Completely avoiding alcohol during breastfeeding is the safest option for both mother and baby. A drink a day is unlikely to harm your baby especially if you wait at least 2 hours after having a drink before feeding.

Currently research suggest that occasional use of 1 or 2 drink will not cause any harm to baby and many of the expert suggest not to drink more then 1-2 drinks per week.

Read here to know about 12 foods to avoid while breastfeeding

Facts about alcohol while breastfeeding

Here are some of the facts about alcohol while breastfeeding.

1. A research show that the amount of alcohol enters in baby’s bloodstream via breast milk is only about 5 to 6% of the amount of alcohol in the mother’s bloodstream.
2. Alcohol passes quickly from mother’s bloodstream into breast milk. So at any given time, the concentration of alcohol in breast milk is similar to the concentration of alcohol in mother’s bloodstream.
3. The alcohol level peeks in body around 30 to 60 minutes after having a drink so it is generally safe to feed your baby after 2 hours of having a drink. But remember, this is just for 1 drink, the more you drink, the more time it will take to clear out from your system. For example, alcohol from 1 drink can be detected in breast milk for 2 to 3 hours, for 2 drinks it can be detected in breast milk for about 4 to 5 hours and so on.
4. As the level of alcohol will clear out from your blood, it will clear out from your breast milk too
5. Excessive consumption of alcohol can interfere with your milk supply also and can cause low milk supply.
6. The effect of alcohol on breastfeeding baby directly depends on the amount of alcohol which the mother consumes.

Effects of alcohol on breastfeeding baby and mother

Check here 13 tips on breastfeeding for first time moms and stages of breastfeeding

If you are having more then 1 or 2 drink of alcohol per day, it can affect you and your baby both in negative way. Here are some of the effects on both mother and baby are:

• Alcohol can affect your milk supply and can cause low milk supply.
• Daily consumption of more than one drink can cause some development delay in newborn babies.
• Alcohol while breastfeeding can cause poor weight gain in babies.
• It can also lead to disturbed sleep pattern.
• It can cause motor skills delay.
• Alcohol can impact on cognitive score of children later on their life.
• There is no solid scientific evidence on the effects of alcohol while breastfeeding doesn’t mean that having a drink daily will not cause any harmful effects. So it is always best to avoid completely for some time.
• Babies who are exposed to alcohol via breast milk are fussier and cry more than babies who are not exposed.
• The metabolism of newborn baby is not so good and their liver is immature. So, try to avoid drinking alcohol at least till your baby is 3 month old.

FAQs on breastfeeding and alcohol

1.    When can I breastfeed after drinking alcohol?

The amount of alcohol is higher after about 30 to 60 minutes of having a drink. Alcohol from one drink can be detected in breast milk for about 2 to 3 hours after consuming it. The more you drink, the more time it will take to clear out from your breast milk. The levels of alcohol in breast milk are same as the level of alcohol in blood.

Typically it is safe to feed your baby 2 hours after consuming 1 drink of alcohol. If your baby needs to be feed before two hours, try to use your previously expressed milk to feed your baby at that time.

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2.    How much alcohol actually gets in breast milk?

Everything you eat or drink will make their way to breast milk and the same is true for alcohol also. Alcohol can pass in breast milk and to your baby whether you have one drink or more. The level of alcohol is same in the breast milk as the level of alcohol in a mother’s blood. Generally, the amount of alcohol in breast milk is estimated to be 5% to 6% of weight-adjusted maternal dose. Alcohol peeks in breast milk after 30 to 60 minutes of having a drink. It is generally considered safe to breastfeed after 2 to 3 hours of drinking alcohol.

3.    Does alcohol in breast milk make baby sleepy?

The alcohol is like a depressant for nervous system which has a sedative effects that helps you to feel relax and makes you sleepy but the sleep is of a much lower quality than the sleep you get without drinking alcohol. The same applies for infant or newborn babies also. Studies show that when a mother breast feed baby after having alcohol makes baby drowsy and fall asleep more quickly but they also sleep for a shorter amount of time. And babies also slept for 25% less time after exposure to a small amount of alcohol via breast milk.

4.     Do you have to pump and dump after drinking?

If you are a mother who thinks pumping and dumping milk will decrease alcohol levels in breast milk and it will help then you are wrong. The level of alcohol in breast milk is same as the level of alcohol in blood. If the level of alcohol is high in blood, eventually it will go in breast milk.

As long as the alcohol is there in blood, it will go in breast milk also. Alcohol levels go up and down in your breast milk according to how much alcohol is present in blood. As alcohol levels will go down in blood, it will go down in milk also.

The only reason to pump and dump is for your mental peace and to empty your breast if you are feeling full as you can’t breastfeed your baby right now.

5.    How is a standard drink defined?

In the UK, the NHS suggests using this unit calculator: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/unit-calculator. 

According to NHS one “standard” drink (or one alcoholic drink equivalent) contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

• 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol
• 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol

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Specific nutrients, such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A and D, are particularly very important while breastfeeding. Eating a wide variety of foods is also essential, as this will expose the baby to different tastes and may result in them being more receptive to solid foods later on in their life.

