The Psychedelic Frontier: Mothers of the Mushroom

Mikaela de la Myco is an educator, mother, folk herbalist, community organizer and entheogen facilitator centering ancestral healing modalities, sacred earth medicine and sensual assault advocacy. As the founder of mushWOMB, she provides education for birthing people, queer folks and BIPOC in the sacred earth medicine space and full spectrum womb care space. In all things, she acts as an instrument of change in the struggle to rematriate entheogens. She’s answering this week’s reader question.

Q: My relationship with psilocybin through microdosing and larger journeys has helped me get off of antidepressants and work through past traumas among other things. I’m now trying to start a family and I would like to breastfeed. I’m curious if it’s safe for me and my future baby if I continue microdosing through this time? I can’t find any information and my doctor is not well educated in this area.

A: Thank you for this question, it is a common and complex one. It sounds like your relationship with psilocybin has been meaningful, and it makes sense that you’re wondering whether microdosing is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Unfortunately, because psilocybin is still federally restricted, clinical studies on its effects during this time are lacking and many doctors simply don’t have the knowledge to offer guidance.

Mothers of the Mushroom, a community-led research project, offers insight from over 400 women who have used psilocybin while pregnant or breastfeeding, informed and inspired by generations of Indigenous perspectives that have long honored mushrooms as gestational aids.

Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Findings

Psilocybin-containing mushrooms have been incorporated in these lineages as a tool for healing and support during transformation, like the motherhood journey. This is a way of knowing that prioritizes observation over time and adaptability to individual needs. Rather than asking if something is universally safe, a person might ask: How does this feel and what am I observing? These perspectives encourage mothers to pay attention to their own experiences and their babies’ responses and adjust accordingly.

From a Western scientific perspective, psilocybin mushrooms have a proven safety profile. LD50 toxicity testing — used to determine the lethal dose of substances — shows that psilocybin has extremely low toxicity, far lower than substances commonly consumed in pregnancy, such as caffeine.

Additionally, in a controlled study on pregnant rats using c-psilocin, no fetal fatalities were observed. While this does not confirm human safety, it adds to the existing body of knowledge that shows psilocybin is physiologically safe in commonly used doses.

What Mothers of the Mushroom Research Tells Us

While large-scale studies are lacking, Mothers of the Mushroom gathered data points concerning mothers who ingested psilocybin during pregnancy and breastfeeding — and the following was observed:

• Newborn health outcomes were within expected norms. Birth weights and lengths mostly fell within typical ranges.

• No significant negative birth outcomes were reported. One mother surveyed had a pregnancy complication leading to induction at 38 weeks, but her baby was born healthy.

• Mothers found psilocybin emotionally and mentally supportive. Many reported that microdosing helped regulate anxiety, stabilize mood and deepen their connection to their child.

• Some mothers observed changes in their babies after consuming psilocybin while breastfeeding. Some babies became more active, while others became sleepier. For mothers, physiological side effects reported were nausea and sleepiness. Psychological side effects included fear due to stigma or judgement and hard-to-manage sensations brought on by too strong of a dose.

Observation as a Primary Tool

Mothers naturally adjust their babies’ environments based on observation — whether it’s choosing formula, introducing new foods or changing sleep routines. Mothers of the Mushroom participants applied similar approaches to psilocybin, adjusting or pausing microdosing based on their baby’s feeding patterns, temperament or sleep.

Making an Informed Choice

Because research is still emerging, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. If psilocybin has been a source of healing for you, it may continue to support you during this time. However, your body and your baby’s needs will shift, and you may choose to adjust or pause use accordingly.

Mothers in the survey had best results with community support and knowledgeable care providers. Here are some considerations:

How does psilocybin feel in your body right now? Pregnancy and postpartum are times of transformation and what once felt right may feel different.
Are there trusted guides you can turn to? Whether within traditional or modern psychedelic-informed care, knowledgeable support is valuable.
Would other tools feel supportive alongside or instead of psilocybin? Some mothers explore breathwork, herbs, art therapy or somatic practices. Incorporating these can increase benefit as well as replace dosing.
How does your baby respond? If you notice shifts in fetal activity, feeding, sleep or temperament, you may choose to adjust your approach — just as you would with any other change.

It is our perspective that people deserve access to both research and traditional knowledge so they can make informed decisions. For more insights and personal stories, visit Mothers of the Mushroom or listen to the Mothers of the Mushroom audiobook. If more personalized care is needed, I consult with a number of mothers and families about these choices and would be happy to support. (mushWOMB.love)

This article appears in The Source Weekly February 27, 2025.