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Who Answers?It is widely accepted that consuming any amount of alcohol while pregnant is dangerous for unborn children, and pregnant people are advised to avoid alcohol for the duration of their pregnancy.1 However, the effects of alcohol and breastfeeding are less commonly known, despite 36-83% of nursing parents reporting alcohol consumption.2 With drinking while breastfeeding being such a common occurrence, nursing parents should consider the risks and know how to consume alcohol safely.
Is There a Safe Level of Alcohol Use When Breastfeeding?
While pregnant, even moderate drinking has been shown to cause developmental problems in areas such as learning and attention, and heavy drinking can cause serious congenital disabilities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).1 While nursing, alcohol can be passed through breast milk to your baby, so the official stance of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to avoid consuming alcohol while breastfeeding.4
However, they acknowledge that casual alcohol use, defined as one standard drink per day, is not likely to cause short¬– or long-term problems in breastfed babies.3 Alcohol consumption can be done safely by breastfeeding parents so long as certain precautions are followed, including:4
- Consume alcohol immediately after pumping or nursing to increase the duration until the next pumping or nursing session. Depending on how frequently your baby nurses, you may have enough time to fully metabolize the alcohol before their next feeding.
- Alcohol can change the taste of your breast milk, which may affect how long your baby nurses or how much they consume in a session. Recurrent episodes of this could impact your baby’s growth, so pay attention to changes in your baby’s nursing habits after you consume alcohol. If you notice a change in your baby’s reaction to your breast milk, you may need to wait longer before nursing.
- Do not attempt to care for your baby while intoxicated, as your judgment and motor skills may be impaired and cause safety concerns. If you plan to drink to intoxication, always arrange for childcare.
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Help is standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Who Answers?How Long Should I Wait After Using Alcohol Before Breastfeeding?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting at least two hours after consuming your last standard drink before pumping or nursing your baby.4 However, the exact time that it takes alcohol to metabolize and no longer be present in breast milk varies from person to person.3 Breast milk alcohol levels are similar to blood alcohol levels, with the highest levels being present 30 to 60 minutes after consuming an alcoholic beverage.3
The time to eliminate a standard drink varies by a person’s weight. A formula has been developed to estimate how long it takes for alcohol to no longer be present in breast milk.3 The below chart refers to people who were assigned female at birth:3
- 2.5 hours is needed if you weigh 120 pounds
- 2.25 hours is needed if you weigh 150 pounds
- 2 hours is needed if you weigh 180 pounds
This pattern should be followed for each additional drink consumed as well. So, if a 180-pound person consumes four drinks, they are advised to wait eight hours before pumping or nursing. Following this formula can ensure you are not passing alcohol to your infant through your breast milk.3
Should I Pump and Dump When Breastfeeding?
The phrase “pump and dump” refers to expressing or pumping milk and then discarding it.4 It has been thought that doing so can rid breast milk of alcohol quicker and allow you to nurse your infant sooner—however, pumping and dumping does not reduce the amount of alcohol in your breast milk.4 Breast milk continues to contain alcohol as long as it is present in your bloodstream, and the level of alcohol in your breast milk will decrease as your blood alcohol level decreases.4
Even though pumping and dumping will not rid your breast milk of alcohol quicker, some breastfeeding parents may choose to do so for other reasons.5 For example, pumping may help ease discomfort from full or engorged breasts, or it may help with adhering to a lactation schedule and maintaining your supply since breast milk production relies on supply and demand. If this is done before waiting the advised two or more hours after consuming alcohol, you may choose to discard the milk.5
Can Alcohol Use Affect Breast Milk Production?
It has been previously thought that alcohol consumption, specifically beer, can increase breast milk supply. However, studies have demonstrated that alcohol consumption can actually inhibit lactation.2
In one study, women pumped 9.3% less milk after consuming alcohol versus on a day they had consumed none. Alcohol consumption has also been shown to inhibit oxytocin, the chemical that triggers the milk ejection reflex or let down, in some women. However, this result varied greatly among study participants and was dependent on the amount of alcohol consumed.2
Another study found that alcohol consumption may affect how long you nurse your infant. For example, women who reported drinking more than two drinks per day were twice as likely to stop breastfeeding after six months of age.2 Given these results, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that alcohol consumption may affect your breastmilk supply and that it is a myth that drinking beer will increase your supply.4
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Help is standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Who Answers?What Are the Risks of Alcohol Use to Breastfeeding Infants?
The presence of alcohol in breast milk could potentially damage an infant’s development, growth, and sleep.5 Studies have shown that infants breastfed by mothers who had consumed alcohol prior to nursing consumed about 20% less milk in the four hours after alcohol consumption—a figure that is likely attributed to a decrease in milk production.2
Changes in sleep patterns have also been found in infants who consumed breast milk containing alcohol.2 One study found that REM sleep was reduced for the first three and a half hours of sleep, and another study found that infants’ total sleep time was 25% shorter on average.2 Infants’ demeanor and behavior were also shown to change after ingesting alcohol-containing breast milk, with infants often becoming more irritable or more prone to crying.3
The long-term effects of chronic and heavy drinking while breastfeeding are less clear, with few and conflicting studies existing.2 Existing studies fail to demonstrate if adverse results are caused by ingesting breast milk containing alcohol or by neglect and abuse related to parental alcohol misuse.2
Heavy parental drinking, defined as more than two standard drinks per day, has been correlated with excessive sedation, fluid retention, and hormone imbalance in infants.3 Even heavier drinking has been found to affect the child’s performance in school later in life.3 You can be certain to avoid adverse consequences of alcohol consumption while breastfeeding by following the guidelines for safe consumption, and seeking help if your alcohol consumption becomes compulsive or uncontrollable.
When to Seek Help for Your Drinking
If you are having difficulty reducing or abstaining from alcohol consumption, you may consider seeking treatment for an alcohol use disorder. Some common signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder include:6
- Experiencing unsuccessful attempts to reduce or control alcohol use
- Having strong cravings for alcohol
- Drinking more or more often than intended
- Giving up or reducing important life activities due to alcohol use
- Experiencing interpersonal problems caused by alcohol use
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when abstaining from alcohol use
- Continuing to consume alcohol despite physical or psychological problems caused by alcohol use
If you are concerned about your drinking, you may want to seek an alcohol misuse assessment, conducted by your healthcare provider. They can assess your alcohol use and refer you to the appropriate level of care. You can also call our 24/7 helpline at
800-948-8417
Who Answers?
to speak to a treatment support specialist about your options.
Resources
- The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. (2021). Alcohol and Pregnancy.
- Haastrup MB, Pottegård A, Damkier P. Alcohol and Breastfeeding. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 114,(2), 168-173.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). (2021). Alcohol. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006–.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). Alcohol & Breast Milk.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Alcohol.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.