can i still keep breast feeding? should i pump and throw it out? how long will it take before i can breastfeed again? will it harm the baby if i dont stop?
2007-09-30 16:17:53 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Milk doesn't sit in your breasts, they aren't bottles. Milk is like blood, it circulates. Generally, if you are sober enough to drive you are sober enough to nurse.
Since the general rule is an hour a drink to metabolize, I would not nurse the baby for 3-4 hours. You can pump if you get uncomfortable, but it's not necessary.
Here is the science from the link below:
" 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."
2007-09-30 16:21:32 · answer #1 · answered by maegs33 6 · 8⤊ 3⤋
The guideline is wait two hours for every drink you have, so to be entirely safe you should wait 6hrs. Pump if you want to relieve engorgement/keep up milk supply, but there are no other reasons to pump (i.e. Must pump out alcohol content in milk or it remains there until next feeding).
How old is your baby? The older the child, the less the risk of alcohol affecting them in an adverse way as only a small portion of alcohol passes through your breastmilk. To be safe, any child under 6mths shouldnt be exposed at all to alcohol, however an older child could metabolise small amounts without harmful effects. Better to be safe though and wait the entire recommended period before nursing again. If your baby is sleeping through the night, you could have a few beers in the evening and breastfeed as normal in the morning without need to pump and without fear of passing on alcohol to your child.
2007-09-30 23:56:12 · answer #2 · answered by MaPetiteHippopotame 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is recommended that nursing moms avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking.
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.
2007-10-01 11:29:57 · answer #3 · answered by pensk8r 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Less than 2% of mom's blood alcohol level is found in breastmilk. So if you have a blood alcohol level of 0.08% (The limit to drive where I live) your breastmilk will contain 0.0016% alcohol. The alcohol leaves the breastmilk as it leaves the blood, there is no need to pump and dump except for mom's comfort or to maintain supply.
So generally the rule is sober enough to drive, sober enough to breastfeed. Particularly if the baby is over 3 months as their liver is more mature.
However please keep in mind that chronic use of alcohol can effect the baby. Alcohol consumption can prevent letdown and babies consume less breastmilk when it contains alcohol (which is why the old wive's tale that it increases milk supply, it actually just stops the baby drinking as much then you feel engorged).
http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html
Breastfeeding and Alcohol
By Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC
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.
2007-09-30 23:35:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
don't toss it... it won't help..
the alcohol stays in your system for a period of time, it won't do any good, time is what you need...
about 90 (or more) mintues per drink... if you feel tipsy, you're not ready...so if you just finished the last beer, you need to wait a good 4-5 hours before nursing!!
here's a site w/ the detail:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html
hopefully you have some stored as back up... or baby won't be waking up for a while!! :)
having a few drinks while breastfeeding is fine, just requires a little planning to either pump to have some ready, or know how long baby will go w/out so you can decide if you can only have one or 2,3,...
2007-09-30 23:25:52 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya 6 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Well, you were sober enough to get on the Internet and post a question without misspelled words; I would dare to say that you aren't sh1t-faced drunk. Or is this a hypothetical question?
If you drink that amount frequently; yes, you would harm the baby. Be careful!
2007-10-01 00:06:19 · answer #6 · answered by Rocky Raccoon 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pumping and dumping will do nothing. The alcohol in your system needs to metabolize for it to go away... even if you empty the milk you have now, the alcohol is still in your system, and will be in the new milk that comes in. It would be like draining your blood in an effort to lower your blood alcohol content. The general rule is to wait one hour for each drink.
2007-09-30 23:41:55 · answer #7 · answered by donna 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
you only had 3 beers? Breastfeed--it's fine as long as you don't make a habit of it. Drinking in moderation is compatible with breastfeeding. Please research this before asking these idiots, the alcohol will only leave your breastmilk until it leaves your bloodstream so pumping and dumping will do nothing unless you're engorged.
2007-09-30 23:23:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 4⤋
This is what the La Leche League has to say about it
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/alcohol.html
2007-09-30 23:50:08 · answer #9 · answered by Zyggy 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why drink when you need to breast feed? For more safe answer, ask your doctor.
2007-09-30 23:30:55 · answer #10 · answered by fiona lim 2 · 3⤊ 4⤋