Beer and Breastfeeding

Updated on October 02, 2011
P.E. asks from Fitchburg, MA
14 answers

I had three beers tonight. Should I be worried about breastfeeding?

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Well your child will sleep well... I know if I had a glass of wine or a beer when I was breastfeeding it did make the child sleepier than normal.

Considering your typed bread instead of breast you may have tied one on. In other words you may want to give a bottle just this once.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Actually it is suggested that one drink one beer to increase milk supply. I wouldn't drink 3 regularly but it's certainly not going to hurt tonight.

My daughter's midwife recommended that she have a beer to get her milk started after giving birth.

One beer will be out of your system in one hour. If you want to be sure I'd wait one hour from the time you drank your last beer. The amount of alcohol in your breast milk is the same as the amount in your blood stream. Alcohol is not stored in breast milk. Once your blood alcohol level is 0 so is the level in your milk. There is no need to pump and dump. Just wait until the ba level is down.

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

no.....as long as it was one beer like every hour its fine. I wouldn't recommend breastfeeding drunk, lol, but thats not really something i see a mom who actually cares enough to ask a question about it....doing.

Your breasts are different that your placenta, the milk ducts take what they need and only a tiny amount of alcohol can really get passed (unlike many other things).they are an amazing filtering system.but it still is a good rule of thumb not to push it and keep the beverages to a minimum.

basically the beer has to finish its "shelf life" in your bloodstream........which is relatively fast. If you wouldnt pass a breathalizer, dont feed the baby.

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H.1.

answers from Des Moines on

I have no idea but I know at Target you can buy little strips that testif your breastmilk is safe if you have had any alcohol to drink - if I would have continued to breastfeed past my 6 weeks, I may have gotten some of these to have around!

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E.D.

answers from Seattle on

So long as your blood alcohol content is at 0%, your breastmilk won't any alcohol either. How long this takes will depend on your weight, if and what you've eaten, and how you personally metabolize alcohol. It will also depend on what KIND of beer you've had. Some beers are 3.2%, others 8.9%.

Wait until you are completely sober, and your milk will be fine too. Pumping and dumping is unnecessary and ineffective.

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P.O.

answers from Tampa on

Are you buzzing hard, drunk or simply relaxed?

buzzing hard or drunk... pump and dump for one feeding.
simply relaxed... go ahead and nurse. The female body is an amazing design, it filters out toxins and keeps nutrients going to the baby better than it does for the woman herself.

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

http://www.ivillage.com/how-long-does-alcohol-remain-brea...

Don't make it a habit... be sure to wait a while before you nurse your baby, though....

Also, this same article points out that "There is no truth to the old wive's tale that drinking wine or beer will increase milk supply and enhance milk let down." It also points out that daily drinking can actually inhibit let down.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Wait one hour per beer and you are fine!

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

My midwife suggested I not have more than 2 drinks and breastfeed.

If you can feel a buzz - DO NOT breastfeed your baby. Once the alcohol has left your bloodstream, you can nurse. You do not need to pump and dump the breastmilk in your breasts, once your blood has cleared it from your body, your breastmilk will be fine.

I'd wait at least 4 or 5 hours before nursing. If you are uncomfortable, then pump and dump.

J.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

It appears the alcohol has affected your ability to spell. You might want to skip the breast this feeding session

Probably should work these things out before you drink...

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S.N.

answers from Boston on

YES! it doesnt matter how much u had to drink, ANY amount will go into your breast milk.

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

They have those strip things you can test your breastmilk for alcohol with
You may want to get some for when you do drink.as long as your not snot slinging drug I say its ok.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Mmmmm -for me it depended on how spread out the three beers were. If I had more than two drinks back to back or was buzzed, I pumped and dumped. Remember though -your breastmilk has been highly filtered! I would say -if you have a buzz - pump and dump until morning. If not -just pump and dump once.

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