Drinking while breastfeeding?

Question

I have a 3 month old and we have settled into a pretty good routine. She falls asleep around 8:30 pm and sleeps for 7-9 hours. I was wondering about drinking a glass of wine at night... what if she wakes up at 1:30 am on any give night. And what if I drank two glasses? What is the general rule about time needed before feeding? (I have a freezer supply, so I can always pull from that if needed.)

Thanks for all the POLITE answers! The rude answers were disregarded entirely. I love my baby and would never do anything to hurt her- this is the reason for the question.

Answer 1

I asked myself this same question while nursing my daughter, and so since I had some time on my hands during nap times (I was a stay at home home until recently) I decided to do some research on it. You've already gotten the RIGHT answers from Heather and Melanie, and it's just surprising how many people are uninformed and snotty about their ignorance. My daughter was a little bit older, around 5 mths or so before I felt comfortable about having a glass, but it is fine at 3mths too. Just follow the 'rules' of responsible drinking and your baby and you will be happy with the results.

I even tried sharing my new knowledge with the world of yahoo.answers and got over 20 nasty responses for my efforts at educating. About 5 said, wow I didnt know that thanks for sharing, but it was overshadowed by negative remarks. Didnt matter I had a couple articles written by Dr's no less supporting my statements, they called me an idiot and child abuser and I dont remember what other things. I doubt these people have ever breastfed their baby.

Pumping and dumping is only useful to keep up your supply, but otherwise alcohol leaves your breastmilk at the same rate it leaves your bloodstream. No need to pump and dump for 24 hrs after a glass of wine, that's just crazy talk.

But I really dont understand why so many people equate a GLASS of wine with dinner to an all nighter at the bars drinking it up. Not the same, is it? I was living in France until a few mths ago and it's normal to have a glass of wine with dinner. It's even considered healthy to have a glass of red a day. Not a bottle, a glass. It goes well with a nice dinner, to relax a bit while your baby is fast asleep in her crib. I was so happy I could start to 'drink' again to enjoy all that nice, inexpensive french wine I had missed all through my pregnancy and for the first few mths of my girl's life. That's probably one of the reasons I was able to continue on until she was 13mths old, I felt free to let go a bit. Even now that I've stopped nursing I havent had more than a glass or two with dinner, but it's all responsible parenting.

I've added my original posting below that has the links I was referring to, if you're interested. It gives some more details on how long you'll need to wait before acohol leaves your system based on age and weight I think. Very interesting info.

Answer 2

The general rule is, if you feel like you are safe enough to drive, you are safe to nurse. Pumping and dumping doesn't do anything (besides relieve you) because your body takes a certain amount of time to metabolize the alcohol. I personally would not worry about one or two glasses of wine (unless the baby woke up RIGHT after you polished them off) Hope this helped a little.

Answer 3

i asked a pharmacist and my dr the same question because i couldnt believe either answer. i was told that you can have max 2 beer or coolers and then feed 3-4 hrs later and its ok for them. any more than that tho, and you'll need to pump and dump at their regular feeding. if you're drinking hard stuff tho or end up getting really drunk, wait 24 hrs before feeding them again but be sure to pump so it doesnt decrease your supply. i was also told that having just one beer 3-4 hrs before feeding will increase your supply as well. just going by what my dr and pharmacist said... however i've drank once since my son was born and had 3 coolers, waited about 9 hours before feeding him again with pumping in between.

Answer 4

Alcohol does find its way into your breast milk, though the amount your baby is considerably less then the amount you drink. While it is probably fine to have a few drinks a week, you should try to limit your intake of alcoholic drinks in general
when nursing. Heavy drinking has other drawbacks as well, in large doses, alcohol can make your baby sleepy, sluggish, unresponsive, and unable to suck well.
If you do decide to have the occasional drink, have it right after you nurse, rather then before, to allow a couple of hours for the metabolize.
I think you would be safe if your baby is on the routine you said, if you are concerned take it out of the freezer.
Hope I helped, I'm drinking a glass of wine right now, I love it!

Answer 5

Listen to Heather. I am breastfeeding my son and I wanted to know if I could have a drink. That is before I fell pregnant again. I researched it and found out that it is ok. I went by the same rules that Heather has listed as this is the way you can breastfeed and drink and it be PERFECTLY safe for your baby. As for all the people saying you absolutely should not, well it just annoys me so much that people get on here and give you their (very strong) opinion when they clearly don't know what they are talking about. Have a nice glass of wine after bub has gone to bed and relax! You deserve it!

Answer 6

I don't think a glass would hurt as long as its not close to feeding time, but keep some extra just incase baby is hungry early... if you are gonna drink alot, make sure you pump and trash the milk you made just after drinking...

Some people say that wheat beer helps your production...people like my MIL and a friends mom

Answer 7

Alcohol will enter your breast milk, but it will not stay there. It will be metabolized from your breast milk at the same rate that it is metabolized from your blood. That means one drink per hour. A drink is 12oz of beer, 5oz of wine, or 1oz of hard liquor. Peak alcohol levels are reached at about 60 minutes after you drink, and it is recommended that you not breastfeed for at least two hours. If you can still feel alcohol in your system at the time for the next feeding--i.e. buzzed--then you should pump and dump to maintain your supply and subsitute pre-pumped milk or formula (you don't have to pump and dump if you have followed the drink-to-hour guidelines). And if you do overindulge, make sure there is always a sober adult around to take care of the baby.

Answer 8

It is okay to have a drink. 1 drink will work its way through your system in 1 hour. I breastfed and I would still enjoy a glass of wine on occasion. It is perfectly fine. You are not pregnant anymore and now you should have a glass of wine to celebrate!

Answer 9

Heather Y, if I could give you a dozen thumbs ups I would. It's good to see some sense here!

Even La Leche League says go ahead and have a glass of wine.

If you get drunk I'd suggest not letting your baby nurse until it's out of your system, but a glass? Go for it.

Answer 10

It sounds like you deserve a glass or two of wine!

2 glasses will be well out of your system after 7 hours.

Even after 4, it should be well out of your system.

The major concern with alcohal getting passed through breastmilk is liver damage.

I tend to believe that formula will do more harm to a babies liver than a small amount of tainted breastmilk.

And, as you said... you have a freezer stash (although, she may not take that after waking, she may want to nurse)

In a pinch, you should be fine.

Don't make a habit of it, and have yourself a good time!

You deserve it!