You might be wondering, “How do I go about breastfeeding and alcohol? Are these two even possible to do safely? How long to wait to breastfeed after drinking? Are there signs of alcohol in my breastfed baby? Can something happen to my little one? Wait, there’s a beer that can increase milk supply?”
Yeah, there’s a lot of information I have heard during my time as a mother which obliged me to ask those questions. It’s hard to decipher what of that information is credible. Especially receiving it from people who aren’t mothers, or mom’s who share their practices from decades ago.
We all want to know the truth about alcohol and breastfeeding and well through my research and experience, I’m here to help you answer all of these questions and provide you with a chart.
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Through my years of being an on again off again wine connoisseur. The moment I became pregnant those days making love to wine were fairly over for the next 9 months, and even longer due to breastfeeding.
Since the day I spoke of wanting kids, I knew the natural path would fit my needs. There is something so beautifully attractive about living intentionally; connecting to your nature.
Besides motherhood, breastfeeding would be my other selfless job to perfect if my body would let me.
Now, I need you to know while I was pregnant and breastfeeding I have had an occasional glass of wine here and there. I had about 5 to 6 glasses of wine my whole pregnancy to help relieve my nerves when faced with my anxieties.
During my breastfeeding journey I have a drink when I please during the week (1-3 times a week) . I DO NOT drink to get drunk, if so (which has been in about 4 or 5 events ) I save up milk to cover the time the alcohol is running through my bloodstream.
SHORT + SWEET ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS:
CAN ALCOHOL BE FOUND IN BREAST MILK?
The answer is YES. Which is why it is important to wait the appropriate time, for your body to breakdown the alcohol consumed. After your first sips of alcohol depending on how fast you are drinking.
By the appropriate pace, alcohol hits your bloodstream in about 30 to 60 minutes.
If not an easy way to check is in breastmilk-alcohol test strips! Results are just like a pregnancy test lol.
BREASTFEEDING AFTER DRINKING ALCOHOL, HOW LONG TO WAIT?
For each standard drink, Alcohol stays in the system about 2 to 3 hours at a time. I created an easy to read breastfeeding and alcohol chart.
These are the recommended times to wait after one to six drinks depending on your weight. Save and print for reference, it has helped me A LOT to have this on hand!
DO I NEED TO PUMP AFTER I’VE HAD A DRINK TO REDUCE THE ALCOHOL VOLUME IN THE MILK? (PUMP AND DUMP?)
NO. The same way alcohol runs in your bloodstream and dissipates over time is equal to how it runs through your breastmilk. It is only recommended to pump if you’re uncomfortable with the amount of milk your breasts are holding.
There’s no reason to pump as a cleanse. Mama’s Engorged breasts can cause, mastitis, plugged ducts and possibly nipple thrush. I learned that quickly, 10/10 I DO NOT recommend it; avoid it at all costs!
SIGNS OF ALCOHOL IN BREASTFED BABY
- decreased milk-intake by baby
- increased REM sleep from 4 to 24 hours
- sleep disturbances
- increased crying
- escalated startling
- additional arousal at night/naps
- decrease in weight
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON A BREASTFED INFANT?
Alcohol can effect the baby’s early development, sleep patterns and milk intake. An excessive intake is known to decrease milk production in mothers. In turn will require consistent, short-interval feedings.
WAIT, Beer INCREASES my milk supply?!
Mama’s I am so so sorry to tell you this but rumor does NOT have it. If you were like me I fell for this myth too. Beer has barley, barley contains prolactin (a carb that stimulates milk production) BUT the clash of alcohol can easily unbalance the hormone.
Said by science, it’s an old tale to say the least, I wouldn’t recommend using this as a tactic to “increase your milk supply” with its unfortunate hormone mismatch.
IF SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY WHEN DRINKING ALCOHOL AND BREASTFEEDING:
Abstain from alcohol; alcohol is a depressant and can effect your mental health depending on the relationship between the two (even before pregnancy.)
Try to:
- Treat yourself, but in moderation. Have only 1 drink a day/ 1-2 drinks a week
- Plan ahead; store milk in the freezer with these bags for the caretaker for days/nights you decide to drink. If you decide to drink more than a moderate recommended amount. (Please follow the chart I created for you above for reference)
- Make sure someone who is not intoxicated is able to care for your children. (Read my post about Co-Sleeping and How it is Unsafe to Co-sleep with a baby if drinking)
- Pump/breastfeed before leaving the baby, for relief and extra milk
- Pump and Dump if breasts feel overfilled throughout the time of drinking
- Drink non-alcoholic/virgin drinks if open to it
Good information to know:
- Alcohol reaches the bloodstream and breastmilk about 30-60 minutes after the first few sips.
- If you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to feed your baby.
- Less than 2% of consumed alcohol reaches breast milk.
- Milk lasts about 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in a fridge, and 6 months in a freezer.
- It is great to pump regardless under the influence because it will preserve your supply. Just make sure to DUMP after you PUMP if you are not sober.
