If I drink 6 beers one night and am breast feeding, will it lower my milk supply, and if it does for how long?

Question

If I drink 6 beers one night and am breast feeding, will it lower my milk supply, and if it does for how long?

just so people know i did freeze breastmilk ahead of time and yes I did pump out the milk the day after I drank and threw it away. It just seems like like now have less milk then before I drank. I did not have a hangover either.

Answer 1

That much beer should engorge you, not lower your supply. Beer is notorious for increasing milk supply, even in small amounts. If your supply is going down, it might be because your baby was off the breast for an entire day while you had to pump and dump the tainted milk. Your pump can't extract as much milk as your baby can and so your body probably thought it needed to make less milk and adjusted accordingly. That's why it's not a good idea to take the baby off the breast for feedings any more than necessary, so I wouldn't recommend doing this on a regular basis (not that you are, but just in case you didn't know!) Your milk supply should come back pretty quickly if you allow your baby to nurse on demand and don't give any bottles while you are trying to get your supply back up.

Answer 2

Until you re-hydrate and get over your hangover. Alcohol is present in your milk at the same concentration as in your blood. So, if your blood alcohol is .5%, your milk is also .5%. When your BAC lowers, your milk alcohol level lowers as well. Don't bother to pump and dump. Many cultures believe that beer actually enhances milk production, but not that much, and no one can prove it anyhow. I assume that baby will be with a babysitter, just remember not to let him sleep in bed with you after you've been drinking. Be safe and have fun.

ETA: Seriously, the alcohol in your milk was metabolized out as your blood level dropped. It's totally unecessary to pump and dump, unless you're still tipsy and you need to pump to relieve engorgement. I've read countless books, and all the experts agree. The most important thing is to drink water! :)

Answer 3

If he is sleeping through without waking--let him. This means he is getting enough milk during the day. Your breasts get used to it and eventually feel less engorged, which doesn't mean you don't have enough milk. My baby was a huge finger sucker as well, and some people would have you believe this means that he is hungry. I don't buy that necessarily but if you want to prove it to yourself, when he sucks his fingers during the day, offer him both sides and see if he will take a full feeding. If so, he may have been hungry so you can increase the frequency of your feedings, if he wants them. I think babies naturally suck anything that comes into contact with their mouths, but if you want to make sure, as well as keep up your supply, just feed frequently while he is awake during the day. Best of luck!

Answer 4

It does not lower your milk supply but I suggest you pump the next day and toss it all out. It takes about six hours for what you eat and drink to get to the breast milk and your baby should not be getting beer.

I hope you didn't already feed your baby that.

Answer 5

I was told to drink beer to up my supply. The hops and barley are said to help. I didn't really notice a difference though....
That being said, you have to realize that anything you eat/drink, your baby is getting through your milk. If you plan on drinking, you need to pump and store enough milk for at least the next day.

Answer 6

It will do alot more then that.I hope you pumped before drinking all those beers because whatever you ingest goes right through to your breast milk and into your baby!

Answer 7

Yes, I heard the same thing about beer... Although I've never tried it, it is supposed to increase milk production.

It's an important detail that you discarded the "drunk" milk the next day.

Answer 8

You shouln't drink while breastfeeding. Why would you do that to your baby? Shame on you!

Answer 9

You should definitely express that milk off. Don't give it to your baby and try not to breathe your alcohol fumes all over the baby as well!!

Answer 10

You should not be drinking at all while breastfeeding the alcohol in that can stay in your breasts and can be transferred to the baby, if you choose to be a lush then ween your baby to the bottle.