Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding: Frequently asked questions

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Mothers are often advised not to drink alcohol while breastfeeding. Because alcohol can enter the milk and affect the baby. So how true is this information? This article will provide some more information on this topic.

1. If I drink alcohol, beer, or spirits, will it harm my baby?

It can happen if you don't take precautions. Because, drinking alcohol while breastfeeding, some alcohol enters the bloodstream and affects breast milk. Although the amount of alcohol transferred if you drink one glass of wine is relatively small, babies are small and their livers are immature. That means children cannot absorb alcohol as well as adults. Infants under 3 months of age process alcohol at about half the rate of adults.
Studies show that alcohol can affect the eating and sleeping of young children. In the four hours after a nursing mother drinks an alcoholic beverage such as 120ml of wine, a mixed drink or a can of beer, breastfed babies consume about 20% less milk. And while breastfed babies may fall asleep and fall asleep faster after their mothers drink alcohol, they also fall asleep in less time.
Alcohol in breast milk can also interfere with a baby's development. In a landmark study of 400 breastfed infants, gross motor development in 1-year-olds was slowed in babies whose mothers drank at least one drink a day for the first three months of life. However, the results of this study were not duplicated. While no one knows the true effects of alcohol on breastfed babies, it's probably a good idea to abstain, at least in the first place. Some experts advise breastfeeding mothers to avoid alcohol, including medicated alcohol, after birth until the baby is 3 months old. If you are concerned that you are drinking too much, talk to your doctor.

2. How can I safely take it regularly if I am breastfeeding?

Can nursing mothers drink alcohol? Doctors often advise against drinking during breastfeeding. However, in some cases, a mother who cannot give up alcohol should wait at least two hours after you have finished drinking before breastfeeding to give your body a chance to get rid of the alcohol.
Blood alcohol levels (and alcohol levels in your milk) are generally highest 30 to 90 minutes after you drink alcohol, although that time varies from person to person. You can time your drinking so that your baby doesn't feed for a few hours afterward. Or you can pump and store the milk before drinking, and then feed your baby the expressed milk from the bottle. Another option is to give formula to your baby in the hours after drinking alcohol.
To avoid dehydration, drink a glass of water with an alcoholic beverage. You should also eat before or after drinking alcohol. This helps reduce the amount of alcohol in your blood and milk.

3. Can I have more than one drink if I am breastfeeding?

Drinking more than one drink is more difficult to do safely when you are a nursing mother. The more drinks you drink, the longer it takes for the alcohol to clear your system. For example, according to researchers who charted the release of alcohol from breast milk, if an average-height woman weighing 54kg consumed three drinks in an hour, it would take seven and a half hours for breast milk to be alcohol-free. . For a woman of average height weighing 79kg, it will take about six hours.
If a 63kg woman drinks 4 times in an hour, it will take about 9 hours for breast milk to be alcohol-free. For a woman weighing 79kg, it will take about eight hours.
If you are a nursing mother, limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day. For a woman weighing 59kg that means no more than 60ml of wine, 240ml of wine or two beers in a 24-hour period.
If you drink too much and get drunk then you should stop feeding your baby until you are sober. If you need to pump, express the expressed milk.

If your baby sleeps through the night without waking up to feed, you can drink more than once in the evening. But this may be unwise for important reasons that have nothing to do with breastfeeding:
You cannot safely care for your baby if you are drunk. You cannot safely co-sleep with your child if you are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. These substances can affect your perception of your baby's presence and crying. So if you drink alcohol, keep your child out of your bed.

4. Does drinking beer increase breast milk supply?

No. There is no scientific evidence to support the popular understanding that drinking beer or any other alcohol increases your milk supply. Firstly, alcohol dehydrates your body and dehydrates the body, which can negatively affect the amount of milk you make. In addition, drinking alcohol disrupts the hormones involved in milk production.
Julie Mennella, a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, has studied the effects of alcohol on lactation, and explains that while prolactin is a hormone that aids in milk production, increases with alcohol intake. , oxytocin is a hormone responsible for reduced lactation. This may explain why babies have a harder time breastfeeding when their mothers drink alcohol, the researchers say.
If you are concerned about low milk supply, talk to a lactation consultant and your baby's healthcare provider.
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Reference source: babycenter.com