Drinking and breastfeeding:
Alcohol consumption with breastfeeding is a topic that many nursing parents are quite interested in. Understanding how alcohol affects breast milk and how to safely consume it can help protect the health of the infant as well as the caregiver.
Effects of Alcohol on Breast Milk
If a nursing parent drinks alcohol, the alcohol enters the breast milk at levels comparable to those in the blood. But because the body metabolises alcohol, the levels gradually drop. As the blood alcohol content of the parent decreases, the alcohol does not "stay" in breast milk forever. This process is not accelerated by pumping and discarding milk, also known as "pumping and dumping."
Timing and Safe Consumption
An occasional drink is unlikely to harm the baby, particularly if there is time for the alcohol to metabolise before the next feed. For example:
● A unit of alcohol (such as a small glass of wine) takes about 2 hours for an average adult to process.
● Planning feeds around this time frame can help minimize exposure.
However, for there to be any negative effects for the baby such as mild sedation, you would need to be 3.5x OVER the drink drive limit in the UK!
The Breastfeeding Network advises that consuming alcohol immediately after breastfeeding or expressing milk allows more time for the alcohol to leave the system before the next feed. The highest alcohol levels in breast milk typically occur 30 to 90 minutes after consumption.
Strategies for Breastfeeding Parents
● Don’t bedshare: If having any alcohol at all, do not bedshare. Doing this has an increased association with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
● Limit intake: Keep alcohol consumption to low or moderate levels, ideally one or two units at a time. If you plan to binge drink ensure your baby is under the care of a sober adult.
● Express milk beforehand: Store expressed milk to use while waiting for alcohol to clear from your system.
● Use caution: If the baby is premature, has low birth weight, or has health issues, it is especially important to consult with a healthcare provider before consuming alcohol.
Really important to remember!
Mothers who have been drinking alcohol should never let themselves be in a situation where they might fall asleep with the baby; on a bed, chair or couch. Drinking alcohol reduces the ability of the mother to be aware of her baby’s needs, whether she is breastfeeding or not. It is safest to ask someone else to care for the baby.
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