What do you know about breastfeeding after drinking alcohol?

Donna - posted on 03/11/2010

You shouldn't do it. Whatever you put in your body transfers to your breastmilk.

Hillary - posted on 03/11/2010

Go to Target or your nearest drug store and get an at home testing kit for alcohol in your breast milk. If it's positive, wait a while.

http://www.target.com/Upspring-Baby-Milk...

Charlene - posted on 03/11/2010

Katherine, I know the feeling!

It almost killed me anytime I had to throw away breast milk!



Like Dana said, pumping and dumping really isn't necessary and really.. how much good would it do if the alcohol is still in your system? Just wait 2-3 hours after every drink you have.



I personally just avoid it altogether, but that's because the smell of any alcohol still makes me a little queasy. :P

Nancy - posted on 03/11/2010

how much alcohol, and how old is the baby?
if it's a small amount of alcohol (1-2 drinks) and the baby is over a year old, i would not worry at all.

Joanne - posted on 03/11/2010

you should pump milk befor you drink you should not breastfeed for 24 hours after drinking

Katherine - posted on 03/11/2010

Pumping and dumping is old advice and bad advice at that since our milk is precious. :)

Dana - posted on 03/11/2010

You don't need to pump and dump. If you still feel buzzed then the alcohol is still in your milk if you don't then your fine to nurse. Check this link out. It explains it better than I can. Pumping and dumping is old advice and bad advice at that since our milk is precious. :)



http://babyparenting.about.com/od/breast...

Victoria - posted on 03/11/2010

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has just released an update on new guidelines...

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au

Amanda - posted on 03/11/2010

Yeah I agree. Thats what I was told. Pump and discard a couple times and then you should be fine.

Laura - posted on 03/11/2010

i asked my babys doctor this question and she told me that you have to just pump a couple times when you're done drinking...unless you're drunk then i'd suggest waiting until the next day, pump a few times, and then your baby can go back to breastfeeding

Keeshea - posted on 03/11/2010

I was told that drinking beer may help with milk production. I agree with Christine in that you should limit alcohol intake while breastfeeding. If you want to drink, try to pump extra breastmilk and store it. If you can't do that, then wait for an hour or so before breastfeeding.

Karen - posted on 03/11/2010

i found this on wellsphere.com - hope it helps you some

From the Health Team

Anything that you put into your body while you are pregnant or breastfeeding can have an effect on your baby. This includes alcohol.



However, research shows that occasional drinking, such as one or two units once or twice a week, is not harmful to your baby while you are breastfeeding. Drinking any more than this can cause problems, such as affecting the mother's 'let down' reflex (release of milk to the nipple area). One unit is roughly equivalent to half a pint of regular beer, a 25ml shot of spirits, or a small (125ml) glass of wine.



Alcohol clears from the mother's blood at a rate of about one unit every two hours. If you do decide to have a drink, it's a good idea to wait for a couple of hours before breastfeeding. It can be difficult to predict when your baby may want to feed, so some mothers plan ahead and express milk beforehand for special occasions where they may want to have a drink.



Moderation is key - drinking anymore than a couple of units at a time can affect the baby's development and reduce your milk supply. Small amounts of alcohol pass into breast milk, making it smell different, which may affect your baby's feeding, sleeping or digestion. To be on the safe side, some women choose to avoid alcohol altogether while they are breastfeeding.



Further information:

Pregnancy and childbirth zone

Which foods should I avoid during pregnancy?

Cynthia - posted on 03/11/2010

It depends on how much you drink. If it's only a couple/few drinks, it should be ok to pump and dump once- or twice to be safe. A labor/delivery nurse told me if I have a couple drinks, pumping and dumping once the next morning is ok. (I did twice to be safe.) If you have a lot of drinks, I'd suggest going closer to a whole day before feeding your milk to your child.

Christine - posted on 03/11/2010

I don't think it is recommended. if you are planning on drinking you should pump some milk beforehand so the baby has milk. If you only have one drink then its not bad but alcohol does make its way into the breast milk. You should really limit alcohol while breastfeeding