The alcohol level in breast milk is essentially the same as the alcohol level in a mother’s bloodstream. Can expressing/pumping breast milk after consuming alcohol reduce the alcohol in the mother’s milk? If a caregiver drinks excessively, he or she should arrange for a sober adult to care for the infant during this time. Drinking alcohol could impair a caregiver’s judgement and his or her ability to safely care for an infant. Excessive alcohol consumption while breastfeeding could also affect the infant’s sleep patterns and early development.Ĭaring for an infant while intoxicated is not safe. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption could lead to shortened breastfeeding duration due to decreased milk production. However, higher levels of alcohol consumption can interfere with the milk ejection reflex (letdown) while maternal alcohol levels are high. Moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother (up to 1 standard drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours before nursing. What effect does alcohol have on a breastfeeding infant? However, blood alcohol levels and the length of time alcohol can be detected in breast milk after drinking will depend on a number of factors, including the amount of alcohol consumed, how fast the alcohol is consumed, whether it is consumed with food, how much a mother weighs, and how fast alcohol is broken down in a mother’s body. For example, alcohol from 1 drink can be detected in breast milk for about 2-3 hours, alcohol from 2 drinks can be detected for about 4-5 hours, and alcohol from 3 drinks can be detected for about 6-8 hours, and so on. However, the length of time alcohol can be detected in breast milk will increase the more alcohol a mother consumes. Alcohol levels are usually highest in breast milk 30-60 minutes after an alcoholic beverage is consumed, and can be generally detected in breast milk for about 2-3 hours per drink after it is consumed. Alcohol consumption above moderate levels may also impair a mother’s judgment and ability to safely care for her child.ĭrinking alcoholic beverages is not an indication to stop breastfeeding however, consuming more than one drink per day is not recommended. However, exposure to alcohol above moderate levels through breast milk could be damaging to an infant’s development, growth, and sleep patterns. Generally, moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother (up to 1 standard drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours after a single drink before nursing. Not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers. To learn more about an energy-boosting lifestyle, buy Boosting Your Energy, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.Is it safe for mothers to breastfeed their infant if they have consumed alcohol? Consuming a sufficient amount of fluids in beverages and water-filled foods (such as fruits, vegetables, and soup) will help you maintain your energy. Approximately 50% to 60% of your body weight is water, and you are constantly losing water through urine, sweat, and breathing. One of the first signs of being short on fluids is a feeling of fatigue and weakness. One beverage that can boost your energy is plain old water. If you didn't sleep well the night before, even one drink can make you drowsy, especially if you drink during one of your usual low-energy times - for example, midafternoon or late evening. Drinking wine, beer, or hard liquor during the day can make you feel drowsy or lethargic. What's more, alcohol may increase the need to urinate during the night - just another way in which it can disrupt sleep.Īlcohol's sedative quality can rob you of energy in another way. Alcohol also relaxes throat muscles, and this relaxation can worsen sleep-related breathing problems and contribute to sleep apnea. Indeed, alcohol may account for 10% of cases of persistent insomnia. Several hours after that nightcap, the alcohol raises the body's level of epinephrine, a stress hormone that increases the heart rate and generally stimulates the body, which can result in nighttime awakenings. Although alcohol's sedative effects can make you drowsy, they also have other effects that can interfere with quality sleep.
Many people think that a little nightcap will help them sleep soundly through the night. Sedative effects of drinking can also initiate other physical responses in the body
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