What You Need to Know About Booze and Breastfeeding
When you're breastfeeding, you're still eating for two. And you're hydrating to boost your milk supply. But when it comes to drinking alcohol, what do new breastfeeding parents need to know? We've scoured the interwebs so you don't have to.
There's no shortage of advice for new moms around every single topic, but the consensus is clear around breastfeeding and drinking. The key word? Moderation.
Occasional moderation is key
Breastfeeding parents can raise a glass and toast the experts. The research shows that while alcohol does show up in your milk supply (just as it does your bloodstream), very little of it gets passed along to your baby. According to the experts, it's fine to have a drink in moderation. If you're worried, enjoy a glass after you've breastfed and wait two hours to nurse again. If you have two glasses, wait four hours.
Booze in your milk supply
Exercise the same judgment you use for drinking and driving. Your body processes and metabolizes alcohol in your breast milk at the same rate as your blood stream. Contrary to myth, drinking does not increase your milk supply. In fact, it might even reduce it because it can inhibit letdown and leave your body dehydrated. So go ahead and enjoy a drink, but be sure to drink plenty of water to replenish your fluids. If you have supply problems, you may want to skip it altogether.
The days of “pump and dump” are done
Pump and dump is a catchy phrase, but may not be necessary. Alcohol in your breast milk mirrors your blood alcohol levels and both peak around 40 minutes after you've had a glass. After that, your body will start metabolizing the alcohol, clearing it from both your bloodstream and your breast milk. (Of course, different body types metabolize alcohol differently, so factor that in when you're considering your choices). The good news? Alcohol doesn't accumulate in breast milk any more than it does in your blood, so there’s no need to pour that liquid gold down the drain.
Mamava designs solutions to empower breastfeeding and pumping parents on the go, like our freestanding lactation pods, Mamava’s lactation space locator app, and other helpful resources.
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