If I breastfeed, what's the rule on how many drinks I can have?

Question

I like to drink but in the morning I hate having to pump and dump. I only breastfeed my baby, who is 8 months old, at night and early morning but not during the day. Could I go without pump and dump if I get drunk the night before?

Ok for some of you that think I drink everynight..your dumb! And for some of you think I drink while I breastfeed.. I don't think I could use those kind of words on here to explain what u are...I'm not that stupid and selfish. My daughter is 8 months old and I only breastfeed her at night and early morning. When I do get a night off (when my mom keeps her overnight) I like to have a few drinks but when it comes morning I hate to pump and dump. And yes sometimes (not all the time) I do get drunk.. and what?!?

Answer 1

My lactation consultant told me 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine or 1 mixed drink is all you're allowed to have and breastfeed your baby. I have done this and my 8 1/2 month old is fine. Have fun!

Answer 2

Guidelines
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.”
Many experts recommend against drinking more than 1-2 drinks per week.
It is recommended that nursing moms avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking (Hale 2002).
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.
Alcohol does not increase milk production, and has been shown to inhibit let-down and decrease milk production (see below).
If you're away from your baby, try to pump as often as baby usually nurses (this is to maintain milk supply, not because of the alcohol). At the very least, pump or hand express whenever you feel uncomfortably full - this will help you to avoid plugged ducts and mastitis.
In general, if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed. 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.

Always keep in mind the baby's age when considering the effect of alcohol. A newborn has a very immature liver, so minute amounts of alcohol would be more of a burden. Up until around 3 months of age, infants detoxify alcohol at around half the rate of an adult. An older baby or toddler can metabolize the alcohol more quickly.

Answer 3

~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.”
~Many experts recommend against drinking more than 1-2 drinks per week.
~It is recommended that nursing moms avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking (Hale 2002).
~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.
~Alcohol does not increase milk production, and has been shown to inhibit let-down and decrease milk production (see below).

Answer 4

Ok, here's the rule.
Not drinking is best.
BUT if you do have a couple drinks, the rule is that breastmilk is not contaminated. Alcohol goes in and out of your breastmilk like it does your bloodstream. You need not pump and dump, as long as you wait at least 2 hours per drink.
For example, if you have two beer, wait 4 or 5 hours before feeding your baby.
If you aren't sure, which I wasn't, I pumped and dumped...at least my body kept making the milk steadily. Also, if you are planning to have a couple drinks some night, pump beforehand and freeze it. I did this, not only for having a drink but for regular life. At least there's a healthy meal in the freezer. Just be sure to thaw it in the room or in warm water, not in the microwave, that could fry up the nutrients.
There is a chart online here somewhere, I found it when I had my son three years back, it shows how many drinks you should have for your weight, and how long it takes to pass through a normal system at your size..
Here is one in this document, it'll show u how many hours and minutes it takes for the alcohol to get out of the breastmilk.
http://www.beststart.org/resources/alc_reduction/pdf/brstfd_alc_deskref_eng.pdf

Good luck, limit yourself, and if you aren't sure, don't feed the milk to your baby. Remember, your baby is small and it's time to focus on her. you'll have your whole life for social drinking. :)

Answer 5

You shouldn't get drunk at all if you are breastfeeding, and a 8 month old should be nursing alot more than just at night and early morning, if you want to drink that bad just switch to formula is it really worth your childs health, even if you pump and dump, depending on howmuch you drink just cause you pump and dumped doesn't mean it is out of your system pumping doesn't take all the alchal in your body and suck it out through your boobs.

Answer 6

you know, i've read some of the answers people have given you and it really really pisses me off when they give advice and don't know what the hell they are talking about so people know youre facts first! just to let you know, depending on your size alcohol DOES NOT stay in your system for days no matter what size you are but heres how it goes 1 BEER 1 HOUR until its out of your system.
2BEERS 2HOURS until its out of your system. but to be on the safe side i would pump and dump the morning after depending on how much you drink. and if you have anymore questions and want REAL answers feel free to e-mail me at [e-mail]

Answer 7

Geez. Some people are a little rude huh? If you have one drink, you need to wait an hour before pumping. I personally would wait two, just to be on the safe side. Try to pump as much as you can before you go out. Since your baby is 8mo, even though you've only breastfed until now, it really wouldn't be bad to supplement with formula once or twice. There's no reason you can have a fun night out and still be a great mom.

Answer 8

Its not good to drink and breastfeed if u do u can do that pump the next morning and dump it and wait til u feel all the 'beer' out of ur system u can try to pump as much as u can the night b4 so ur baby will have something

Answer 9

Zero........... Besides why do you need to be out getting drunk when you have a baby at home.... That's selfish. I have 2 kids and 1 on the way. I dont go out without them. I think I have went out alone maybe 25 times alone ( when they were not at school) I didn't go out and get hammered I went to the grocery store and the weather was bad so my dad watched them. My kids are 15 and 6.

If you feel the need to drink maybe you should switch to formula.

NOTE SHE DIDNT SAY HAVE A DRINK SHE SAID GET DRUNK !!!!!!!!

Answer 10

I think that having a drink or two the night before is probably fine, however getting 'drunk' is not a good idea. For really heavy partying, you should wait till you have weaned your child.