Oisin Foster
There are many conflicting opinions about whether it is safe to drink alcohol while breastfeeding. While some sources recommend abstaining from alcohol completely, others suggest that drinking in moderation is acceptable. The general consensus is that drinking one alcoholic beverage per day is unlikely to harm a nursing baby, especially if the mother waits at least two hours between drinking and nursing or pumping. However, drinking more than this can negatively impact the baby's weight gain, sleep patterns, and cognitive development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How much beer can I drink while nursing? | It is recommended to limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day, which is typically 12 oz. of 5% ABV beer (about one can). |
| How long after drinking beer can I breastfeed? | It takes around two to three hours for the alcohol to leave your system and breast milk. |
| Is it necessary to pump and dump after drinking beer? | Pumping and dumping does not reduce the amount of alcohol in breast milk. Alcohol will leave the breast milk as it leaves the bloodstream. |
| How does drinking beer affect breast milk production? | Alcohol can decrease the let-down reflex and milk supply over time. |
| How does drinking beer affect the baby? | Alcohol can cause drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness, abnormal weight gain, and impaired cognitive development in the baby. |
What You'll Learn
How much alcohol is safe for a breastfeeding mother?
It is recommended that breastfeeding mothers cut out drinking alcohol completely or limit their alcohol consumption. If a breastfeeding mother does choose to drink, it is advised that she waits at least two hours between drinking and nursing or pumping.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding mothers avoid alcohol, as it does reach the baby through breast milk. While the amount of alcohol transferred to the baby is relatively small, the baby has an immature liver and is therefore unable to process and eliminate the alcohol as quickly as an adult.
Research shows that drinking alcohol regularly may decrease breast milk production and affect how much milk the baby drinks. Alcohol has been shown to disrupt babies' sleep patterns, even after a small to moderate amount of alcohol. Some studies have also concluded that repeated exposure to alcohol in breast milk could cause long-term harm to nursing babies.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, one standard drink is defined as 12 oz. of 5% ABV beer (about one can), 8 oz. of 7% ABV malt liquor (around the size of a standard drinking glass), 5 oz. of 12% ABV wine (one glass), or 1.5 oz. of 40% ABV (80-proof) liquor (one shot).
It takes the average adult around two hours to metabolize one drink. This means that if a breastfeeding mother has one drink, she should wait at least two hours before nursing her baby. If she has two drinks, she should wait four to five hours. It is important to note that the more drinks are consumed, the longer it takes for the alcohol to clear the body.
While there is no definitive answer to how much alcohol is safe for a breastfeeding mother, it is generally recommended that breastfeeding mothers limit their alcohol consumption and always allow enough time for the alcohol to leave their system before nursing their baby.
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How long should you wait after drinking to breastfeed?
It is recommended that breastfeeding mothers avoid drinking alcohol altogether. However, if you do choose to drink, it is generally advised to wait at least two hours after drinking before breastfeeding your baby. This is because alcohol passes freely and quickly from your bloodstream into your milk, and the concentration of alcohol in your milk is similar to that in your blood.
The time it takes for alcohol to leave your system varies from person to person, depending on factors such as weight, how much you drink, and how quickly your body breaks down alcohol. For example, if you have one drink, most of the alcohol should be out of your system in about two to three hours. However, the more you drink, the longer it takes for the alcohol to clear your system.
It is important to note that drinking alcohol can affect your milk supply and your baby's sleep and development. Research has shown that babies may drink up to 20% less milk in the three to four hours after their mother has had a drink, and their sleep patterns may be disrupted. Additionally, daily consumption of more than one drink per day or excessive drinking by a breastfeeding mother is likely to contribute to poor weight gain, disrupted sleep patterns, psychomotor skills delay, and possibly even cognitive delay later in life.
Therefore, if you choose to drink alcohol while breastfeeding, it is recommended to limit your consumption to one drink and to wait at least two hours before breastfeeding your baby again.
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Should you pump and dump after drinking?
Pumping and dumping after drinking alcohol is not necessary. Alcohol will remain in your breast milk as long as it is in your bloodstream, and the levels in both will fall over time. Pumping and dumping will not speed up this process. However, if you are feeling engorged and skipping a nursing session, you may want to pump and dump to relieve discomfort and maintain your milk supply.
