if you have a few alcoholic drinks, how long should you pump and dump for?

Answer 1

You dont have to pump and dump! 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). You don't need to pump ! 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. Good luck! Have a great time! you've earned it!

Answer 2

I *know* a lot of people are going to give you bad information on this. They always do. Please listen to someone with references and experience supporting breastfeeding mothers.

THERE IS NO NEED TO PUMP AND DUMP unless you are uncomfortable and engorged!!!!! Pumping and dumping DOES NOT get the alcohol out of your system any faster. Alcohol leaves the milk in the same way it leaves the blood. A good general rule of thumb is that if you feel sober enough to drive, then you are sober enough to nurse. Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother reaches her blood and milk.

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.”

It is recommended that nursing moms avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking (Hale 2002).

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

someone asked this a few weeks ago...

there's no reason to "pump and dump". the alcohol will leave your milk at the same rate it will leave your system in general.

so, the rule is 1 oz of booze, 1 beer or 1 glass of wine takes approx 1 hour to leave your system.

so, if you drink a beer and wait about an hour, then you should be fine to breast feed your baby. now, that's 1 hour from the time you finish the beer.

also, you could just pump extra and then partake in many beers and not worry at all about giving baby a mixed milkshake.

so, either pump ahead of time or just wait to nurse until the alcohol has left your system

i still can't drink b/c my baby is isn't done growing yet...so, drink one for me, please:)

take care!

Answer 4

pump and dump is out dated incorrect information

alcohol does not stay in your milk just like it dosn't stay in your blood if you have one drink after you have nursed and do not nurse again for one hour the alcohol is no longer in your milk

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

La Leche League's THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING (p. 328) says:

The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother ingests. When the breastfeeding mother drinks occasionally or limits her consumption to one drink or less per day, the amount of alcohol her baby recieves has not been proven to be harmful.

Do I have to pump and dump after drinking an alcoholic beverage?
As alcohol leaves the bloodstream, it leaves the breastmilk. Since alcohol is not "trapped" in breastmilk (it returns to the bloodstream as mother's blood alcohol level declines), pumping and dumping will not remove it. Pumping and dumping, drinking a lot of water, resting, or drinking coffee will not speed up the rate of the elimination of alcohol from your body

Answer 5

If you can "limit" yourself to ONE drink every NOW-AND-THEN, THERE is really need to do that. If you can't control your alcoholic consumption to that, pump/dump after 4 hours of your last drink.

mb

Answer 6

One drink will not hurt baby. More than one, then just pump once after most of the alcohol has worn off (after you don't feel very tipsy anymore), and then the milk will be fine. No need to worry very much, unless you got completely smashed - baby will be fine.

Answer 7

It's a mexican thing...but everyone I've talked to said if you drink a beer every once in a while it's okay and actually makes you have more breastmilk. I don't breastfeed and never tried this but that's what I've heard?

Answer 8

I totally agree with tpuahlekcip..you can have a couple of drinks and still breastfeed! As long as you are not wasted it's ok. Life can continue even if you breastfeed..don't let anyone tell you any different.

Answer 9

My lactation consultatns told me to pump three times before breast feeding again. However, if you like have one beer it wont hurt anything because your body can't cut like 99% of the alchol out.

Answer 10

I Heard 24 hours to be safe.