Question: 

How long after drinking can I breastfeed again? 

Answered by Ob/Gyn Laura Cudzilo-Kelsey, M.D.:

Here's the short and sweet answer: If you're drinking in moderation (like having one drink) and you feel safe enough to drive and take care of your baby, you're safe enough to breastfeed. 

That's the guideline many breastfeeding medicine experts recommend. It's simple and practical for real life.

Is it safe to have a drink while breastfeeding?

It's safe for nursing moms to have an occasional drink. We get concerned if you're drinking more than the recommended guidelines for adults or if you're binge drinking.

How alcohol affects your nursing baby

In moderation, there really aren't significant effects on babies. 

If you're having two or more drinks, babies might become a bit drowsier or more irritable. Their sleep patterns might not be as consistent – they might not sleep as deeply or feed as well.

Heavy drinking can also affect your milk production. Alcohol can decrease prolactin and oxytocin, the hormones responsible for making milk and helping it flow. With larger amounts of alcohol, your milk supply might decrease, and it can be harder for milk to be released when your baby is trying to feed.

Factors that affect how quickly alcohol leaves your system

Several things influence how your body processes alcohol:

• How much and how quickly you drink.
• Whether you drink on an empty stomach (alcohol gets absorbed faster without food).
• Your body weight.
• Your metabolism.

These factors determine how quickly alcohol clears from both your bloodstream and your breast milk.

The truth about "pumping and dumping"

Despite what you may have heard, "pumping and dumping" does NOT help reduce alcohol levels in breast milk any faster.

The alcohol content in your breast milk is basically the same as your blood alcohol level. Just like your blood alcohol level decreases naturally over time, so does the alcohol in your breast milk. 

Think of it like two containers in your body – as blood alcohol content decreases, milk alcohol content decreases too. Pumping and dumping doesn't speed this up – it's just a matter of time.

Just how much alcohol gets into breast milk?

After a standard glass of wine or a pint of beer, the alcohol content in breast milk is about 0.05%. That's very, very small. 

In fact, some foods like orange juice or bananas, actually contain more natural alcohol than breast milk after one drink. Obviously, babies don't consume these foods when they're very young because their digestive systems aren't ready. But it shows that the impact of one drink on breast milk is quite low.

Practical tips for drinking after breastfeeding 

If you'd like to have a drink while breastfeeding, try these strategies:

• Feed your baby or pump about an hour before you plan to drink.
• Limit how much alcohol you consume.
• Remember that alcohol levels peak about 30 to 60 minutes after drinking.

Again, our practical guideline is: If you feel safe enough to drive and care for your baby, you should be fine to breastfeed.

Special considerations for newborns

Some data about babies who are three months old or younger indicates that, because their livers are still developing, they may not metabolize substances as efficiently. 

While there's no specific guideline advising complete abstinence for parents with babies under three months, you may choose to be extra careful during this time.

What about testing breast milk for alcohol?

There are some breast milk test strips on the market, but they're not recommended. Honestly, they're probably unnecessary given the guideline about feeling safe to drive and care for your baby.

If you accidentally breastfed too soon after drinking...

First, give yourself some grace. If you just had a few drinks and you're otherwise feeling okay, it's very unlikely to have any effects on your health, your milk supply, or your baby's long-term development. It's likely to be totally fine.

The bigger picture: Safety first

I want to emphasize something important: If you're drinking more than in moderation, the focus shouldn't just be on your milk. The bigger concern is the safety of you and your baby.

If you're inebriated, make sure you have another adult who can care for your baby. Don't co-sleep with your baby if you've been drinking. 

Remember, breastfeeding is a wonderful gift you're giving your baby, but it shouldn't mean you can't enjoy an occasional drink. Use common sense, follow these guidelines and trust yourself.​​​​​​​​​​​