Alcohol & Breastfeeding

[MacKinnon]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this... I have been wondering about how others feel /what you do in regards to drinking & nursing. I have found so much conflicting information on the effects of alcohol in breastmilk. My mom thinks it is ridiculous that I am worrying about this, since I never have more than one drink. My best friend is HORRIFIED that I don't pump and dump.

When I have chosen to have a drink in the last 5 months I have done one of two things. I have either waited until she fell asleep and I knew that I had 3+ hours before I would be nursing again, and then had one drink. Or I pumped a bottle in advance to give to her, like when I got back from my SIL bachelorette party and had had 3 drinks. I NEVER got to sleep until I know that I have fully processed the drink that I had. Last night, however, she woke up screaming before my 'time' was up. I ended up nursing her, about 40 minutes after I had finished one drink. : I felt terrible... Anyway, I don't drink very often, but occaisionally would like to enjoy a guilt-free glass of wine. What do you all do?

[mom2threenurslings]

This is how it was explained to me by a lactation consultant: The amount of alcohol in your bloodstream is the same as the amount of alcohol in your milk. When legally drunk (much more than the one drink you're having!) you have about the same amount of alcohol in your bloodstream as there is alcohol in an O'Douls (or other "non-alcoholic" beer). So, the amount you pass on to your nursling isn't much unless you are VERY drunk. (A friend of mine pointed out the alcohol content in vanilla extract ... and that she didn't even give it a thought when she added it to her daughter's soymilk...but she was VERY concerned about having a glass of wine...it made her laugh thinking about it!)

That said, I AM NOT advocating getting drunk and nursing a child. I don't feel a person can effectively care for a child when they are drunk ... I don't feel people make appropriate decisions when drunk ... etc. I'm just saying that one or two drinks isn't going to hurt the nursling.

Also, once the alcohol is out of your system, it's out of your breastmilk as well. No need to pump and dump. Vitamin B6 speeds the elimination of alcohol from the bloodstream (I have no idea why I know that).

Cheers!

[Mom2Adam]

Here are some links to some information concerning breastfeeding and alcohol consumption. The first link is too information from Dr. Jack Newman. He is a well respected breastfeeding expert. He wrote the Ultimate Breasfeeding Answer Book (which is considered to be an excellent reference book). The information sheet that briefly mentions alcohol and talks about other medications is handout #9 once you click on his link.

http://www.bflrc.com/newman/articles.html

The second link is to kellymom.com which is also a good breastfeeding resource site. Kellymom actually has a link to the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) report on the use of alcohol by breasfeeding moms. (They consider alcohol consumption to be compatible with breastfeeding!) http://kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html

The third link is to La Leche League Frequently Asked Questions page . They also quote the AAP study. http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/alcohol.html

It sounds like the consensus is - as long as it is in moderation - alcohol is fine! Happy reading!

[Victorian]

ITA with mom2threenurslings - if fact I nurse and drink beer AT THE SAME TIME!

:

(like 2x a month)

[MacKinnon]

Thanks! I guess I can go ahead and have that glass of wine, without the guilt Just to clarify, I would NEVER get drunk when I was responsible for caring for my daughter. I can't even remember the last time I got drunk! I'll forward these links onto my friend who is so disapproving of an occaisional drink while you have a nursling. I feel better!

[cinnamonamon]

Just a note of caution -- when I had red wine & nursed my ds, he went beserk & refused the breast. The only thing I could figure out is that the flavor came through a bit -- being that red wine is about the strongest flavored alcohol I could have had! :LOL So if you do drink & nurse within an hour or so, be aware if you are drinking something like that; my ds was/is picky in general, though...:LOL

[soccerchic21]

I used to have the occasional glass of beer or wine with dinner and didn't worry at all but now I don't drink alcohol at all because every time I do I get a little case of thrush.

It sounds like you are being very concious of what you are doing. I wouldn't worry.