Can a Breastfeeding Mother Take an Occasional Drink?

As a breastfeeding mother, you may come across occasions where you could be tempted to enjoy a drink. Say for example on New years eve, Thanksgiving or any other party for that matter. After all, a mom also needs her ‘Me’ time! You may feel left out and may be wondering if one drink could hurt your baby. If you are breastfeeding then you are concerned as to what you eat or drink can affect your baby’s wellbeing and rightly so. Medications and ingredient of beverages including alcohol can get into mothers milk and go to the baby.

Is there any evidence that consuming alcohol while breastfeeding affect your baby? Can you have a glass of wine while breastfeeding?

Well, there is conclusive evidence that drinking during pregnancy (especially the first three months) is an absolute NO NO.  The evidence for harm is not so strong for drinking while breastfeeding. There is some evidence that consuming alcohol during breastfeeding is potentially harmful to the baby. But let’s see what are the factors involved and whether you can enjoy a wine safely while breastfeeding.

How can alcohol affect lactation and harm your baby

The effect of alcohol on a baby can differ based on the pattern of exposure to the baby. You may be taking alcohol habitually or might have indulged in an occasional drink. Your babies response to this two pattern of drinking could be different.

1. 1. Alcohol Increases breastmilk is a myth: In certain communities, there is a belief that alcohol consumption can potentially increase milk production. In reality, it may actually transiently decrease breast milk a bit.
   2. Chronic alcohol intake in mother: There is evidence that regular drinking more than two units of alcohol may affect lactation and is linked to poor neurodevelopment outcome at one year of life. A large study from Australia has shown that babies exposed to alcohol in breastmilk performed poorer than other children for reasoning test at age 6 and 7. Different alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, whiskey, rum etc will have different alcohol content. So your unit of alcohol for a particular volume of certain beverage will depend on what your drink.  If you have been drinking regularly check how many units of alcohol you may be consuming.
   3. Occasional heavy drinking: Can your baby get drunk from the alcohol in breastmilk? Maybe yes. Babies exposed to mothers milk having alcohol tend to have sleep problems and take less breast milk. The alcohol in breastmilk may alter the taste of the milk which may also contribute to the infant feeding less compared to other times. Also, for drinking, a heavy amount of alcohol that gets ingested in milk may affect transient liver injury. This is because your baby’s liver cannot tolerate alcohol as compared to an adult liver.

Is there any safe amount of alcohol for breastfeeding mothers?

If you are going to feed breast milk after alcohol to your baby, then you have to keep certain things in mind. Occasionally a small amount of alcohol in mothers milk may not cause any problem for the baby. If however, the amount is more, then precaution should be taken that the alcohol goes out of the milk before the baby is put to the breast. But remember, do not indulge in binge drinking. If you drink more than 5 units of alcohol,  your breast milk will have an unacceptable amount of alcohol. It may also make you less aware regarding your baby’s need. You must try and avoid such circumstance. Otherwise, arrange for someone who can watch over your baby.

So, By now you have got the answer to your question ” Can I drink alcohol while breastfeeding?” Yes, But in moderation. But you will need to take certain care.

What precautions should you take if you are drinking while nursing?

Limit alcohol units

• Do not take more than 2 units of alcohol: Human body takes 1 hour to process and dispose off one unit of alcohol. Therefore you must wait for a number of hours per unit of alcohol consumed to wait for breastfeeding. As babies will usually demand feed within 2-3 hours, do not consume more than 2 units of alcohol.
• Do not indulge in binge drinking (more than 5 units). In fact, limit your drinking to one or two units of alcohol. How much of which alcoholic beverage contains how many units can be checked here.
• Have someone to look after your baby if you tend to over drink. If you think that you may not be able to limit your alcohol intake on a particular occasion, then make provision for someone who will be sober and can take care of the baby. Also, pump/ express your breast milk before drinking which can be fed to your baby by the sober caregiver.

Give enough time for alcohol to leave the breast:

• How long after drinking you can breastfeed? Feed the baby immediately before drinking so that the baby does not demand feed for the next 2-3 hours.  The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that your baby should not be breastfed within 2 hours of drinking. If you have taken enough alcohol and are in an inebriated condition then it may take longer and you may have to wait for several hours before breastfeeding your little one. Waiting till you get sober is a good rough guide.
• Pumping and Dumping breast milk is not necessary and you just need enough time to get the alcohol out of the breast milk.
• Express/Pump Breastmilk and reserve your milk by storing ahead of time: Pump and express milk and store ahead of time if you intend to drink more. A sober caretaker can feed this milk while you are drinking.

Do not share Bed with your baby:

• Never sleep or share your bed with your baby if you have consumed alcohol. Also, do not smoke. Bed sharing while drinking and smoking can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS).

Conclusion

To summarise, alcohol during breastfeeding is potentially harmful. The harm is linked to ‘ how much’ and ‘how frequently’ you drink alcoholic beverages. This article doesn’t recommend or encourage you to drink while breastfeeding. It is best to avoid drinking alcohol while breastfeeding especially if your baby is very young and requires to suckle frequently. If you can avoid drinking altogether that could be the best option. But if you want to enjoy an occasional social drink then restricting the amount way within the recommended range may be acceptable and harmless to your baby.

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