Can you drink while breastfeeding?! Here's what you should consider

 By Rebekah Scroggy, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Photo from Parents.com

Eggnog...spiced rum...white cranberry cosmo...whatever your holiday drink of choice may be, you can still enjoy it if you're a breastfeeding mom. If you take timing and alcohol concentration into consideration, you can enjoy a drink with no stress and you do not need to pump and dump. 

Fun fact: breastmilk is created from components in our blood, so when we drink, the amount of alcohol in our breastmilk is the same as the amount of alcohol in our blood. As it's broken down and metabolized by our bodies, alcohol levels drop in your blood at the same rate that they drop in your milk!

So if you want to enjoy a drink or two, you absolutely can - just take a few things into consideration before nursing:

• Your baby's age. Babies under 3 months (from their birth date/due date if you are a NICU mom) have an immature liver and have a harder time filtering out things so use extra caution. Express breastmilk before you start drinking and give that to them in place of a nursing session.
• Time. Alcohol levels peak about 30-60 minutes after you drink, so wait about 2 hours after each standard drink before you breastfeed.  You can use the Infant Risk Time to Zero calculator to help you make informed decisions.
• Food. Food can help decrease the absorption of alcohol, so snack on something while drinking!

Pumping and dumping is only helpful if you have had more than one drink and have to wait several hours before allowing your baby to drink your milk again, if you're trying to avoid pain/discomfort, or if you want to maintain your expression schedule. Pumping and dumping will not remove the alcohol from your milk sooner, because it's directly related to how much alcohol is in your blood. The only thing that can filter it out is time. 

The overall recommendation is to drink in moderation. Remember to stay hydrated, and avoid nursing if you're feeling impaired. If you plan on partying the night away, be sure to have a caretaker watch your baby and have access to a small stash of milk in the fridge or freezer so you don't have to worry about them being safe and fed!

Pumping doesn't have to hold you back - just be sure to make good decisions and plan ahead!