What is the danger of alcohol while breastfeeding. Impact on lactation: myths and reality

Everyone knows that alcohol during breastfeeding can seriously harm the baby, because all the dangerous elements of alcoholic beverages, along with milk, enter the body of a newborn. As a result, substances cause irreparable damage to the child.

Harm to the baby

Negatively affects the development and functioning of the nervous system of the baby. Worsens sleep and increases excitability. Despite the fact that the baby will fall asleep faster, he will sleep restlessly and wake up constantly;
Causes weakness and drowsiness;
Intestinal intensify, as alcohol causes inflammation of the membranes of the stomach, esophagus and intestines;
With the systematic use of alcohol by a nursing mother, a child can experience mental retardation;
Impairs the functioning of the respiratory system;
Negatively affects the work of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, blood pressure decreases and heart rate increases;
During the constant use of alcoholic beverages during breastfeeding, the baby gains poorly, lags behind in growth and loses appetite;
Constant use by the mother also causes the child to become addicted to alcohol, up to addiction;
Causes severe intoxication, which leads to indigestion and stool disorders, nausea and vomiting;
It worsens the taste of breast milk, as a result of which the baby may no longer breastfeed. .

The younger the child, the less adapted the body is and is ready to process various substances, especially alcohol. Please note that the liver of a newborn is not able to process even a small proportion of harmful elements, which as a result poison the internal organs of the baby. Therefore, in the first three months, alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited for consumption! Even a sip of low-alcohol beer at this time leads to a negative reaction of the baby.

Four months after the baby is born, the mother may occasionally allow a small dose of alcohol. It is important to drink immediately after breastfeeding. For safety, you can express milk so that in the next feeding you will give the baby "clean" food. Choose high-quality alcohol without impurities.

During lactation, it is not recommended to drink alcohol if the dosage is observed more than twice a month. You can't drink on an empty stomach! With a full stomach, alcohol is less absorbed into the bloodstream. After drinking alcohol, you can feed your baby no earlier than three hours later. If the child is mixed-fed, on the day when the mother drinks alcoholic beverages, you can transfer the child to the mixture.

Remember that alcohol negatively affects lactation and in large quantities contributes to the deterioration of milk production! If the baby has a negative reaction to alcohol, exclude alcoholic beverages from the diet until breastfeeding is completed.

Six myths about alcohol

Beer improves lactation

The foamy drink accumulates in the tissues, which swell and stretch. As a result, it seems that there is more milk. However, this is self-deception, and beer does not affect the course of lactation. Moreover, it complicates the feeding process. Alcohol delays breast milk, and the baby is forced to suck harder.

Alcohol eases the psychological state of a woman after childbirth

Perhaps, for a while, alcohol will ease the emotional state and relieve fatigue in a nursing mother. However, after such drinks will only aggravate the situation. Remember that alcohol harms both adults and children. When abused, a woman's sleep, health and psyche are disturbed. In addition, after taking alcohol, the mother relaxes and loses her vigilance, which can lead to injuries to a small child. What will help a nursing mother with stress, read

Alcohol helps your child fall asleep faster

Indeed, after the mother drinks alcohol, the baby will fall asleep quickly. However, sleep will become restless, the baby will often wake up and act up.

Red wine improves vascular function

Red wine in a small amount has a beneficial effect on the functioning of blood vessels, blood composition and hematopoiesis. However, keep in mind that the dose should be minimal. And in any case, even a quality drink can do more harm than dubious good. And it will improve the composition of the blood without risk for the baby and lactation.

Kefir due to the alcohol content can not be drunk during lactation

Alcohol accumulates in breast milk

And from the blood, and from milk, alcohol is excreted after a while. Weathering time depends on the weight of the woman, the dose and strength of the drink. Below you will find a table with a detailed indication of the time for the withdrawal of alcohol from a woman's body.

Table for removing alcohol from breast milk

When calculating, one serving was taken, namely one glass of wine (150 ml) with an alcohol content of 11% or one mug of beer (350 ml) with an alcohol content of 5%, or one glass of strong drink (42 g of vodka or cognac) with an alcohol content of 40 %.

