Balancing Motherhood with Personal and Social Life
A lot of moms struggle with balancing child care with their personal and social life. One question that often arises is whether it is safe to consume alcohol while breastfeeding. With the winter holiday season approaching, we wanted to highlight the popular myths, potential risks, and important precautions that are associated with drinking while breastfeeding. We hope that during this time of celebration, you can make more well-informed decisions for yourself and your baby.
The Myth About Drinking While Breastfeeding
For many years it has been widely believed that alcohol could optimize or increase breast milk production. However, this is a dangerous myth that is not rooted in scientific evidence. A 2021 study on alcohol’s effect on lactation further debunks this myth: “..the lore of many cultures encourages lactating women to drink alcohol to optimize breast milk production and infant nutrition. In contrast to this folklore, however, studies demonstrate that maternal alcohol consumption may slightly reduce milk production (Mennella, 2021).”
The Risks of Alcohol Consumption While Breastfeeding
There are many complexities associated with drinking while breastfeeding. It is important to understand that a mother’s consumption of alcohol could potentially damage an infant’s health, development, growth, and sleep patterns. This is because alcohol can easily pass through breast milk that is consumed by the infant. A 2018 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics further emphasizes the risk by revealing the link between alcohol in breast milk and reasoning deficits in children. According to the study, “Children’s reasoning test scores at age 6-7 were lower if their mothers drank alcohol while breastfeeding, and the scores were lowest for those whose mothers drank the most (Jenco, 2018).”
Can You Drink Alcohol While Breastfeeding?
According to the CDC, not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers. However, if alcohol has to be a part of your routine then you will have to reduce it to one standard drink a day and wait for at least 2 hours before you begin nursing. A standard drink is defined as either 12 ounces of 5% beer, 5 ounces of 12% wine, 1.5 ounces of 40% liquor, or 8 ounces of 7% malt liquor. All of these options contain the same amount of alcohol.
Also, According to the CDC, if you express milk within 2 hours of consuming an alcoholic beverage then you can discard the expressed milk to prevent your baby from ingesting it. However this does not reduce the alcohol content in your milk more quickly. Drinking water will also not remove the alcohol content from your milk.
Best Practices for Drinking While Breastfeeding
- 1. Reduce alcohol intake and wait before feeding: We recommend that you avoid alcohol entirely and opt for healthier drinks, but if you have to drink then reduce your alcohol intake to moderate levels, as previously mentioned, and wait for at least 2 hours per drink before breastfeeding.
- 2. Breastfeed before drinking instead of after: If you plan to drink then breastfeed your baby immediately before consuming alcohol. This way you can ensure that your baby has already been fed before you begin drinking.
- 3. Keep a healthy supply of expressed milk: Have a supply of expressed breast milk ready for the baby before you begin drinking. This way you can ensure that your baby has access to healthy milk.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, while moderate alcohol consumption is not inherently unsafe for lactating mothers, it requires careful planning and adherence to best practices. By staying informed and consulting with a healthcare professional, you can make more informed decisions that prioritize your baby’s health and well-being. We hope you found this article informative. Please drink responsibly and don’t forget to share this article with others. If you have any further questions then feel free to click here to speak with a lactation consultant today. You may also be interested in a previous post that talks about 3 substances that you should avoid when breastfeeding.
Sources
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018, July 30). Study: Drinking while breastfeeding linked with children’s reasoning deficits. AAP News. Retrieved from https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/13848/Study-Drinking-while-breastfeeding-linked-with
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Alcohol. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/vaccine-medication-drugs/alcohol.html
