Breast Milk Screening Strips

I'm guessing that you're asking about alcohol content in breast milk. Right? My husband and I came up with a simple method for figuring out if it was okay for our littles: it takes one hour to metabolize one drink. So if my little one ate at 5 pm, and the next feeding is at about 8 pm, then I could have two drinks (or three drinks, but I'm kind of a lightweight) and the baby would be fine.

I found that the screening strips either told me that the breast milk was always bad or always good, depending on the strips. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. Just my experience.

Alcohol leaves your milk as it does your blood, so if you aren't feeling it, I certainly wouldn't worry (but I don't drink too much, so maybe that's my lack of worrying, no judgement, it just costs too much!). There is no reason to pump and dump unless you are pumping to keep your milk supply up (low supply or missing a feeding) or for comfort (you got too full). I don't know anything about the strips, they probably work, but don't feel bad breastfeeding your baby when you've been drinking a little, it's healthier than formula (many countries say that if you're sober enough --from most any drug-- to hold the baby your sober enough to breastfeed...)

K.

My doctor told me that a drink or two stays in the body about 2 hours, and so nursing after that period is fine. If you drink to excess (getting tipsy or drunk), you should pump & dump just to be sure.

I used the ones you can buy at Target. I don't remember the brand. THEY WORK! It will put your mind at ease that one beer won't affect milk but 2 or 3 might. It does totally depend on your body metabolizing the alcohol and it doesn't take much to get that tipsy feeling again. And when in doubt......DUMP! I found it was better to be safe than sorry.
Good luck and give them a try.
~K.

I wouldn't waste your money on the strips. I agree with all the ladies below...I never have more than 2 drinks between feedings and always make sure that there is 1 hour between the time I finish my last drink and the next feeding (she eats every 3-4 hours).

Don't worry about it. A drink or two is fine. The rule is: If you're ok to drive, you're ok to nurse. But you have to be honest. No "well...I'm just buzzed" where you really shouldn't be driving either. Just stick to a drink or two and you'll be fine:) If you want to get drunk, pump before for the baby. You don't need to pump and dump, the alcohol leaves your milk the same way it leaves your blood.

I used Milkscreen and although I really have no reference, I thought they worked! Although I will say that even after I thought I had drank enough to turn it "bad" it didn't. My strips did change color but it never got to the "dump" line. I never had more than 3 drinks I think but according to the strip it was still fine. My son never had any adverse affects when I used that milk, so I think it really was fine! Good luck!