Body mass	Withdrawal time
40 kg	2 h 50 m
45 kg	2 h 42 m
50 kg	2 h 36 m
55 kg	2 h 30 m
60 kg	2 h 24 m
65 kg	2 h 16 m
70 kg	2 h 12 m
75 kg	2 h 08 m
80 kg	2 h 03 m
85 kg	1 h 58 m
90 kg	1 h 54 m
95 kg	1 h 51 m

To calculate the withdrawal time, multiply the number of servings by the time depending on the weight. So, with a mass of 60 kg and two glasses of wine drunk, alcohol will disappear from the body after 4 hours and 48 minutes. Please note that pumping milk after drinking alcohol will not affect the rate of cleansing the body. A new influx of milk will contain the same amount of alcohol until the level in the blood drops.

Holidays are rarely complete without alcohol. They help to relax, relieve stress, create a certain mood. But any alcohol during breastfeeding, including wine, is contraindicated for the mother, because during feeding it is transmitted to the baby. The period of alcohol removal from the developing organism is 3-4 times longer than in adults. During this time, ethanol molecules can harm the emerging central nervous system, gastrointestinal organs, and cause hypoglycemia.

Alcohol and breastfeeding

Serge Rende's research has confirmed that drinking grape-based drinks containing ethanol improves immunity, improves mood, and generally has a good effect on organ function. But alcohol has the opposite effect. It penetrates into all organic fluids, into the lymph, and prevents normal lactation. Therefore, when asked whether it is possible for a nursing mother to drink, 99% of doctors will answer that it is impossible. If you drank a couple of glasses of any alcoholic drink, then wait until your organs process it.

Does alcohol pass into breast milk?

Alcohol penetrates into all organs immediately through the bloodstream. Young mothers, before drinking a glass of wine, should not only think about whether alcohol passes into breast milk, but also about the state of their liver. Jumps in hormones lead to a change in the functions of this organ and metabolism. With such violations, ethanol will quickly spread throughout the body, and leave it very slowly. Alcohol penetrates into milk after 30 minutes. The decomposition time of the substance depends on the weight and condition of the mother. If you want to take alcohol, you must adhere to the following rules:

Be mindful of the age of the baby. Up to 3 months, a small organism is too sensitive to alcohol, which can provoke poisoning.
It is impossible to drink wine, vodka, champagne or cognac an hour before feeding, because the liver and pancreas will not have time to process them.
Consider your own weight when taking products containing alcohol. The smaller it is, the longer you have to wait for the release of ethanol from the body.
A day you can drink one glass of wine, 250 ml of beer or 30 ml of cognac. They cannot be taken together.

What percentage passes into breast milk

Ethanol is absorbed by the female body faster, and comes out more slowly. When asked what percentage of alcohol passes into breast milk, doctors answer that only 10%. The percentage may change. It is affected by the weight of the mother and the amount of alcohol-containing drinks she has taken. If you have problems with metabolism, then the percentage increases to 20. Ethanol comes out of the mammary glands easily, but it stays in the brain for a very long time, so even 3 hours after drinking wine or beer, women are not recommended to drive vehicles.

How long does it take for it to pass into milk?

The time of absorption of any substances is determined by the complexion of a person and the rate of metabolic reactions. For this reason, it is impossible to answer exactly how long alcohol enters breast milk. Approximate time is 25-40 minutes. Alcohol even 2 hours after ingestion will be transmitted to the baby. Many women find that under the influence of Cahors or beer, the child begins to fall asleep faster. This state cannot be attributed to a full sleep. It is caused by intoxication and intoxication when feeding with alcoholized milk.

How long does it take to get alcohol out

The time for the splitting of alcohol by all organic systems is on average 2-3 hours. This figure is also relevant as an answer to the question of how much alcohol is excreted from breast milk. The amount of the accepted alcoholic beverage product and the metabolic rate of a person make their own adjustments. People with a fast metabolism will break down ethanol in less time than those with digestive problems.

