how long do you have to wait once you drink to breastfeed your child?

Question

once you drink an alcoholic drink, how long do you have to wait for it to get out of your system until you can breastfeed your child. and depending on how much. and how does it effect your child?

I would like to thank the people who answer with honesty and an open mind. As for the rest of the answers...I never drank a drop during my pregnancy and my question was for safety. When you have kids and decide to nurse, then see how you feel when you want to have an evening alone with your husband. Even though I am a nursing mother, I do have a husband and I would like to be able to enjoy a night out with my husband and have a couple of drinks after 9 months of pregnancy and 6 weeks of nursing. I would.....never mind there is no need to respond to your comment when I was asking as a safety precaution anyway.

Answer 1

After one or two *standard* sized drinks, you can nurse immediately. More than that, wait 3-4 hours or until you feel normal. And you never need to pump and dump (with the exception of a very few medications that concentrate in human milk--which alcohol *isn't*). When the drug leaves your body, it *leaves* your body!! Unless you have removed your breasts, they are still part of your body.

A lot of people will probably tell you that you *can't* drink if you are nursing, or to stop nursing for a full day or even longer. This is completely unnecessary. The Americal Academy of Pediatrics (see first URL in sources section below) says that a nursing mother can drink. And Dr. Thomas Hale, the world's foremost expert on drugs and breastfeeding gives the information in the first paragraph (see second reference below, plus his book, plus personal communication).

Keep in mind that beer has at least 5% alcohol in it. If you are very drunk, your blood--and milk--will have 0.2% alcohol. It is *very* low compared even to a beer.

Answer 2

Typically it is about 2 hours between having a drink and nursing. (Per Hale's Medications & Mother's Milk)

Alcohol is eliminated from the milk in the same way it's eliminated from you bloodstream. If you feel sober enough to drive, you are probably sober enough to nurse is another good guideline.

THERE IS NO NEED TO PUMP AND DUMP. The ONLY reason you would do this is if you were engorged and needed to do so for your own comfort. Like I said, it leaves your milk in the same way it leaves your blood. If your blood levels are back down, your milk is FINE and there is NO NEED TO PUMP AND DUMP.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs classifies alcohol (ethanol) as a “Maternal Medication Usually Compatible With Breastfeeding.” (Just use common sense, like anything else, and drink in moderation and time your drinks based on when you expect your child to need to nurse.)

Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother reaches her blood and milk. Alcohol peaks in mom's blood and milk approximately 1/2-1 hour after drinking

(SO far NONE Of these other people have a clue what they are talking about. Check out the links below.)

AH.....ONE Soul who has a clue.....hello PAULA Y

Answer 3

Alcohol takles the same amount of time to clear your bloodstream as it does your breastmilk therefore you should wait 6-8 hours after drinking to breastfeed. The time difference varies due to everyone has a differrent psysiological makeup (body weight, height etc.) The best thing is not to drink at all to ensure that your baby will be just fine. I am sure that you have received a lot of different advice, the best thing for you to do is consult with a pediatrician so you can feel more comfortable.

Answer 4

I have always been told to just not drink while breastfeeding. If you are really wanting to drink though I wouldn't nurse the baby again until the next day. Just my opinion though. I'm not sure what the "guidelines" are. My doc and all of the paperwork I have ever read just say don't drink if you are nursing.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

I was told that if you drank just one, it really won't harm the child, its like a sleeping pill...but if you drank heavily wait for 24hours. But the best thing to do, is drink plenty of cranberry juice and 7 up to cure all of that...experienced in that....but other than that...I would start freezing breast milk for your baby so when you want to go out and have fun, you can with out having second thoughts and doubts or even regrets.

Answer 6

24 hrs...but that's not just waiting...you have to pump right after you've drank and then continue to pump for 24 hrs. and throw all that milk away...what a waste for little drink, don't you think?
well, if you think alcohol hurts your baby while inside you, just think of the consequences once it's drinking your milk straight up with alcohol in it...

breastfeeding is the best way to help your baby grow strong and intelligent, but if you like to drink, i'd consider formula...at least that way the baby won't get hurt...

Answer 7

I have breastfed all four of my children. Breastfeeding is the same as if you are still pregnant. everything you put in your body goes to your child. I would have to say please don't drink any thing that can harm your child. It goes in them. Even if you do dump the breast milk there is no guarantee that all the alcohol is out of your system.

Answer 8

This article should answer your question:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/alcohol.html

I have also heard that a good quality beer can actually help with milk production and let down. If you have one drink it's not going to hurt your baby. If your going to the bar and doing shots and consuming heavily I would pump and dump to at least keep your milk supply flowing.

Answer 9

first off i would just like to say that you asked a good question..these people on hear bitchen about you having a good time once in a while are freaken clueless! your doing fine!!! i am preg with my 2nd child and would like to breastfeed this child for a while, my mom told me to pump before you go out(enough for that night) then pump and dump and your new milk will be fine!

Answer 10

if your are nursing exclusivley, i suggest you pump & dump till the morning. alcohol does travel thru your breastmilk, so it would affect your child, not sure how. so if u have a pump, pump and throw out the milk for the nite and then resume nursing in the morning.