Alcohol and Breastfeeding
Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol
and Then Breastfeed?
What All New Moms
Need to Know
After 9 months of sobriety, a lot of moms go to have a glass of wine but are confronted with the concern that their baby might also get a little swig of that pinot noir. These concerns are totally valid and the information surrounding this topic is confusing.
As an IBCLC in the Boise area, I love educating mothers to empower them on their breastfeeding journey. So today, let’s talk about the safety behind consuming alcohol, how much is too much, and timing because you deserve some you time too Mama!
What the CDC Says About Drinking Alcohol While Breastfeeding
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states, “Not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers.” This statement has a similar sentiment to our high school health teachers telling us that abstinence is the best way to prevent pregnancy.
While we can completely agree that’s true, we can also wonder about what science suggests. It has been found that generally, breastfeeding mothers can have moderate alcohol consumption when timed correctly and limited.
But don't get too excited here now and go slam your 8% craft beer. There is a fine line as alcohol exposure above moderate levels has been shown to affect the growth, development, and sleep patterns of infants.
What Is “Moderate Alcohol Consumption”?
The CDC states that breastfeeding mothers can consume up to 1 standard drink per day. This is broken down as;
12 oz of 5% beer
8 oz of 7% malt liquor
5 oz of 12 % wine
1.5 oz of 40% liquor.
However, many common drinks contain more alcohol than this. For instance, a 12 oz 9% beer would be close to the equivalent of two standard drinks (careful craft beer drinkers). It’s important to understand the quantity of alcohol being consumed to know how it relates to timing breastfeeding properly.
Again, this is what the CDC says. We understand after that first glass goes down, you might want another and there is nothing wrong with that. Let’s look into why timing is important when drinking alcohol and breastfeeding.
What Time Considerations Are Needed?
The best way to understand breastmilk levels of alcohol is to understand they closely parallel blood alcohol levels. A peak of alcohol levels in breastmilk commonly occurs 30 to 60 minutes after an alcoholic beverage. Food consumption can delay the onset of blood alcohol peaks and should be taken into consideration when trying to time feedings.
The recommendation from the Drugs and Lactation Database suggests waiting 2 to 2.5 hours per drink before nursing again. If you’re a new mom, this might seem impossible because your baby is literally eating every two hours. We understand, but it won’t always be that way.
It’s important to remember, similar to your pregnancy — that everything comes to an end. These small sacrifices of drinking less alcohol or avoiding it while breastfeeding doesn’t last forever. You really are doing an amazing job!
How to Plan a Drink While Breastfeeding — It IS Possible!
If you know you want to relax with a glass of wine or a beer, time it around your baby’s feeding schedule. Start with breastfeeding your baby, not only for the baby but for you. Remember, skipping one nursing session does not make you a bad mom!
If you’re having a night out with friends or with your significant other and wanting to have more than the suggested amount, that’s okay too! Prepare for this event by pumping and storing milk at an earlier time. Babies fed, you get some you time, win-win! You can pump after consuming alcohol to adhere to pumping/feeding schedules as to not lose supply or to ease discomfort.
If alcohol is still in your system it’s important to discard the milk expressed. You don’t have to throw it away, but your baby should not consume it. Some moms hate tossing that liquid gold so they’ll put it in their baby’s next bath.
Important Takeaways on Breastfeeding While Drinking Alcohol
Motherhood and breastfeeding are hard, and I’m not here to tell you that you can’t have a glass of wine at the end of the day. It’s important to consider this information and plan accordingly. We know alcohol does transfer to breastmilk, so it only makes sense to be careful.
If you decide it’s not worth it or it worries you too much, then don’t do it. Do what makes you comfortable and happy as a mother.
Pumping is always an option when choosing to have a few drinks. This is a win-win since your body still produces milk. Instead of feeding your baby you’re pumping. It’s a chance for you to relax and maybe let dad or grandma give the baby a bottle!
As a compassionate lactation consultant in the Boise area, I’m here to help you with any & all breastfeeding-related questions.
Check Out All The Ways I Can Serve You Here!
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 9). Alcohol. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 15, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/vaccinations-medications-drugs/alcohol.html
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021, May 17). Alcohol. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Retrieved January 15, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501469/