Healthy eating habits/Breastfeeding and alcohol
For women who are breastfeeding - What you need to know about consuming alcohol.
Siany Hodgins 17164450
[edit | edit source]Is it safe to drink alcohol while breastfeeding?
[edit | edit source]For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option because:
[edit | edit source]- There are concerns that alcohol passed through breast milk may have adverse effects on the infant;[1]
- Larger amounts of alcohol in the breast milk can cause problems with breast milk let-down.[1]
However, according to the Australian Breastfeeding Association
[edit | edit source]- You CAN enjoy an alcohol drink.
- The key is to plan ahead.
How much of the alcohol I drink gets into my breast milk?
[edit | edit source]The short answer is 100%....
[edit | edit source]The amount of alcohol in your milk is equal to the amount of alcohol in your blood.[2]
How does this happen?.....
[edit | edit source]Alcohol can move freely from your blood in and out of your breast-milk, so if you have any alcohol in your blood, the same amount of alcohol be present in your breast milk.[2] Once the alcohol has passed through your system, your breast milk will be alcohol free – alcohol is not ‘stored’ in your milk.[3] The amount of alcohol in your blood can be affected by:
- the total alcohol content of your drink;
- the type and quantity of foods eaten;
- your weight;
- how quickly you are drinking.[3]
How long does it take for the alcohol to clear from my breast milk?
[edit | edit source]2 hours
[edit | edit source]As a general rule, it takes 2 hours for an average woman to get rid of the alcohol from 1 standard alcoholic drink.[3] therefore 4 hours for 2 drinks, 6 hours for 3 drinks and so on.
Alcohol will be in your breast-milk 30–60 minutes after you start drinking. This is included in the 2 hours, which is taken from the time you start of drinking.[3]
But ………
[edit | edit source]It is important to remember that many factors can change how alcohol affects you including:
- age;
- body composition (weight, how much muscle and fat you have);
- mental health status;
- drug use;
- existing medical conditions.[3]
How can I get rid of alcohol out of my milk faster?....
[edit | edit source]You can’t!
[edit | edit source]While expressing your milk is important for your comfort and to maintain milk production, it will not get rid of the alcohol any quicker.[4]
Can I drink alcohol straight away?...
[edit | edit source]It is strongly recommended that you do not consume alcohol until your baby is at least one month old.[3]
What is a standard drink?
[edit | edit source]In Australia, a standard alcoholic drink contains 10g of alcohol, which is equal to:
[edit | edit source]100ml wine[4]
[edit | edit source]285ml full strength beer/cider[4]
[edit | edit source]60ml port or sherry[4]
[edit | edit source]30ml spirits[4]
[edit | edit source]REMEMBER, you may not always be served, or serve yourself a standard drink
[edit | edit source]- for example, an average bottle of beer/ cider contains around 1.4-1.6 standard drinks – if you drink one of these bottles it will take around 3 hours for the alcohol to clear from your breast milk.
How can I manage breastfeeding when I am planning to drink alcohol?
[edit | edit source]It is important to have a plan when consuming alcohol, you can be prepared by:
[edit | edit source]- Timing your alcohol consumption with your baby's feeding and sleeping patterns;[3]
- Eat before and while you are drinking alcohol;[3]
- Express some milk for your baby ahead of time (breast milk can be frozen for up to 3 months.[3]
The current Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends that women consume no more than 2 standard drinks on any day.[5]
Australian Breastfeeding Association is Australia's largest breastfeeding information and support service and is recognised worldwide as an authority on breastfeeding management. You will find a wealth of information for both parents and for health professionals on their website.
[edit | edit source]
Further reading
[edit | edit source]Siany Hodgins 17164450
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003). 4810.0.55.001 - Breastfeeding in Australia. Viewed at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4810.0.55.001
- ↑ a b Brown, J. E. et al. (2011). Nutrition through the life cycle (4th Edition). Belmont, CA, Wadsworth, CENGAGE Learning
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Australian Breastfeeding Association (2013). Alcohol and breastfeeding. Viewed at https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/safe-when-breastfeeding/alcohol-and-breastfeeding
- ↑ a b c d e Department of Health (2012). The Australian Standard Drink. Viewed at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/alcohol/publishing.nsf/Content/standard
- ↑ NHMRC (2013). Australian Dietary Guidelines – providing the scientific evidence for healthier Australian diets. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from http://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the_guidelines/n55_australian_dietary_guidelines.pdf