Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Like many other substances, research on alcohol and lactation are limited due to the ethical concerns involved. There is some research indicating that heavy alcohol use while breastfeeding may negatively impact infant development, but there are many confounding factors (ex. co-existing mental illness/addiction) and it is not clear if the alcohol in the breast milk is the cause of the harm or the impact of parenting while frequently intoxicated.

Alcohol does decrease levels of serum prolactin (milk making hormone) and oxytocin (hormone that initiates milk flow) so may have negative effects on supply.

If you drink the occasional 1-2 alcohol drinks, the alcohol level in your breast milk is very low. It is safe to assume that if you are sober enough to drive, you are able to nurse.The biggest concern with alcohol consumption while breastfeeding is not so much about the alcohol in breast milk, but more how being intoxicated can impact the parent’s ability to parent due to impaired cognitive and motor function (ex. dropping the baby, not following safe sleep guidelines).

Pumping and dumpting, aka where a parent expresses milk and then throws it away to speed up the rate of alcohol removal, would be about as effective as drawing blood before driving while intoxicated to avoid a DUI. Removing milk will not speed up the rate of alcohol metabolism as it filters out at a similar rate as in the blood.

If you are extremely intoxicated and feel unable to safely be around your baby as their caretaker, it is reasonable to pump and dump to maintain your supply while baby is fed through previously expressed milk.

Sources:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22689-blood-alcohol-content-bac

https://www.abbeycarefoundation.com/alcohol/what-foods-contain-alcohol/#:~:text=consumption%20%5B12%5D.-,Bananas,of%200.4%25%20%5B13%5D.

https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/vaccine-medication-drugs/alcohol.html#:~:text=Safety%20concerns,a%20single%20drink%20before%20nursing.

https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/alcohol/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501469/