Breastfeeding and Alcohol

Breastfeeding after Drinking Alcohol? Try Milkscreen.

Visitor Question: I have a friend coming for a visit which I haven't seen in years and I wanted to go out and have a few drinks with her.

I bought a breast pump and have been freezing milk in order to be able to go out and my baby will be covered for the time I'm gone and my husband can keep feeding him during the night so he won't be getting the alcohol.

My question is for the next morning, or afternoon, when the alcohol is out of my system, is it still in my milk, even just a little?

Or should I even maybe "pump and dump" in the morning to get a new supply alcohol-free before I start feeding him again?

Breastfeeding Magazine Response: Generally the rule is that when mom feels "normal" it is ok to breastfeed again.

Every mom is different so, naturally, the way our bodies metabolize alcohol is different, too. Metabolizing alcohol is dependent on many factors including how much you weigh, type and amount of alcohol you drink, and the food eaten.

There is no way for us to tell you exactly when you can start feeding again unless we knew all these factors in advance.

If you really want to be safe, there is a new product Milkscreen that analyzes breast milk for the presence of alcohol and provides mommy with a clear positive or negative reading to let you have peace of mind that your milk is safe.

For more on breastfeeding and alcohol, click here.

Have fun!