Breastfeeding and the occasional mixed drink?

Question

Say I have a long island ice tea with my meal. How long do I need to "pump and dump" my breastmilk before I can resume feeding my 2 month old??

Answer 1

You DO NOT ever need to "pump and dump" unless it's for your own physical comfort. Alcohol leaves your milk in the same way that it leaves your blood. Basically, if you feel sober enough to drive then you should be sober enough to nurse.

Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) is not harmful to the nursing baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs classifies alcohol (ethanol) as a “Maternal Medication Usually Compatible With Breastfeeding.”

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 (but there is considerable variation from person to person, depending upon how much food was eaten in the same time period, mom's body weight and percentage of body fat, etc.). Alcohol does not accumulate in breastmilk, but leaves the milk as it leaves the blood; so when your blood alcohol levels are back down, so are your milk alcohol levels.

Thomas W. Hale, R.Ph. Ph.D., *THE* expert on medications and breastfeeding, says this in his book Medications and Mothers' Milk (11th ed.): "Adult metabolism of alcohol is approximately 1 oz in 3 hours, so that mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return to breastfeeding as soon as they feel neurologically normal."

Don't listen to all these people who are posting personal opinions with no facts or references to back themselves up. They are just trying to make breastfeeding into something that is more difficult and highly restrictive of your lifestyle. An occasional drink, in moderation, is NOT a problem for a breastfeeding mother or baby.

ALSO.....
Shaunilia E mentioned pumping and then breastfeeding "when your breasts refill." Your breasts don't "refill" because the milk is made when you put the baby to the breast. It's like being a short order cook. The milk is made when baby asks for it.

Answer 2

Drinking alcohol can lower the amount of breastmilk in the mother. It can also leak into the milk causing the baby to be turned off by the taste. I just read that you should wait a few hours after having a drink before you breastfeed, but don't cut out the feeding all together because there are a lot of nutrients in your milk. You also do not have to cut out drinking alcohol--just wait a few hours.

Answer 3

I did alot of research on this. First, the american academy of pediatrics says that breastfeeding and alcohol are compatible. Meaning it is okay to drink alcohol in moderation while nursing. The academy says if you have one to two drinks you can nurse immediately. If you have more than that, then you probably want to wait before nursing. Second, alcohol leaves breastmilk once it leaves your bloodstream. It does not collect there, so there is NO reason to pump and dump. also, once you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to nurse, since the alcohol has left your bloodstream (and therefore your breastmilk). If you want to be more scientific about it -The rule of thumb is that each drink takes about 2 hours to breakdown and leave your bloodstream (this is a rough estimate, as other variables such as your weight, whether you've eaten, etc...influence the numbers). Thus, to calculate when it is okay to nurse again, count 2 hours per drink from the moment that you BEGIN the drinking session. For example, if you have your first drink at 8pm and have 4 drinks, then you should be okay to nurse by 4am that next morning. PLEASE dont listen to these people that say if you want to have a drink you should quit nursing. They have misinformation. The American Academy of Pediatrics DOES NOT recommend that! In fact, they say that telling a woman she ought not drink alcohol is HARMFUL because it puts "unecessary burdens" on breastfeeding mothers, which often causes them to quit nursing. It is FAR healthier for your baby for you to nurse and to drink occasionally than it is to give your baby formula. This is supported by research done by the Academy, not just someone's misinformed opinion.

Answer 4

Here it is, straight from the book Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn - The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, and Ann Keppler. Whew...

The alcohol content in breast milk is approximately equal to the concentration in your blood. Therefore, the effects on the baby correspond to the amount you have consumed. Though an occasional drink has not been proven harmful, it is probably wise to eliminate alcohol consumption, especially during the early months of breastfeeding. If you drink alcohol, do not drink more than 8 ounces of wine, two beers, or 2 ounces of liquor in any single day. Researchers compared breastfeeding when mothers drank alcohol to when they did not. They found that infants took in less breast milk in the three to four hours after their mothers drank alcohol than when they did not. Breastfeeding before drinking alcohol reduces the amount of alcohol the baby gets from breast milk.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

I cant believe people here are more worried about having a drink then their own babies?!?!?! I personally would not say its okay to breast feed 2 hours after drinking and to whoever said that a Long Island Ice Tea is diluted is diluted themselved. A Long Island Ice Tea is nothing but different hard alcohol in it with a splash of coke.

Good Luck :-)

Answer 6

alcohol leaves your system on it's own. it's filtered through your liver. so, you don't need to "pump and dump" your milk. (very funny expression though!)

so, if you have a drink at dinner, then i would wait about 2 hours or so before you nurse.

another idea, since you are pumping....if you pump ahead of time, then you can have a few drinks at dinner and just give your baby the pumped milk. then, the next day...as long as you didn't really overindulge, just resume your regular nursing.

nice question!
i'm due in a few weeks and i can't wait for my first beer!!mmmm.

take care.

Answer 7

If you want to drink at all maybe dont breastfeed. Any alcohol consumed will go directily to your baby through the milk as you know. Why risk it at all. Alcohol can remain in the body up to 48 hrs. so that is a long time to pump and dump and your baby would have to wait. Your baby should be your number one concern right now over having a drink.Suggest you just dont drink until you are done nursing.

Answer 8

Don't listen to people on here....Ask your doctor.

You are not choosing alcohol over your baby.

It is perfectly safe to have an occasional drink while breastfeeding. These people on here are crazy.

You can find many a website on the web to confirm.

Your baby isn't going to be harmed by drinking your breast milk
unless you are drinking all day every day!

Answer 9

Geez, all of these people are being WAY too hard on you its ok everyone is entitled to have a drink now and again don't listen to them 2 hours after your drink you should be ok to breastfeed again. Don't worry about what they say about not drinking they don't know what they are talking about. If you are leary about it I would suggest that you substitute formula for the breastmilk, I know some mom's that did that when they drank.

Answer 10

When breastfeeding may be harmful to the infant
Breastfeeding may be harmful to the infant if the mother:

has HIV [citation needed]
Regarding the fear of medications which may pass on through breast milk, the amount transferred depends on the amount of breast milk secreted which is maximal after the colostral and transitional phase.

is taking certain medications that suppress the immune system
is taking certain medications which may be passed onto the child through the milk and are found to be harmful. However, the vast majority of medications are compatible with breastfeeding.
has had excessive exposure to heavy metals such as mercury
uses potentially harmful substances such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. Substances such as caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol, while possibly harmful to the nursling if consumed in large quantities, are safe to use in moderation while breastfeeding (see below).
Tuberculosis is not transmited by the milk, but through the air, so the risk for the baby is just the same with breast or bottle feeding. WHO advises to continue breastfeeding [7]