If you have had a drink, it is best to wait at least two hours to nurse or pump again. This is because alcohol can decrease your milk supply and ejection reflex, and your baby may not drink as much milk as they normally would. Alcohol can also change the flavour of your milk, which may be off-putting to your baby.
If you know you will be drinking, it is a good idea to breastfeed your baby or pump and store your milk before consuming alcohol. That way, you can feed your baby with this stored milk in the hours following your drink. Alternatively, you could use formula during this time.
If you have been drinking, and your baby needs to be fed before the two hours are up, it is best to use your previously expressed milk or formula.
If you are intoxicated, you should not breastfeed until you are completely sober.
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What are the effects of alcohol on breast milk?
Alcohol can pass from a nursing mother's bloodstream into her breast milk and, subsequently, into her baby. While an occasional drink is unlikely to harm the baby, regular drinking above the recommended limits can be harmful to both mother and child.
The NHS recommends that, to keep health risks from alcohol at a low level, it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. A unit is typically defined as a 5-ounce glass of wine, 12 ounces of beer (one bottle), or 1 ounce of hard liquor. A drink a day has not been found to be harmful to a nursing baby, especially if the mother waits at least two hours between drinking and nursing or pumping. However, drinking alcohol regularly may decrease breast milk production and affect how much milk the baby drinks.
According to the CDC, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. However, the more alcohol consumed, the longer it takes for the alcohol to clear the body. Alcohol from one drink can be detected in breast milk for about two to three hours, alcohol from two drinks can be detected for about four to five hours, and so on.
Research has shown that alcohol exposure through breast milk can have several adverse effects on infants. These include:
- Sleep disturbances, including shorter sleep periods, more frequent wakefulness, and less total active and REM sleep in the three-hour period after consuming alcohol.
- Increased REM sleep in the period from 3.5 hours to 24 hours after exposure to alcohol.
- Decreased milk intake by the baby.
- Impaired immune function.
- Delay of motor development.
- Potential impairment of cognitive development.
- Reduction in the ability for abstract reasoning at school age (6-7 years).
In addition, there is a risk of decreased milk-ejection reflex in the mother. This reflex is controlled by the hormones oxytocin and prolactin, which are disrupted by alcohol consumption.
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What are the effects of alcohol on the baby?
While drinking alcohol while nursing is not against the law, it is important to understand the effects of alcohol on the baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding alcohol while breastfeeding because alcohol does reach the baby through breast milk. The amount of alcohol transferred is relatively small, but the baby has an immature liver and is tiny, so they cannot process and eliminate the alcohol as quickly as an adult.
Research shows that drinking alcohol regularly may decrease breast milk production and affect how much milk the baby drinks. Alcohol has been shown to affect babies' sleep patterns, disrupting their sleep after even a small to moderate amount of alcohol. Studies have also shown that repeated exposure to alcohol in breast milk could cause long-term harm to nursing babies.
- Sleep disturbances, including shorter sleep periods, more frequent wakefulness, and less total active and REM sleep.
- Increased REM sleep in the period from 3.5 hours to 24 hours after exposure to alcohol.
- Decreased milk intake by the baby.
- Impaired immune function.
- Delay of motor development.
- Potential impairment of cognitive development.
- Reduction in the ability for abstract reasoning at school age (6-7 years).
It is important to note that the effects of alcohol on the baby depend on the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother and the timing between alcohol consumption and breastfeeding. To minimize the effects of alcohol on the baby, it is recommended to wait at least two hours after drinking before breastfeeding or pumping milk.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that breastfeeding mothers avoid drinking alcohol altogether. However, if you do choose to drink, it is advised to limit your alcohol consumption to one drink per day and wait at least two hours between drinking and nursing or pumping.
It takes around two hours for the average adult to metabolize one drink. Therefore, it is recommended to wait for at least two hours after drinking before breastfeeding your baby. If you have had two drinks, wait for four to five hours.
While there is no definitive answer, it is generally considered safe to drink very moderately while breastfeeding if you take the necessary precautions. Having one drink per day has not been found to be harmful to a nursing baby. However, it is important to note that alcohol does reach the baby through breast milk and can affect their sleep patterns and milk intake.
Non-alcoholic beer typically contains less than 0.5% alcohol, and while it is generally considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, it is always a good idea to check the label and consume in moderation.
