Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Robin - posted on 07/24/2009

this has been so helpful!!
my sisters are coming to visit me soon (havent seen them in over a year) and i really wanted to go out and have a good time with them, but was worried cos im nursing!

so many helpful and encouraging answers!! makes me more excited that it can be a possiability HOORAY!!

Kate CP - posted on 07/24/2009

As the other mommies have said, you should be fine. Don't feel bad for relaxing and having a few beers. Just don't get drink and nurse the baby. :)

Amy - posted on 07/24/2009

Your fine, when I was nursing, the lactation consultant told me to try drinking a beer to aid in lactation. I'm sure you've already noticed that your baby is doing just fine and is acting like a normal healthy baby. But, if you want to have a night to go out drinking (i'm talking the jello shots and jeager bombs) I would keep a little reserve of pumped milk in the fridge. It's always nice when mommy can get out for a little bit and relax, and it's perfectly acceptable to drink, provided you have a sober body to watch the baby :D

Melissa - posted on 07/24/2009

not at all. ther where plenty of times when i was nursing that i needed to have mommy drink time and well it's not like your giving you baby beer straight from the tap and by te time it does reach your breast its very likely that is only a very small amont if any was released threw your breast. just don't drink a twelve.

Jenifer - posted on 07/24/2009

No, that's nothing to worry about, he'll be just fine. As for pumping and dumping, the only reason to do that would be for your own comfort. Alcohol clears from breastmilk at the same rate it clears from your blood.

Jenny - posted on 07/24/2009

My doctor told me to have a couple of beer when I was breastfeeding as the yeast would help increase my milk supply. 2.5 beer on one rare evening is not an issue really. Your baby will not be affected.

Minnie - posted on 07/24/2009

The Kellymom link that Marabeth posted is good. No need to pump and dump.

Holly - posted on 07/24/2009

Im not anti-drinking..just to clerify..I say to each there own :) But I do think its a great idea to abstaine while pregnant and nursing atleast. Ive enjoyed quite a few wine coolers in my day. Just dont care for them now..:) mayeb when my littel one is all grown and i can drink then sleep til noon....ill enjoy it again!! lol

Sharon - posted on 07/24/2009

There are reasons to drink. A four pack of wine coolers will usually last me a couple of months. They just help me relax on a nice quiet evening. Weddings, birthday parties and on occasion - just whim while out to dinner I'll try one of those crazy looking drinks on the menu.

Holly - posted on 07/24/2009

I dont understand the desire to drink as a parent personally...I stopped drinking before I became pregnant..to be safe...Id recommend not drinking..then there is simply nothing to worry about. Dont beat yourself up over it though. We all make mistakes, and im sure beer is pretty low alcohol so there probaly is not much to worry about this time. :)

Sabrina - posted on 07/24/2009

Haha, I know. I am def not 120 pounds. I did not even feel "tipsy" the whole nite. I paced myself, and like I said, I only drank 2 1/2 beer (it was not hard liquor). Plus, again. It was 5-6 hours before he ate. I do not drink often, maybe once a month because he is still exclusively breastfed, with his solids too (since he is 7 months). I noticed the supply was down that nite bc I woke to pump in the middle of the night, but all is back to normal today.

Thank you for all the info and such!!

Sharon - posted on 07/24/2009

Not me - that was just something out of the LLL book - listed in part on the web - figures they would be over the top about something like that.

Marabeth - posted on 07/24/2009

first, beer is not a 'high alcohol drink.' second, 'eliminate' is different than 'metabolize out of her blood' which is what would affect nursing. and third, who the hell is 120lb?? lol

Heather - posted on 07/24/2009

No. Your baby should be fine. After 5-6 hours your body should have had plenty of time to clear out of your milk. Alchohol does not stay in breast milk. Check out this link for more info. http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/preg/a/aa... Hope this helps.

Marabeth - posted on 07/24/2009

what alcohol your baby gets is dependent on your blood. basically, if you feel drunk you probably shouldnt breastfeed. if you feel just mildly tipsy youre probably okay. theres no need to throw out any milk either, as the alcohol leaves your bloodstream it also leaves your milk. im sure 5-6 hrs was *plenty* of time for you to metabolize that alcohol. i dont drink very much because my daughter is young enough to still be exclusively breasfed and i worry about alcohol lowering my supply for a night. im not very concerned with her getting the alcohol since less thn 2% actually ever gets to my milk. it just takes a little bit of planning and a couple of drinks every once in awhile doesnt hurt.



http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle...

Sharon - posted on 07/24/2009

I found this.. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate the alcohol from one high-alcohol drink.