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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Breastfeeding After Consuming Alcohol A Cause For Concern?

my daughter in law is 30yrs old - has 1 1 yr old daughter (who is behind now) and she keeps her and the baby in their room all day long except for 2 meals a day / she still breast feeds but also drinks alcohol also and I am concerned - she has lived with us for a yr now and has always been the same
Tue, 31 May 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
I understand your concern.
Consuming alcohol and breast feeding the baby is not advisable and needs to be avoided. Care needs to be taken if the mother, who is breast feeding, is habituated for taking alcohol.
Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) does not appear to be harmful to the nursing baby. Mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return to breastfeeding as soon as they feel neurologically normal.
Ingestion of alcoholic beverages should be minimized and limited to an occasional intake. Many experts recommend against drinking more than 1-2 drinks per week. Care needs to be taken not to breastfeed the baby while drinking or right after drinking.
Alcohol passes freely into mother's milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption. Studies show that alcohol can affect eating and sleeping pattern of the baby. A newborn (up to 3 months) has a very immature liver, and hence, minute amounts of alcohol would be more of a burden.
Hope the information provided would be helpful.
All the best.
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Is Breastfeeding After Consuming Alcohol A Cause For Concern?

Hi, Thanks for posting in HCM. I understand your concern. Consuming alcohol and breast feeding the baby is not advisable and needs to be avoided. Care needs to be taken if the mother, who is breast feeding, is habituated for taking alcohol. Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) does not appear to be harmful to the nursing baby. Mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return to breastfeeding as soon as they feel neurologically normal. Ingestion of alcoholic beverages should be minimized and limited to an occasional intake. Many experts recommend against drinking more than 1-2 drinks per week. Care needs to be taken not to breastfeed the baby while drinking or right after drinking. Alcohol passes freely into mother s milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption. Studies show that alcohol can affect eating and sleeping pattern of the baby. A newborn (up to 3 months) has a very immature liver, and hence, minute amounts of alcohol would be more of a burden. Hope the information provided would be helpful. All the best.