Alcohol use while breastfeeding

Some of the common questions are:

Can I drink a glass of wine while breastfeeding?

If you are breastfeeding, you can drink alcohol in moderation (1 or 2 drinks).

Scientific fact: Alcohol concentration in breast milk is almost parallel to alcohol concentration in blood. That means if you drink a little (example: one beer or a glass of wine) and if you wait a couple of hours after drinking, your body will get rid of alcohol. That means alcohol will be gone from your blood. No alcohol in blood means no alcohol (or very tiny amount) will be in breastmilk if you wait a couple of hours after drinking.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (read here) says breastfeeding mothers should minimize alcohol use. If you want to drink, keep it small (say one beer or a glass of wine). And if you want to breastfeed after drinking, wait 2 to 4 hours after drinking.

Another option: You can store milk before drinking. Use this milk for feeding baby. And after you are done drinking, wait a few hours before restarting breastfeeding.

How long do you have to wait to breastfeed after drinking alcohol?

If you drink a little (example: one beer or a glass of wine) and if you wait a couple of hours after drinking, your body will get rid of alcohol. That means alcohol will be gone from your blood. No alcohol in blood means no alcohol (or very tiny amount) will be in breastmilk if you wait a couple of hours after drinking.

Another option: You can store milk before drinking. Use this milk for feeding baby. And after you are done drinking, wait a few hours before restarting breastfeeding.

Can a baby get drunk through breast milk?

Scientific fact: Baby’s body has capacity to metabolize alcohol. Even if baby ingests a tiny amount of alcohol, they can metabolize the alcohol.

So if you had one drink and if you wait a couple of hours after drinking, your body will get rid of alcohol. That means alcohol will be gone from your blood. No alcohol in blood means no alcohol (or very tiny amount) will be in breastmilk if you wait a couple of hours after drinking. Baby's body can metabolize such tiny amount of alcohol.

Is beer good for breastfeeding? Does beer increase production of breastmilk?

Beer (or any other alcohol) is not good for breast milk. Alcohol reduces production of breastmilk.

Read more

American Academy of Pediatrics article about breastfeeding mothers. Read here.

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Page last updated: 3-September-2019