Most breastfeeding moms can eat whatever they like without affecting their babies. But every baby is different. If you notice that your baby seems to be fussy, gassy, or sleepless after you eat a particular food, try to avoid that food and check your baby reaction to it. The most important thing is to include a wide variety of fresh and healthy foods in your breastfeeding diet.

Foods to avoid or limit while breastfeeding

From foods that change the taste of your breast milk to foods that make your baby colic, there are certain foods that should be avoided while breastfeeding. While the complete list can vary from woman to woman but some foods are common for everyone. With time, you will naturally learn what works for your baby and what does not.

Here is the list of 12 foods that you should try to avoid or limit while breastfeeding

1.    Alcohol

Experts suggest that breastfeeding moms should limit alcoholic beverages to one standard drink per day. It is also recommended that breastfeeding moms should wait 2 hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage to feed their baby. Having too much alcohol may have a negative effect on your baby’s growth, development, and sleep schedule.

Read more about Alcohol and Breastfeeding: Can you drink while breastfeeding

Research shows that the amount of alcohol in breast milk is high 30–60 minutes after your last drink therefore alcohol can remain in your body for up to 2–3 hours. The more alcohol you have, the longer it will take to be cleared from your body.

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2.    Caffeine

Caffeine is a most common part of our diet. Coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate are common sources of caffeine. When you consume them, some of that caffeine can come in your breast milk also. It’s wiser to avoid foods containing caffeine while breastfeeding as it’s a stimulant which can make your baby restless and disturb their sleep. If you want to drink caffeine, try not to have more than 300mg a day because too much caffeine can over-stimulate your baby.

3.    High mercury foods like fish

There are some foods like fish, salmon and tuna, which are high in protein, omega 3 and very healthy for your body. But they are high in mercury and other contaminates. You don’t need to avoid them completely but limit their consumption like once or twice in a week. You can choose foods types which are lower in mercury, such as salmon, tilapia, and trout. Try to avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish because they have high levels of mercury.

4.    Foods high in sugar and limit fatty foods

A healthy diet consists of healthy foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and so on. To complete all the nutrients while breastfeeding, it is important to eat healthy foods and avoid highly processes foods. As highly processed foods are generally high in calories, unhealthy fats, and added sugars, and low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so it’s recommended to limit their intake as much as possible.

You should try to limit fatty foods and foods that are high in sugar like cookies, cakes. There is some concern about frequent exposure to foods high in sugar and fat as a baby may lead to unhealthy eating habits and obesity in your child but there is still some research needed in this.

5.    Smoking

Smoking can also affect your breast milk the same way as alcohol does. Always try to avoid this while breastfeeding. Smoking can also affect your milk supply also. Studies indicate that smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day reduce milk supply and alter milk composition. It is always best to avoid them.

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6.    Some herbal supplements

Some herbal supplements contain heavy metal and other component which can be dangerous for a baby, the best practice is to avoid them for some time. However herbs and spices are generally considered safe during breastfeeding but there is not much research on herbal supplements.

7.    Spicy foods

However there is no research to suggest that a breastfeeding mom should avoid spicy foods but sometime spicy foods can trigger bloating or gas in babies. If you feel that your baby’s stomach is upset because of the spices that you had before, it is best to avoid them and check the effect on your baby.

8.    Citrus foods

Most of the mothers can eat citrus foods while breastfeeding. In fact, citrus foods are great for a mother’s health as they are a rich source of vitamin c. But some babies are sensitive because of that citrus foods can lead to upset stomach and might cause rashes. Always check for any unusual signs in your baby after having citrus foods especially after eating oranges, grapefruit, lemons and tomato.  If your baby seems fine then you can have then otherwise it is best to avoid them for some time.

Read: Do your breast go back to normal after breastfeeding?

9.    Foods that create gas

There are some foods that create gas like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, corn, and potatoes and many more. While it is not necessary that foods which create gas in you will create gas to baby also but it is always good to minimize or avoid their consumption while breastfeeding. If you decide to have them, try to eat in the morning time when you feel that your baby is active so that you can check any sign of gas or fussiness. Try to avoid them during the night time.

10.    Some herbs

There are some herbs like peppermint, parsley sage which can affect your milk. For example having lots of parsley can curb lactation and having too much peppermint can reduce your milk supply. If you think that your milk supply is dropping down after having lots of peppermint, it is best to avoid them.

11.    Allergy triggering foods

If your family has some history of food allergies then you should check it for your baby also to avoid any allergic reaction. Some of the most common allergy triggering foods is: Cow milk, Peanuts, Soy, Nuts, Gluten, Fish and some citrus foods.

You should not think that you have to avoid these foods while breastfeeding but always keep an eye on your baby’s reaction whenever you have these foods. Always try to expose your baby to different foods and check how he or she reacts. Your baby can tell any of the symptoms like gas, bloating, rash, Crying, colic, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, fussy, nose congestion or runny nose. Generally the symptoms can show within 12 to 24 hours of eating.

12.    Some medications

While most medications are safe to use during breastfeeding but there are some medications like aspirin and product which contains aspirin as well as naproxen should be avoided. You can also check with your health care provider which medications are safe to use and which not.

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