The handful of times - I've waited 12 hours since last drink before nursing. Please no "holier than thou - how could you answers." My baby is 5 months. She is very healthy.
2006-11-13 06:57:28 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I'm a "big" girl. I am completely sober 12 hours after having 6 Light Beers. I breastfeed before I drink, give a bottle for the 2 am then breastfeed after the 12 hour waiting period - at which point I am a little engorged. My milk supply is firmly established.
2006-11-13 07:09:46 · update #1
The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs classifies alcohol (ethanol) as a “Maternal Medication Usually Compatible With Breastfeeding.”
Everyone metabolizes alcohol a bit differently...how much food in your tummy and your body weight play into it. The general rule of thumb is to wait 2 hours per drink. Another good guideline is "if your head is clear, your milk is too" or, in other words, if you are 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. There is no need to pump & dump milk after drinking alcohol (unless you get engorged) because pumping & dumping does not speed the elimination of alcohol from the milk. Alcohol leaves the milk supply in the same way it leaves the bloodstream.
All things in moderation! 6 drinks is probably a bit extreme. That's a long time to go without nursing. You would definately need to pump to maintain your supply and keep from getting engorged in that case.
ETA:
Your milk supply may be established, but going 12 hours without nursing or pumping can harm it if you do it too often. Your body isn't getting the signal to make milk during that time if you aren't nursing or pumping. Plus, going too long without pumping or nursing can lead to plugged ducts and possibly mastitis. So if you drink enough that you need to go 12 hours without nursing, I would definately pump a couple of times.
2006-11-13 07:03:51 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol passes freely into mother's milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, 60 to 90 minutes when taken with food. Alcohol also freely passes out of a mother's milk and her system. It takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine...the more alcohol that is consumed, the longer it takes for it to be eliminated. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate the alcohol from one high-alcohol drink. The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother consumes.
There is no need to pump & dump milk after drinking alcohol, other than for mom's comfort -- pumping & dumping does not speed the elimination of alcohol from the milk.
2006-11-13 15:06:39 · answer #2 · answered by seaelen 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hey, I am a breastfeeding mom and I drink ocasionally. The best thing to do it wait till you are sober. Once you are sober all the alcohol has left your body. It does not stay in your breast milk. The other thing you can do is for every drink you have wait 2 hours. I prefer waiting till I am sober though.
2006-11-13 15:06:02 · answer #3 · answered by Morbid Fairy Dust 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had always heard that you should pump and dump for 12 - 24 hours after, but when I was still nursing I went out one night and got smashed (I usually don't drink, long story) and the next day when I called my doctor his nurse said even with as much as I drank I should only have to pump and dump for the next 2 feedings or so. I was really surprised, but according to her the alcohol depletes from the breastmilk or something. I still dumped for 24 hours, just to be on the safe side, though. Good luck and God bless!
2006-11-13 16:13:51 · answer #4 · answered by magen n 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Its supposed to be 2 hours for every 1 drink you have. That is what my doctor told me. Altough some doctors now say wait 24 hours after stopping your drinks and pump and dump your milk. Others say 6-8 hours.
2006-11-13 15:01:05 · answer #5 · answered by Lori R 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Umm.. Do you pump before feeding her? You should probably ask your doctor. I know that most of them say it is okay to have a few drinks but I am not sure how many?? I always thought it was strange but if you ever see any pamplets they always say when breastfeeding DO NOT SMOKE and Do not consume TOO MUCH alcohol it never says Don't drink?? thats a good question though.. i have often wondered the same thing. I just always make sure and pump after drinking and then throw it out before feeding ... but I dont have any proof that it really helps other than easing my conscience...
2006-11-13 15:04:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
According to the rules of La Leche: If you drink enough for it to affect you, then no matter how long you wait, it'll affect the baby so best thing to do is Pump and Dump. It's what I have done just to be safe...my daughter is also 5 months.
2006-11-13 15:04:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
My health visitor told me to just pump befor i go out and use those feeds in the night and then pump in morning and then feed as normal
2006-11-13 15:03:27 · answer #8 · answered by boutynet 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i was unable to breastfeed but i think if you wait 12 hours and pump and throw it away first you will then be ok once you refill.....try pumping and freezing for those times when mom needs a drink
2006-11-13 15:00:33 · answer #9 · answered by Lori C 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ok.....if you are gonna do it anyways, then you need to throw out the milk after you drink and give her the next batch. That way its not getting to her as much. So if you want to breastfed and drink, please start storing up milk in advance. You might even need to throw out 2 feedings worth of milk, just to be safe.
2006-11-13 15:01:51 · answer #10 · answered by Velken 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