Alcohol withdrawal table

Before drinking wine or champagne, many nursing mothers think about how long the drinks will be excreted. Ideally, it is believed that a healthy body can remove up to 120 mg of the product in an hour. The table below shows the elimination of alcohol from breast milk. From it you will find out how long it takes 130 ml of various drinks containing ethanol to be excreted from the body.

Woman's weight in kg/Name of drink

Gin tonic 9%
Champagne 11%

Port wine 18%

Do I need to express milk

Alcohol, once in the stomach, penetrates everywhere. The main difference is in the concentration of the substance. Only 10% of the ethanol molecules contained in the blood penetrate into milk. The substance is removed simultaneously from all organic systems. Therefore, when asked whether it is necessary to express milk after alcohol, doctors answer that this is not necessary. But if you have a child under 3 years old at home who needs to be fed every 120-150 minutes, then you should leave a bottle of nutrient fluid.

Pumping to minimize the concentration of alcohol in the blood is useless, because all organs are updated in a certain mode. It cannot be influenced from outside. After the time indicated in the table has passed, you can continue feeding without fear that the baby will be poisoned by ethanol molecules. For safety, you can add 1-2 hours to the time of removing alcohol, and then feed the baby.

Wine while breastfeeding

During pregnancy and after it, only soft drinks can be safely consumed. A glass of wine while breastfeeding will harm lactation and the baby. It will be more useful to replace it with a glass of pomegranate juice, which improves the process of blood production. If you really love this drink, then wait until the child is 4 months old. Then white and red wine will not bring much harm, even if they stay in the mammary glands and blood for longer than the prescribed 2 hours.

Beer while breastfeeding

This drink does not affect the volume of milk. Beer while breastfeeding is contraindicated, as well as other alcohol-containing products. It has long been rumored that a certain amount of a mixture of hops and malt has a good effect on lactation and can help new mothers restore the process of milk production. Research has disproved this information. Slight swelling of the breast after beer is observed for the following reasons:

Ethanol retains fluid in the vessels, which leads to swelling of the lymph nodes and veins.
The high content of alcohol inside the body inhibits the production of oxytocin. This hormone is produced by mothers when the baby begins to breastfeed. It promotes the release of fluid from the chest. Without it, she remains in the glands, and the baby receives a smaller amount of food.

Champagne while breastfeeding

Sparkling wine is considered safe for maternal health. This alcohol-containing product will not be able to cause a state of severe intoxication, its effect on lactation is minimal. Champagne with HB can be consumed, but the dose should not exceed 200 ml. Do not drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach. The average time for the breakdown of champagne by the body is 180-200 minutes. Measure this interval after drinking a glass of sparkling wine.

Video

There is a lot of information about how alcohol affects a child in the womb. Studies have been conducted on this topic and the opinion of experts here is unambiguous. As for the degree of harm from drinking alcohol while breastfeeding, there is much less information here. And, as you know, where there is less data, there are more guesses, conjectures and myths. The result is that some adhere to excessively rigid limits, others, out of ignorance or erroneous opinion, on the contrary, allow unforgivable liberties.

Alcohol and breast milk

It should be noted the proven fact that absolutely any type of alcohol freely penetrates into mother's milk, and, therefore, into the child's body. Its highest concentration is observed in milk about half an hour or an hour after it enters the mother's body. It depends on the individual characteristics of the body to absorb substances into the blood, the type of alcoholic drink that the nursing mother has consumed, its quality and quantity.

By the way, if an alcoholic drink was drunk on an empty stomach, then after thirty or forty minutes it is maximally concentrated both in the milk and in the blood of the woman herself. If it was a drink accompanied by a light snack, so to speak, a snack, then the maximum dose of degrees gets into the milk in an hour. But if, for example, a woman, after taking a glass or a glass of wine, ate tightly (preferably, eat the first hot dish, for example, soup, hodgepodge or borscht), then the strongest concentration of alcohol will be observed in her breast milk only after an hour and a half.

