However, many common drinks contain much more alcohol than this. Consuming one of these drinks would be the equivalent of two standard drinks. Generally, moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother up to 1 standard drink per day is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours after a single drink before nursing. Drinking alcoholic beverages is not an indication to stop breastfeeding; however, consuming more than one drink per day is not recommended.
Alcohol levels are usually highest in breast milk minutes after an alcoholic beverage is consumed, and can be generally detected in breast milk for about hours per drink after it is consumed.
However, the length of time alcohol can be detected in breast milk will increase the more alcohol a mother consumes. For example, alcohol from 1 drink can be detected in breast milk for about hours, alcohol from 2 drinks can be detected for about hours, and alcohol from 3 drinks can be detected for about hours, and so on. Moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother up to 1 standard drink per day is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours before nursing.
However, higher levels of alcohol consumption can interfere with the milk ejection reflex letdown while maternal alcohol levels are high. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption could lead to shortened breastfeeding duration due to decreased milk production.
Research has not only debunked this idea but showed that the exact opposite to be true. Not only does that beer or glass of wine not build your supply, it actually serves to decrease your breast milk supply and inhibit milk letdown.
It is far better to stick with established methods of boosting breast milk supply instead. There is no need to "pump and dump" milk after drinking unless you are skipping a feeding, experiencing discomfort from engorgement, or want to make sure you keep up your supply. Pumping and dumping will not speed up how your body processes alcohol out of its system. Your body needs time to rid your breast milk of alcohol. By that time, your baby's exposure to alcohol will be very low. When you drink, the alcohol content is diluted in your bloodstream, and the alcohol in your breast milk is diluted in your baby's bloodstream.
A breastfeeding parent who weighs pounds and drank two to three glasses of wine over an hour would have an estimated blood alcohol content of between 0. The same goes for your baby. If your baby drinks breast milk that is 0. However, as a baby has much less blood, the dilution will also be less. That's why it is best to wait to breastfeed until most of the alcohol has left your bloodstream.
The claim that as alcohol transfers to breast milk it will have a soothing effect on the baby is enduring. However, medical research has shown the opposite to be true although the studies are small and were conducted many years ago : Breastfed babies of light drinkers sleep less than babies of non-drinkers. Alcohol in breast milk actually disrupts a baby's active sleep the nice deep sleep that we all need.
Tests on adults and animals who drank alcohol showed they also experienced similar issues. So consuming alcohol via breast milk could cause a baby to wake more frequently at night. If you are looking for ways to get your baby to sleep better at night, drinking is not a method to use.
What's even more troubling: If a breastfeeding mother tried to use this technique on a regular basis and drank even one alcoholic beverage every day, that alcohol could have negative effects on the baby's gross motor development. There is also a proven link between sudden infant death syndrome SIDS and alcohol consumption in parents who co-sleep. These are the three take-home facts:. Breastfeeding mothers do not have to avoid alcohol entirely. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter.
Alcohol and breastfeeding. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. You do not need to express to clear your milk of alcohol. The level of alcohol in your milk will fall as the level of alcohol in your body falls. Binge drinking, where you have more than 6 units of alcohol in 1 session, may make you less aware of your baby's needs. If you regularly binge drink, you may find it helpful to discuss this with your health visitor or GP.
Rest, being well in yourself and letting your baby breastfeed whenever they want will all help increase your milk supply. Find out how you can boost your breast milk supply. Page last reviewed: 18 April Next review due: 18 April Breastfeeding and drinking alcohol. An occasional drink is unlikely to harm your breastfed baby.
Fourteen units is equivalent to: 6 pints of average-strength beer 10 small glasses of low-strength wine If you regularly drink more than 14 units a week, you may find it helpful to discuss this with your health visitor or GP.
Managing social occasions If you do intend to have a social drink, you could try avoiding breastfeeding for 2 to 3 hours for every drink you have to avoid exposing your baby to any alcohol in your milk.
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