Mom says she is a ‘patient’ parent after taking psychedelics while pregnant

A microdosing mom who took psychedelic mushrooms while pregnant and breastfeeding says it has given her “more patience” as a parent.

Mikaela de la Myco, 31, began ingesting psylocibin mushrooms – a type of hallucinogenic mushroom – four months into her pregnancy with her son, aged five.

Following battles with alcohol addiction, ingesting mushrooms was a way for Mikaela “to address” her issues before her son was born.

Microdosing is the practice of taking small doses of psychedelic substances with the aim of improving mental well-being and cognitive function.

Mikaela continues to microdose, ingesting mushrooms in a “variety of forms” including capsules, chocolate, whole dried form and in tea.

She believes there is a “stigma” placed on moms who ingest mushrooms but they can be a “catalyst” for changes in behavior.

Mikaela, an educator and folk herbalist, from San Diego, California, said: “Like many mothers I had a relationship with psylocibin mushrooms before I became pregnant and it was tremendously supportive in many areas of my life.

“I sought to consult with others on the topic and was able to receive information from an elder who expressed to me that in her tradition they ingest while pregnant and that the relationship that mothers have with mushrooms doesn’t break just because of pregnancy.

“I had some concerns in pregnancy – specifically my relationship and addiction to alcohol that I wanted to address with microdosing because I didn’t want to carry on my alcoholism experience in my own family to my child.

“That was the motivation and not only did I ingest small doses throughout my pregnancy capsules but I ingested one large dose in the third trimester.

“It has a positive benefit to my parenting style.

“I have more empathy to my child and more patience.

“If I make a mistake as a parent I can ingest mushrooms and really consider my actions and impact and we found that was very similar amongst mothers in the research”.

Mikaela shared how she turned to alcohol in her late teens and early twenties “as a social support” due to her social anxiety.

Mikaela consulted an elder in indigenous ceremony and educational community called Getting to the Root, centring teaching few years after falling pregnant who gave her “verbal confirmation” to use psychedelics.

The mom-of-one decided to carry on taking mushrooms after giving birth – when she started struggling with post-partum depression.

Mikaela said: “I gave birth to a healthy boy at home unmedicated and he’s going to be six in November.

“I’m very grateful for the lives we have together and even with the support of the mushrooms I had during my pregnancy, after birth I started feeling the onset of post-partum anxiety and depression and discomfort.

“And so at five weeks post-partum I ingested another sizeable dose of psylocibin and have continued to microdose throughout motherhood and continue to have a relationship with mushrooms today.

“Now generally I’ll have a larger dose – a gram to three grams every four months – and smaller doses twice a month as needed.

“I feel like I don’t need it as often as I did during when I had symptoms”.

Mikaela says microdosing mushrooms has helped with parenting, anxiety and depression “in tandem with other support practices” that has made them more effective.

She said: “I remember going out to a local park with my son and instead of just sitting down on my phone to get a break I was really wanting to participate with him and be childlike with him.

“There have been moments where I’ve wanted to check out and pop him in front of the TV and take a break but it allowed me to feel close to him and has given me the stamina and creativity to play with him effectively.”

Mikaela has since set up the research project Mothers of the Mushroom and has conducted research with over 400 mothers who ingested mushrooms during pregnancy and beyond.

Results showed all babies were born healthy with no reported fatalities – with mothers sharing benefits to their mental health, parenting and personal well-being.

Mikaela’s research was published February 2025 after her own birth in November 2019 to her son.

In Britain magic mushrooms remain Class A under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Despite medical trials, they are still officially considered to have no therapeutic use.

ONS figures show use has increased 160% in five years – from 100,000 Brits in 2020 to 260,000 last year.

A Frontiers in Psychiatry survey revealed seven in ten exclusive microdosers are female.

Mikaela explains there are still “challenges” when ingesting mushrooms.

“The sensation can be very overwhelming if the dosage is not right,” she says.

“There is a tension between the mother being able to focus on herself and the demands placed upon them.

“There is a fear of child endangerment and many mothers do not report taking them to care providers, therapists, doctors and nurse or in divorce proceedings in fear they will have their children removed from their care.

“Adding mushroom to a life will not change it dramatically.

“The mushroom is supported by helpful practices, community support and changes in behaviour.

“The short of it is microdosing for others is not the silver bullet but can be a catalyst for other change.

“It can provide chemical support for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach those places with supportive practices alone”.

Mikaela hopes her next steps will be getting published in an academic journal.

There is evidence to suggest microdosing mushrooms can have a negative impact on person.

Dr Paul Keedwell, fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “While some clearly benefit from microdosing psilocybin, research shows that the effects on mood are mixed, with some people feeling worse.

“While many users report feeling brighter or more focused on “dose days,” the best placebo-controlled studies find that these effects are usually short-lived and largely driven by expectation rather than chemistry.

“In contrast, a minority experience the opposite—heightened anxiety, restlessness or insomnia—especially those who are naturally anxious, sleep-sensitive, or edging towards higher doses.

“Scientists now think that microdosing produces only subtle changes in arousal, which can feel calming or unsettling depending on the person and the context.

“By comparison, full-dose psychedelic-assisted therapy delivered with professional psychological support shows far stronger clinical signals for depression and end-of-life anxiety, but it is a very different intervention altogether”.