When it comes down to it, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Alcohol consumption and breastfeeding has been proven to be generally compatible, safe, a-okay, whatever you want to call it.
So let’s really dig into the nuts and bolts of what that means as a new parent. How much alcohol is okay? Do you need to pump and dump? Are there any “rules” you should know about?
To be perfectly honest, how much alcohol can be safely consumed by a nursing parent has about five million variables to it:
Is baby full term and healthy?
How old is baby now?
How often do they nurse?
What is the nursing parent’s tolerance for alcohol?
Can they drink my Uncles Kurt and Mark under the table normally?
Do they weigh 110 pounds soaking wet?
Is this a parent that knows their limits?
See what I mean by lots of variables? In the most basic of basics, assuming that everything health-wise is on the up and up for baby and parent, if you’re safe to drive you’re safe to nurse. The amount of alcohol that passes into human milk is the same as the parent’s blood alcohol level. The legal limit for driving is .08%, which means that for a parent that isn’t buzzed or intoxicated, baby is getting less than 1% alcohol via milk at its peak. Let’s say baby’s having a feeding at that time, they’re only getting .84-1.4 grams of alcohol in that 3-5 ounce feeding. That’s a pretty tiny amount that a healthy baby’s liver should be able to handle occasionally.
Let’s say you’re still uncomfortable with it. That’s fair. It’s your body, and you spent a lot of time and energy growing your tiny human! You definitely get to call the shots over what feels reasonable or not as a parent. It’s worth knowing that pump and dump is not only outdated, it’s a major waste of time since the alcohol will leave your milk at the same rate that it leaves your bloodstream. The only reason to pump in a scenario related to alcohol is if you’re missing a feeding because you’d rather offer a bottle than a nursing session. Even then, you’re technically not pumping because of the alcohol, but because of the missed feeding. What you do with that milk is totally up to you, but for goodness sake, please don’t dump it! If you don’t want to feed it to baby you can still use it medicinally in their bathwater. It’s great for their skin!
So, if you’re feeling pretty confident about imbibing a glass of rosé or a shandy, know that there are a few things to keep in mind. First, if you haven’t had an adult beverage in nine or ten months your tolerance is not going to be what it once was, so pace yourself! Second, if you’re under the influence of anything (alcohol, sleep medication, whatever) you should not bedshare, so no falling asleep with baby until you’re totally sober. Third, alcohol impacts oxytocin which is the hormone that helps push the milk out of your body and into baby. In most people it’s not noticeable at all, in others the letdown may be delayed or non-existent until sober again. Last, but not least, not everyone is as knowledgeable about this stuff as they should be, so you may get some side-eye or questions. You’re not doing anything wrong if you’ve weighed all the pros and cons and determined that it’s a safe option, so don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself and your parenting. I wish I could say it’s the only time you’ll need to, but there will be many opportunities in your parenting journey where you’ll need to tell the Karens of the world that you got this.
I always recommend to plan on a little day drinking (so you’re not exhausted and can have a nice big lunch with protein) to help offset the effects of your maiden voyage into this uncharted territory. You should also plan on having a sober adult around just in case it hits you in a way you weren’t expecting. The biggest risk is that you still need to be able to parent safely, so call in backup! The other thing that can come as a bit of a surprise to some is that the safest time to have your adult beverage is while baby is nursing. It’s not in your milk yet, and will be metabolized back out by the time baby wants to eat again. So, drink in one hand, baby in the other arm, and bottoms up!
Alcohol and breastfeeding resources:
https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/
https://www.infantrisk.com/content/alcohol-and-breastfeeding
About the author: Krystal has been an IBCLC (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant) since 2015, and supports families in the Pacific Northwest via classes and home visits through her business Key Lactation: www.keylactation.com. Find other nuggets of interesting (and helpful) information on parenting and feeding babies on social media @keylactation on Instagram and Facebook.