Drinking and Breastfeeding?

Question

I am breastfeeding my 3 month old son and sometimes I have a few drinks. How long should I wait before breastfeeding again? Should I pump before I do? I have read so many different things I would like some other opinions! Thanks!

Answer 1

pumping and dumping is outdated advice. Just like with time alcohol is filtered out of your bloodstream the same is true with breastmilk. To think that you would have to throw out the milk that has been tainted with alcohol is like thinking you need a blood transfusion to sober up. So the rule of thumb is as long as there is alcohol in your bloodstream, it's in your milk. When it's out of your blood.. it's out of your milk. It's also in a much much smaller amount in your milk.. the breasts have amazing filters.

Trust your instincts. The occasional drink or two (or three if spaced properly) is fine. You'll know if you've had too much. The biggest danger lies not in getting the baby drunk.. but the risk of holding (and dropping) an infant when you've had too much. Cheers!

Answer 2

Alcohol is passed into breastmilk so drinking is not a good idea while breastfeeding. The breasts fill themselves within 30-60 minutes from emptying so if you feed, then have a drink, you should pump then next time and discard it. If you drink a lot, you should really take a hard look at what is best for the baby, a small drink once in awhile is removed from your body quickly, but drinking more than that and you are risking poisoning your baby. Talk to your pediatrician.
Drinking does nothing to increase or fortify your milk supply, water, milk and juice do more for you and your baby.

Answer 3

Chances are you have not had alot to drink since being preganant and now nursing a newborn. The rule of thumb is if you can feel an affect from the alchol, even a slight one then you should pump and dump that milk once you are finished drinking. Once you have pumped this supply out then you are fine to feed your baby as normal the next time.

Have a drink here or there or even a couple one night is ok, after all you have waited this long for that drink. Just be careful that you are not overdoing it and then nursing the baby. Also if you are nursing in bed at night and you have had any alcohol please do not sleep with your baby. Alcohol has strange effects on us that we underestimate. Co-sleeping and drinking is dangerous.

Cheers!

Answer 4

The alcohol will be metabolized out of your breast milk at the same rate as it is metabolized out of your blood. So, if you feel a buzz at feeding time there is alcohol in your breast milk and you should pump and dump. If you drank right after your last nursing and have had about 1 hour per alcoholic drink (12oz beer, 5oz wine, 1oz hard liquor) and you no longer feel any affects than you are fine to breast feed. If you become a regular drinker or heavy drinker (3 or more drinks per day is the definition) then you should not breast feed.

Answer 5

I asked this question at WIC, I figured they would know best. They said that alcohol is metabolised through your breastmilk just as it is in the rest of your body. So if it takes you 3 hours to get "detoxed" from your drink, it will be out of your breastmilk in three hours. They said there's no need to pump and dump! However, it can change the flavor of the milk a little bit, and give the baby some gas....*pout*

Answer 6

2 or 3 drinks a week will not hurt, feed bub first though because it slows down the release of your milk.

Answer 7

a drink here or there wont hurt the baby when you breast feed it will actually help to increase milk production. just dont over do it.

Answer 8

i used to have a glass of wine here and there while i was breast feeding. right after you feed is the best time.

Answer 9

Here is the LLL FAQ on alcohol and breastfeeding:

What about drinking alcohol and breastfeeding?
Women are often warned to not consume alcohol during pregnancy, as ample evidence has shown that it poses a severe and avoidable risk to her unborn baby. The risks of consuming alcohol while breastfeeding are not as well defined. Breastfeeding mothers receive conflicting advice about whether alcohol consumption can have an affect on their baby, which often leaves mothers feeling like they have more questions than answers. So, what information should a mother who is considering drinking while breastfeeding know?

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.

La Leche League's THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK (pp. 597-598) says:

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.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs considers alcohol compatible with breastfeeding. It lists possible side effects if consumed in large amounts, including: drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness, and abnormal weight gain in the infant, and the possibility of decreased milk-ejection reflex in the mother. The drug transfer table is available at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi... and the full text of The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals Into Human Milk can be found at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi...

Dr. Jack Newman, member of the LLLI Health Advisory Council, says this in his handout "More Breastfeeding Myths":

Reasonable alcohol intake should not be discouraged at all. As is the case with most drugs, very little alcohol comes out in the milk. The mother can take some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does. Prohibiting alcohol is another way we make life unnecessarily restrictive for nursing mothers.

Thomas W. Hale, R.Ph. Ph.D., member of the LLLI Health Advisory Council, 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.

Important Considerations
Your baby's age
A newborn has an immature liver, and will be more affected by alcohol
Up until around 3 months of age, infants metabolize alcohol at about half the rate of adults
An older baby can metabolize alcohol more quickly than a young infant
Your weight
A person's size has an impact on how quickly they metabolize alcohol
A heavier person can metabolize alcohol more quickly than a lighter person
Amount of alcohol
The effect of alcohol on the baby is directly related to the amount of alcohol that is consumed
The more alcohol consumed, the longer it takes to clear the mother's body
Will you be eating
An alcoholic drink consumed with food decreases absorbtion
Can drinking an alcoholic beverage help me relax and stimulate milk production?
Alcohol consumption has not been shown to stimulate milk production. Studies have found that babies nurse more frequently, but consume less milk in the 3-4 hours after an alcoholic beverage is consumed.

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.

What if I get drunk?
Mothers who are intoxicated should not breastfeed until they are completely sober, at which time most of the alcohol will have left the mother's blood. Drinking to the point of intoxication, or binge drinking, by breastfeeding mothers has not been adequately studied. Since all of the risks are not understood, drinking to the point of intoxication is not advised.

Can alcohol abuse affect a breastfed baby?
Yes. Alcohol abuse (excessive drinking) by the mother can result in slow weight gain or failure to thrive in her baby. The let-down of a mother who abuses alcohol may be affected by her alcohol consumption, and she may not breastfeed enough. The baby may sleep through breastfeedings, or may not suck effectively leading to decreased milk intake. The baby may even suffer from delayed motor development. If you are concerned that you or someone you know is drinking alcohol excessively, call your doctor.

Weighing the Risks and Benefits
Many mothers find themselves in a situation where they may want to drink. Maybe you are going to a wedding where wine will be served. Or perhaps you are going on a girls night out, or on a date with your husband. No matter the reason, you may have concerns about drinking and any possible affects on your baby. It is a good idea to weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the benefits and possible risks of consuming alcohol. You might find the following suggestions helpful.

Plan Ahead
If you want to drink, but are concerned about the effect on your baby, you can store some expressed breastmilk for the occasion
You can choose to wait for the alcohol to clear your system before nursing
If your breasts become full while waiting for the alcohol to clear, you can hand express or pump, discarding the milk that you express
Alternatives
If consuming alcohol while breastfeeding is concerning to you, consider enjoying a non-alcoholic beverage instead. Any drink is more fun with an umbrella in it!

Answer 10

ask your pediatrician!!!