Everyone likes to enjoy a nice glass of wine or a cocktail on occasion, especially during the holidays or at a party. Busy, breastfeeding mommas deserve to enjoy a drink as well. Let’s chat about how to be worry free when drinking while breastfeeding.
Can You Drink and Breastfeed?
The simple answer is yes, with limitations. It is important to know the risks, and how to drink safely. The CDC, among other sources, suggests that not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. In reality, many mothers still choose to have the occasional drink. There is nothing wrong with that! The CDC and KellyMom.com state that the occasional drink (1 drink per day) is not shown to be harmful to a breastfeeding baby, especially if you wait 2 or more hours to feed him or her after consumption. Alcohol is harmful to your baby when consumed in excess, and mom should avoid having more than one drink daily, if even that. So enjoy a drink on occasion momma! Take a look at these guidelines before making the decision to drink.
What Constitutes a Drink
A drink can be different for different people. Exactly how much alcohol is appropriate to make one standard drink?
Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines one standard drink as:
12 ounces of 5% beer
8 ounces of 7% malt liquor
5 ounces of 12% wine
1.5 ounces of 40% liquor.
DGA recommends only 1 standard drink be consumed by mothers who breastfeed per day.
Another source, the American Academy of Pediatrics, states that “ingestion of alcoholic beverages should be minimized and limited to an occasional intake but no more than 0.5 g alcohol per kg body weight, which for a 60 kg mother is approximately 2 oz liquor, 8 oz wine, or 2 beers. Nursing should take place 2 hours or longer after the alcohol intake to minimize its concentration in the ingested milk”. Some mothers may be able to handle more alcohol than others depending on their body weight.
How to Play It Safer
Are you still nervous about drinking while breastfeeding? You never need to say yes to having a drink. If you are anxious about consuming alcohol while breastfeeding, you could try these things:
- Pump ahead and replace a feed with pumped milk. This is especially helpful if baby ends up needing to eat within the 2 hour wait period, or if you drank too much.
- Feed your baby right before consuming a drink. La Leche League International recommends feeding your baby as close to the time before you consume your drink as possible. This will maximize the time you have to metabolize the alcohol before baby needs to eat again.
- ONLY pump and dump for COMFORT. The old wives tale is not accurate. Pumping and dumping after drinking is not going to “get rid” of the alcohol in your milk faster. It simply takes time for it to metabolize out of your system.
- Eat and drink water before, during and after consuming alcohol. We all know that eating food and drinking water can help with the sobering process, so have some snacks and a glass of water near by when you decide to have a drink.
- Wait until your baby is at least 8 weeks old before having a drink. In early development, babies are not able to metabolize alcohol effectively. It is best to wait until they are a bit older, even if the exposure to the alcohol is slim.
- Have a Drink After Bedtime. From personal experience, I have found that waiting until the little ones are in bed gives me more peace of mind about consuming alcohol. This is because once your baby is sleeping through the night, you essentially have 6 or more hours to metabolize the alcohol. That is more than enough time for one standard drink to leave your system.
- Do NOT sleep in the same bed with baby if you are intoxicated. Drinking in excess can cause poor judgement and disorientation. There should always be a sober adult present if you have had too much to drink, in order to care for your baby.
Risks of Drinking to Much While Breastfeeding
There are risk factors involved with drinking while breastfeedin, especially if too much is consumed. Here is how alcohol can effect your baby and your milk supply:
- Alcohol does NOT increase milk production! Unlike the old wives tale, the CDC states that when too much alcohol is consumed by the mother, it can actually interfere with her milk letdown. As a result baby may not receive enough nutrition. Do NOT count on alcohol to increase your breast milk supply.
- A baby’s sleep patterns and early development can be affected by excessive drinking. La Leche League International has a great list of side effects of alcohol that can present themselves in baby when exposed to too much alcohol.
Every mom is allowed to enjoy a glass of wine or other beverage on occasion. Just remember to set boundaries around the amount you drink, and wait long enough before feeding your baby again.
Additional Resources
- MotherToBaby has resources for mothers regarding alcohol intake and breastfeeding, plus so much more including drugs and illnesses/diseases. There is even a number you can call for answers to questions about medications, alcohol and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding: call 1-800-532-6302 or text 855-999-3525.
- KellyMom.com has a huge database of breastfeeding topics including breastfeeding and alcohol.
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