has measured pregnancy or baby outcomes after supplementation. Ask your provider before taking creatine, especially if you used it before pregnancy.

Is creatine safe while breastfeeding?

The safety of creatine supplements while breastfeeding is unknown. LactMed, the NIH's lactation reference, says it is probably best to avoid them unless prescribed, because milk levels after supplementation have never been measured in humans. This reflects missing data, not evidence of harm. Eating meat or fish as part of a balanced diet is fine.

Does creatine pass into breast milk?

We don't know whether a mother's creatine supplement raises milk levels, because no one has measured this in humans.

Should I stop taking creatine if I'm pregnant?

Ask your healthcare provider as soon as you know you're pregnant. Many providers will suggest pausing creatine supplements because human safety data in pregnancy is limited. Share the product and dose you've been taking so your provider can advise you and interpret any bloodwork, since creatine can raise creatinine levels.

Can creatine affect pregnancy bloodwork or creatinine levels?

Yes. Creatine breaks down into creatinine, and supplements can raise blood creatinine without kidney damage in healthy adults. Prenatal care can use creatinine to check kidney function and screen for preeclampsia, and no studies have examined how creatine supplements affect these tests in pregnancy. Tell your provider if you take creatine.

Can creatine affect my baby's kidney tests while breastfeeding?

It may. According to NIH LactMed, creatine converts to creatinine in both mother and infant and can raise an infant's serum creatinine. That may alter estimates of the baby's kidney function. If you take creatine while nursing and your baby needs bloodwork, tell the pediatrician so they can interpret the results correctly.

Is creatine monohydrate the form that has been studied?

Yes. Creatine monohydrate is the most-studied form of creatine, including in the small pregnancy dosing trial and in safety reviews of healthy adults. Other forms haven't been shown to work better. Even so, research on creatine monohydrate in pregnancy and breastfeeding is limited, so talk to your provider before using any form.

Sources

1. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Creatine. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). Updated July 15, 2025.
2. Mihatsch WA, Stahl B, Braun U. The umbilical cord creatine flux and time course of human milk creatine across lactation. Nutrients. 2024;16(3):345.
3. de Guingand DL, Palmer KR, Callahan DL, Snow RJ, Davies-Tuck ML, Ellery SJ. Creatine and pregnancy outcomes: a prospective cohort study of creatine metabolism in low-risk pregnant females. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024;119:838–849.
4. Open-label, dose-escalation trial of creatine monohydrate in pregnancy. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2025. Trial registration ACTRN12620001373965.
5. Longobardi I, Solis MY, Roschel H, Gualano B. A short review of the most common safety concerns regarding creatine ingestion. Front Nutr. 2025;12:1682746. (Mini review)
6. Muccini AM, Tran NT, de Guingand DL, et al. Creatine metabolism in female reproduction, pregnancy and newborn health. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):490. (Review)
7. Dickinson H, Davies-Tuck M, Ellery SJ, … Clifton VL. Maternal creatine in pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study. BJOG. 2016;123(11):1830–1838. 
8. Blancquaert L, Baguet A, … Derave W. Changing to a vegetarian diet reduces the body creatine pool in omnivorous women, but appears not to affect carnitine and carnosine homeostasis: a randomized trial. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(7):759–770.
9. Kabiri Naeini E, Eskandari M, Mortazavi M, Gholaminejad A, Karevan N. Effect of creatine supplementation on kidney function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nephrol. 2025;26:622.