We know a lot about the dangers of alcohol while pregnant, however, we know less about the effects of alcohol and breastfeeding. While the safest option is to abstain from drinking entirely, some doctors consider one or two drinks safe. However, it’s important to know how long alcohol can remain in your system. Many mothers choose to “pump and dump” in order to maintain their milk supply. In addition, some lactation professionals claim there are benefits to alcohol, especially beer, for milk production. The choice of whether or not to drink while breastfeeding is up to the mother, however, excessive drinking is never safe for anybody.
Alcohol and Breastfeeding: What to Know about Having a Few Drinks
The Safest Route
The bottom line when it comes to alcohol and breastfeeding is that it’s safest not to drink while breast or chestfeeding. There is still a lot that researchers don’t know about the effects of alcohol in breast milk. We know that alcohol during pregnancy can be very damaging to a growing baby. However, we know less about breast milk and alcohol. Therefore, if you want to be as safe as possible, it’s best not to drink at all until your baby is no longer breastfeeding.
Time Tables
While the effects of alcohol and breastfeeding are still being studied, many doctors find that drinking small amounts is considered safe. In general, when a mother drinks one drink, the weight-adjusted amount that the infant takes in is only around 5-6% of that dose. Breast milk that is tested 2-3 hours after one drink usually still contains traces of alcohol. If the mother drinks two drinks, the alcohol is still present after 4-5 hours. And if she drinks three, the time extends to 6-8 hours, and so forth.
“Pump and Dump”
Because of this timetable, many mothers choose to “pump and dump” when consuming alcohol and breastfeeding. This means that instead of breastfeeding, she will use a pump to express milk and then toss it out. It’s important to drain the breast of milk in order to keep up milk production. Especially in new mothers, it’s important to either breastfeed or pump around the clock. The more you empty the milk from your body, the more milk your body will produce. If you want to drink, but don’t want to risk giving the baby milk with alcohol, then simply pump. Or save the milk to make soap, milk baths, or other methods that do not involve consumption. Then, use frozen milk or supplement with formula until your next feeding. While pumping doesn’t keep up milk supply as efficiently as a breastfeeding infant, it still is a good alternative.
Possible Benefits?
Some lactation professionals actually find a positive effect of alcohol and breastfeeding. Specifically in stout beer. The barley in stouts like Guinness helps increase the production of a hormone called prolactin. Prolactin is important for milk production. Therefore, some women are encouraged to drink stouts in order to up their milk supply. However, it’s important to remember that drinking excessively is never safe.
Alcohol and breastfeeding are still a new area of study that researchers are learning about. Because we don’t know all of the effects, the safest thing to do is abstain from drinking entirely. However, it’s often nice to let new mothers relax with a small glass of wine or beer. If you choose to drink, it’s good to know how long the alcohol can remain in your breast milk. If you want to prevent the baby from consuming any traces of alcohol, it’s best to pump and dump for a feeding session or two until the alcohol has left your system. That being said, many lactation professionals think that some alcohol, especially stout beers, can actually increase your supply. Whether she chooses to drink while breastfeeding is a mother’s decision and hers alone. However, binge drinking and excessive drinking are dangerous to anybody, breastfeeding or not.
