My husband and I would like to celebrate the birth of our daughter with a few glasses of wine in the future. My question is how much milk do I need to pump for her? How long does alcohol stay in breast milk? What are your personal experiences? Thanks :)
Oh and please don't be rude or I'll report you for insulting me. Thank you.
2007-12-30 10:50:18 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Basically if you are sober enough to drive you are sober enough to drink because:
*Alcohol only stays in your milk as long as it is in your blood.
*Only 2% of the alcohol in your blood appears in your milk (So if you have 0.08% blood alcohol, your milk contains 0.0016% alcohol)
However there is a difference between drinking on occaision and drinking every day. Daily alcohol consumption can cause problems because alcohol can inhibit letdown and can cause the baby to be sleepy -both of which can cause babies to not get enough milk. The old wives tale about beer increasing milk supply is because babies drink less after you have a beer therefore you feel more full.
Also pumping and dumping does nothing to get the alcohol out of your milk. Of course you should pump if you are engorged for your own comfort and to prevent plugged ducts, mastitis and leaking everywhere.
How much you need to pump depends on how many feedings you are going to miss and how often she normally feeds per 24 hours. There is a milk calculator here:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html
http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html
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.
2007-12-30 11:13:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol will enter your breast milk, but will not just stay there. It will be metabolized at the same rate as it is metabolized from your blood. The general rule is about 1 drink per hour. One drink is defined as 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1 oz of hard liquor. Peak levels are reached about 60-90 minutes after consumption. There is no need to pump and dump to eliminate alcohol from your breast milk. The only reasons to pump and dump would be to maintain supply during a missed feeding or to alleviate engorgement. The best course of action is to drink immediately following a feeding and then you will be fine to breastfeed again by the next feeding. Excessive drinking should be avoided while breastfeeding, and it goes without saying to always have a sober sitter for the baby in the event you do overindulge.
2007-12-30 10:59:23 · answer #2 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The rule of thumb with alcohol is that the level in your blood is the same in your breastmilk. If you're safe to drive, then you're safe to nurse. The best time to imbibe is right after a good nursing session if you're planning on just a glass of wine or so.
You don't have to pump and dump, but you may want to pump to relieve your breasts, and of course dump that if you're feeling at all buzzed.
As far as how much to pump, it all depends on how old baby is and how long you'll be drinking. A good stash of about 12 ounces will cover you for an evening. My son is 9 months, and he usually uses 24ounces in 12 hours when I work.
Keep in mind that sometimes baby won't take a bottle if his favorite food source is nearby. So if baby is over 4 weeks and breastfeeding has been well established, then have a practice run with the bottle first.
2007-12-30 11:18:51 · answer #3 · answered by manda 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do not pump and dump. That is a myth! The alchohol will leave your milk about the same time as it leaves your bloodstream. You can go ahead and pump to relieve engorgement, but keep it like you would keep a stash in your fridge/freezer. There is nothing wrong with drinking a little while breastfeeding, just don't get drunk. Actually, the beer can give a small boost to your supply.
2016-05-28 03:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
General rule of thumb is an hour per drink. If you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed. And the alcohol will leave your breast milk at the same rate it does your bloodstream, so no need to pump and dump.
2007-12-30 11:31:36 · answer #5 · answered by iamhis0 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
General rule of thumb: If you are sober enough to drive you are sober enough to breastfeed. I personally can drink 2 beers, 2 small glasses of wine, that is my limit and it's very seldom as I have 3 kids and it would be pretty bad if mommy was always drunk>>>LOL< it's a joke everyone, just pump enough for whoever is watching her, or feed her before you drink and by the time you feed her again it will be fine for her.
2007-12-30 11:11:18 · answer #6 · answered by liv t 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My experience has been if I go out for 4 hours and drink more than one drink an hour, I pump and throw away. If not, the baby will be fine. I drink a glass of wine about 3 times a week and still nurse my baby and it doesn't seem to hurt her or make her more sleepy or anything like that. You just have to limit yourself and not drink heavily. I would suggest feeding or pumping and then going out right after that so your breasts are totally emptied out. If your baby eats every 2 hours, then pump enough milk to last her for as long as you are gone. So I would pump like 12 ounces or more.
2007-12-30 11:06:11 · answer #7 · answered by Ava's Mama 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
they sell these strips that tell you if there is alcohol present in your breast milk. You would have to look them up I cant think of their name.
2007-12-30 10:54:42 · answer #8 · answered by pandamgy 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