A very common question that NICU nurses are asked is, “Is it safe to breastfeed my baby if I’ve consumed any alcohol?”
Well, it depends. Not drinking alcohol is clearly the safest option for breastfeeding mothers. In general, though, moderate alcohol consumption (up to 1 standard drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours after drinking before nursing. Drinking alcoholic beverages is not an indication to stop breastfeeding; however, consuming more than one drink per day is not recommended. Alcohol levels are usually highest in breast milk 30-60 minutes after consumption and can be generally detected in breast milk for about 2-3 hours afterward. A good rule of thumb is that if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed!
Exposure to alcohol ABOVE moderate levels through breast milk can be damaging to an infant’s development, growth, and sleep pattern. In addition, higher alcohol levels may also impair a mother’s judgment and ability to safely care for her child. Excessive alcohol consumption can interfere with the milk ejection reflex (letdown) and over time, could lead to shortened breastfeeding duration due to decreased milk production.
The alcohol level in breast milk is essentially the same as the alcohol level in a mother’s bloodstream. As the mother’s alcohol blood level falls, the level of alcohol in her breast milk will also decrease. A mother may choose to “pump & dump” milk after consuming alcohol to ease her physical discomfort or adhere to her milk expression schedule, but it will not reduce the amount of alcohol present in her milk any quicker.
What is considered a standard drink?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines a standard drink as:
12oz of 5% beer
8oz of 7% malt liquor
5oz of 12% wine
1.5oz of 40% (80 proof) liquor
[All of these drinks contain the same amount of alcohol (14 g or 0.6 oz)]