Understanding how alcohol consumption during breastfeeding affects both you and your baby is so important. After nine months of pregnancy without your favorite glass of wine, it’s natural to want to enjoy a drink occasionally now that your little one is here. By learning how alcohol impacts breast milk and your baby’s development, you can feel empowered to navigate these decisions with confidence and love. This guide offers helpful insights on alcohol and breastfeeding, supporting you in making informed choices that nurture both your well-being and that of your precious baby.

Key Points1,2,3

  • Best Practice: The safest option for breastfeeding mothers is to avoid alcohol entirely.
  • Moderation is Key: Up to one standard drink per day is generally not known to harm the infant. However, caution is advised.
  • Timing for Safety: To be safest, mothers can wait at least 2 hours after a single drink before breastfeeding.

Alcohol in Breast Milk1,2,3

  • Alcohol Transfer: The level of alcohol in breast milk closely mirrors that in the mother’s bloodstream.
  • Timeline:
    • 30 to 60 minutes post-consumption: Alcohol levels in breast milk peak.
    • 2 to 3 hours: Alcohol from one drink will typically be metabolized by your body and no longer detectable in your blood or breast milk.
    • Increased consumption leads to longer detection times (e.g., 2 drinks: 4 to 5 hours; 3 drinks: 6 to 8 hours).
  • Factors Affecting Alcohol Clearance:
    • Amount of alcohol consumed
    • How quickly it was consumed
    • Whether food was also eaten 
    • Mother’s weight
    • Individual metabolism
  • Factors Affecting Alcohol Clearance:
    • Amount of alcohol consumed
    • How quickly it was consumed
    • Whether food was also eaten 
    • Mother’s weight
    • Individual metabolism

Effects of Alcohol1,2,3

  • Milk Production: High alcohol levels can interfere with the milk ejection reflex (let-down) and potentially reduce milk production over time.
  • Potential Risks: Higher alcohol exposure through breast milk can harm an infant's development, growth, and sleep.

Practical Guidelines for Breastfeeding Mothers1,2,3

  • Moderate: Limit your alcohol consumption to one drink per day, or less.
  • Eat Something: Enjoy your drink with a meal.
  • Wait to Breastfeed: After consuming alcohol, wait 2 hours per drink before breastfeeding.
  • Expressing Milk:
    • If unable to wait, consider using previously expressed milk.
    • Keep in mind that expressing milk after drinking does not speed up the clearance of alcohol from breast milk.
    • You can label and freeze this milk for use in a milk bath.

Caring for Baby

This is the biggest concern. Consuming alcohol can impair your judgment and ability to care for your baby safely. If you have a special occasion or night out planned and might have too much to drink, arrange for a sober adult to supervise and care for your baby until you can.4