Nursing Mothers

Nursing Mothers Can Drink Alcohol in Moderation

Click to View Ordering Options

It is OK to have a drink or two. Timing, moderation, and logic are the guiding forces. Obviously it is not OK to be drinking while you are in the physical act of breastfeeding. You’ve undoubtedly heard that what ever is in your system, including alcohol, is in your breast milk. That is very true. You may have also heard that you need express and destroy any milk that you have in your system while you are drinking or shortly thereafter. That is not true.

Alcohol is water soluble. Your body naturally cleans the alcohol out of your bloodstream. Alcohol does not linger in your body for days, just hours. When it is out of your bloodstream it is also out of your breast milk. When you no longer under the influence of alcohol your bloodstream is clean, as is your breast milk. Unless your breasts are uncomfortably full with milk there is no reason to destroy it. Just wait until you are no longer under the affects.

Timing

This is where timing comes in. Each person is different. Depending on your metabolism it may take less or more time for the affects of alcohol to wear off. Generally speaking it takes one to two hours per ounce of alcohol for your system to be clean. An ounce of alcohol is equal to about four ounces of wine or one beer. With this and your baby’s safety in mind limit your alcohol consumption so that you have enough time between feedings to rid your milk and system of alcohol.

One Ounce Alcohol = Four Ounces Wine = One Beer = Two Hour Wait Before Breastfeeding

Planning

The best thing to do is plan ahead. If you are going out to dinner and are going to want a glass or two of wine you should know in advance, right? Feed the baby just before leaving the house. If your baby takes breast milk in a bottle, express the milk and save it so that your baby can have it later. If your baby doesn’t take to the bottle do not express or waste the milk. Just limit your consumption so the affects have left your system before you feed the baby.

Alcohol in Moderation is Oaky

While you are breastfeeding it is important that your baby receive only pure breast milk. Not breast milk that has been tainted with alcohol. A moderate drinker consumes not more than two alcoholic beverages per day. A heavy drinker has more than two. It is not practical to have more than two drinks per day and still breastfeed. A baby can’t wait six hours until the alcohol is out of mom’s system. The health and developmental risks to the baby from feeding her alcohol contaminated milk is not worth the brief pleasure or relaxation you may receive from a few cocktails.  Alcohol and breastfeeding video.