Breast feeding?

Question

What's the golden rule about drinking when breast feeding?

Answer 1

It's better to wait until after you are done breast feeding, but it is not a crime to have a sip every once and a while. It can actually help calm your baby.

I also found this info from 2 websites:
"Since alcohol has been found in human milk and can interfere with the milk ejection reflex, avoid alcohol while breastfeeding. An occasional drink, not exceeding two ounces of alcohol, may be safe, but you should consult your health care provider about the associated risks."

"Alcohol clears the breast milk in about the same amount of time it takes to clear the blood stream. If you are planning to drink heavily (more than 2 drinks), you may want to give it 6-8 hours to clear your system."

Answer 2

Alcohol does find its way into your breast milk, though the amount is considerably less than the amount you drink. While its probably fine to have a few drinks a week (though no more than one in a single day) , you should try to limit your consumption of alcoholic drinks in general while nursing.

Heavy drinking has drawbacks such as causing your baby to be sleepy, sluggish, unresponsive, and unable to suck well. Also it can cause you to be more susceptible to depression, fatigue and lapses in judgement. Also it can weaken your let-down reflexes.

If you do choose to have an occasional drink, take it right after you nurse rather than before, to allow a couple of hours for the alcohol to metabolize.

In cases of heavy drinking it may be best to pump and dump, so be sure to have previously pumped milk or formula on hand.

Answer 3

my doctor told me for every drink, wait 3 hours. what i do is wait the 3 hours and do a pump and dump. i always have some breast milk stored too, just in case i do drink. that way, she still gets her milk while im "cleaning" my system

F.Y.I: when my best friend's daughter was teething, she would drink a little alcohol and then breastfeed her. that was the only way she could get her to sleep. she's 8 now and healthy.

Answer 4

If you are talking about drinking in general you want to drink lots of water to stay hydrated while breatfeeding.

If you are talking about alcohol you do not want to drink while you are nursing, but shortly afterwards if you only want one drink - but only if you have atleast four hours before your next time to nurse.

If you are wanting a night out on the town, my recommedation would be to pump enough milk to feed the baby while you are drinking and enough to feed the baby about 4 times after you stop drinking. Once you stop drinking you will want to pump and discard the milk the 4 times that you feed the baby a bottle. Be sure to drink lots of water after your night out to rehydrate yourself and to help push the remaining alcohol out of your system.

I use to pump for two to three days in advance to have enough milk to cover a night out.

ALSO - *** Beer does not help you produce more milk! Alcohol dehydrates the body so it actually will lesson your milk supply***

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Don't drink at all! It stays in your milk until it's metabolized. If you want to drink, pump your breast and save your milk before you drink and give your baby the milk in a bottle. I wouldn't take any chances, you don't know how much could effect him/her.

Answer 6

You can drink non-alcoholic beer and it will help with your milk supply. In term of alcoholic beer, I would say to avoid them all together since it does come out in your milk supply. What you eat and drink is what your baby will eat and drink. Good luck!

Breastfeeding still at 11month plus. =D

Answer 7

I'm assuming you are talking about drinking alcohol..You shouldn't be drinking while breastfeeding at all. They don't even recommend drinking soda or any carbonated drinks b/c it can give your baby gas.
**edited** I know that drinking beer can help increase your milk supply though**

Answer 8

A little bit is fine.
A glass of wine with dinner, that sort of thing.
Just remember that what you eat passes to your baby. If you use that as a guideline, you'll be fine.

Best of luck!

Answer 9

Don't drink hard alcohol but if you do not have enough milk eat oatmeal. When I didn't have enough the doctor told me to drink a beer. That doesn't mean drink several it means one.

Answer 10

if you are going to drink boos only have one beer and drink it and dont feed the baby for a hour thats what i heard.