Breastfeeding and Alcohol

You’ve probably heard about various “rules” about drinking alcohol while breastfeeding - and we bet a lot of what you have heard is wrong.  Let’s explore a few myths/facts about alcohol consumption and breastfeeding.

MYTH ONE - YOU CANNOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE LACTATING

Alcohol is considered compatible with breastfeeding. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that lactating individuals need not completely avoid alcohol and may choose to have a drink (or two) as desired. Current research consistently shows that occasional use of alcohol is not harmful to a nursing baby. As a general rule of thumb, if one is sober enough to drive, they are sober enough to nurse their baby. If someone is not sober enough to drive, the concern is NOT the alcohol content of the breastmilk, the concern is about impaired parenting skills. If you are not sober enough to drive, as a general guideline, you may not be sober enough to parent, regardless of lactation status.

MYTH TWO - AFTER CONSUMING ALCOHOL, YOU NEED TO PUMP AND DUMP

Pumping and dumping is NOT recommended. Everyone take a big sigh of relief on this myth buster. In the past, it was encouraged that people “pump and dump”. That meant that after having any alcohol it was recommend that the breasts were emptied of whatever milk was in them and then that milk was “dumped” ie thrown away.  It was as if we as a society believed that alcohol was somehow forever held safe inside milk ducts and would only leave if removed or sucked out. Turns out, in a similar fashion to the rest of the human body, alcohol is filtered from breasts. Just as we do not need to remove, pump or dump our blood to change blood alcohol content, we do not need to remove the milk. Time takes care of both things and when blood alcohol levels go down, so does the milk alcohol level.  If the breasts get full and uncomfortable while away from the baby, it is perfectly reasonable to pump for comfort - a person with full, swollen breasts will probably not be the life of the party. Pumping might also be the way to when regular stimulation is needed to maintain a milk supply.

MYTH THREE - BABIES WILL SLEEP LONGER AFTER HAVING BREASTMILK WITH ALCOHOL IN IT

Your baby may not get as much milk and may not sleep as well. Do you sleep better after a glass of wine? Some of us probably would say yes, others would say no. Babies are the same. It is an old wives tale that a baby will sleep better if their mother has had a few drinks and then nurses her baby. Won’t they both be more relaxed? But studies don’t conclude this, in fact they show the opposite. Short term exposure to small amounts of alcohol do change a baby’s sleep/wake patterns, and not for the better.  To add insult, alcohol may interfere with let down, thus nursing a baby after a drink or two may mean the baby receives slightly less milk than they are used to.  Using alcohol as part of a get-more-sleep strategy is not a good plan and may even backfire.

So, you don’t believe the myths anymore. Yay! Now, just some straight up facts.

FACT ONE - NOT MUCH ALCOHOL EVEN REACHEs BREASTMILK

About 2% of the alcohol that a person drinks reaches the breast milk.  Science has done the math. With some variation based on food intake and body type, they know alcohol peaks in both blood and breast milk approximately 1/2-1 hour after it is consumed. That means if you are concerned about your breastmilk’s alcohol content (despite knowing the AAP is not),  you may choose time feedings or pump times with this in mind.

FACT TWO -BREASTFEEDING IS STILL ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Breastfeeding is always a supply and demand situation. No matter what is happening in life. Since lactation works by the emptying of the breast signalling the breast to fill up the breast and so on…this cycle must keep happening or milk supply will go down. When away from the baby due to the events of life, the breast must be emptied approximately as often as baby usually nurses (this is only to maintain milk supply, NOT to clear alcohol as was the old pump and dump way).  For those with a well established supply and with older babies, it may be possible to skip a feeding or two as long as the breasts do not get uncomfortable, but for those with low supply, younger babies, and with a history of clogged ducts or mastitis - taking the time to pump or hand express is not only vital to the continued breastfeeding relationship, but also to the short term health of the breasts.

Enjoy your life as a new parent and know that a drink or two is not going to harm your baby. However, it’s always OK not to drink if you still feel uncomfortable regardless of the facts - that’s something parents do! If you do prefer not to indulge, there are some amazing mocktails you might choose to make or ask for if you are hankering for a fancy drink…and most social events having amazing food available– something anyone who is making milk can appreciate!

Have more questions about breastfeeding and alcohol? Or more questions about breastfeeding in general? Our lactation consultants can help.

*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