You’ve probably heard lots of things said about drinking alcohol as it relates to nursing women. With the holidays upon us and all the “cheer” of the season, let’s explore a few facts and myths about drinking and breastfeeding.
1. Alcohol is considered compatible with breastfeeding. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that a woman does not need to stop nursing because she chooses to have a drink (or two). In fact current research shows that the occasional use of alcohol does not appear to be harmful to a nursing baby. In general, if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to nurse. If you are not sober enough to drive, the concern is not the alcohol content of your breastmilk, but the ability to safely nurse and take care of your baby.
2. Pumping and dumping is not recommended.In the past, women were encouraged to “pump and dump” (basically empty their breasts of whatever milk was in there and then throw it away). The idea being that pumping would remove the “contaminated” milk and that the new milk that was produced would be alcohol free. Turns out this in not true. Alcohol does not accumulate in breastmilk just as it does not accumulate in blood. When blood alcohol levels go down, so do milk alcohol levels. Just as women do not need to remove blood from their body to reduce alcohol levels, they don’t need to remove breast milk to get the alcohol out. Time takes care of both.The only reason to pump after a few drinks is if the women feels full and uncomfortable. A woman with sore full, breasts will probably not be the life of the party.
3. Alcohol content of breastmilk aside, breastfeeding is always a supply and demand situation, thus milk supply needs to be maintained. If you’re away from your baby for a long period of time due to the events of the holidays or otherwise, try to pump as often as baby usually nurses (once again, this is to maintain milk supply, not because of the alcohol content). For women who have a well established supply, they may be able to skip a feeding if they do not get too uncomfortable, but for women with low supply or younger babies, taking the time to pump or even hand express is important.
4. Less than 2% of the alcohol that a women drinks reaches her blood or her milk. Alcohol peaks in the blood and breast milk approximately 1/2-1 hour after it is consumed (though that varies somewhat based on what has been eaten and individual body type). If you would like, you may be able to time your feedings with this in mind.
5. Your baby may not get as much milk and may not sleep as well. A common myth is that babies will sleep better if their mother has had a few drinks and then nurses her baby. However studies show that short term exposure to small amounts of alcohol can change a baby’s sleep/wake patterns. Furthermore, alcohol can interfere with let down, thus a woman nursing after a drink or two may have a baby that receives slightly less milk than he is used to. Keep that in mind so that your expectations are realistic!
So this holiday season, enjoy your life as a new parent and know that a drink or two is not going to harm your baby. If you prefer not to indulge, there are some amazing mocktails you might choose to ask for instead and we all know most holiday parties have amazing food – something all breastfeeding women can enjoy!!
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Maria Pokluda has been a doula serving expecting families in Dallas and Ft. Worth since 2007 and has helped hundreds of families have happy birth days. Maria was voted “Best Doula” by DFW Child the past six years and has a special passion for helping couples achieve VBACs. She also trains doulas across the country with BEST Doula Training. You can find information about Maria’s services or read her blog at greatexpectationsbirth.com
For more info, visit this link to see what the AAP has to say or give us a call. We also love all the info on Kellymom.com and you can read about each of these facts in detail there too!