The neutralization of alcohol occurs in the liver, which is no secret to anyone. But the speed of this process entirely depends on the state of this organ and, accordingly, on the weight of the woman. If a young lady, for example, is rather tiny, weighs no more than fifty kilograms, then her liver will cope with alcohol for three and a half hours. This time the body will spend on the processing of weak alcohol, for example, a three-hundred-gram glass of beer or half of this volume of wine. If a nursing mother drank within fifty grams of cognac, then her body will process and excrete alcohol for a little more than half a day. Therefore, doctors and pediatricians strongly advise breastfeeding mothers not to use strong alcoholic drinks - vodka, whiskey, cognac and rum - in their pure form, but at least dilute them.

The effect of alcohol on a child

Since alcohol enters milk during breastfeeding, and, therefore, into the body of a child, it is reasonable to assert that alcohol in a certain way affects a fragile small organism. Doctors agree that if a nursing mother sometimes, but not often, drinks alcoholic beverages a little, then there is no particular harm in this fact for her child. But under small doses, each means its own, and therefore, in fact, it must be clarified that we are talking about the volume of cognac within 45 g. Regarding wine, an acceptable dose should not exceed one and a half hundred grams, and should be about twice as much in the case of beer. Such a dose is called a daily dose, that is, within 24 hours the norm should not be exceeded. But this does not mean that alcohol should be included in your daily diet. If the mother, for example, has low blood pressure, vegetative-vascular dystonia, then a small glass of red wine saves her from a headache caused by vasospasm. But this is not a reason to “treat” in this way every day.

With a single use of a reasonable dose of alcohol by a nursing mother, the child has the following symptoms:

Drowsiness.
Apathy.
Lack of appetite and long breaks between feedings.

But if we are already talking about the fact that drinks with a degree are consumed and, therefore, enter breast milk regularly or in larger quantities than conditionally permissible, then the symptoms will be much deeper and more serious.

In this case, we are talking about the following signs:

The child is underweight.
His psychomotor is inhibited or retarded in development.
The sucking reflex is slow.
The child's appetite is poor.

How to minimize the consequences of alcohol intake by a nursing mother and avoid harm to the child?

Since the liver of a newborn is underdeveloped, it copes with any intoxication, including alcohol, more slowly and worse. Therefore, the intake of alcohol by a nursing mother should still be avoided. In a child under the age of six months, the liver does not cope with such loads at all. Many mothers believe that expressing milk after drinking alcohol will reduce the amount of alcohol in it. But this is a myth, because the concentration of this substance in mother's milk decreases in proportion to how it decreases in the mother's blood. The production of breast milk is a continuous process and it is directly related to blood circulation.

The very amount of milk produced by alcohol does not reduce or increase, this is also an erroneous opinion. We are only talking about the fact that a drunk glass of beer complicates the passage of milk itself through the nipple, which means that it is more difficult for a child to get it. Exorbitantly tired, the baby may well fall asleep half-starved, but soon wake up again, try to finish eating his norm.

If, for one reason or another, it happened that the nursing mother drank more than should be followed in a healthy manner, then until she is completely sober, breastfeeding her child is not something that is not recommended, but is strictly prohibited. And milk must be expressed, only so that it does not stagnate and does not cause heaviness, pain and even mastopathy. The latter disease is difficult to treat, with the use of antibiotic injections, and in advanced cases, surgical methods. Alternatively, if you do not express milk on time, lactostasis can occur, which is a compaction of the area on the chest, or rather, inside it, which causes severe, sometimes as if cutting pain, if you touch it. The milk ducts in the breast are released by the same pumping and attachment to the baby's breast.

If the mother drank alcohol, then it is better for her to spend time alone before sobering up, and not next to the child. Due to poor coordination, she can inadvertently injure the baby, or injure him while sleeping together, since a person who has drunk pretty much is definitely not sensitive. This should be understood, because a drunk person rarely adequately assesses the degree of his alcohol intoxication.

In general, alcohol can be replaced in most cases with a quality soft drink. For example, non-alcoholic beer in its taste is no different from regular graduated beer. Mom should remember that continuing the process of breastfeeding, she has a huge responsibility for the life and health of her child.

It is well known that there is a certain relationship between the diet of a nursing mother and the condition of the child. Everything that she ate or drank, through the milk enters the child's body.

Some mothers refuse alcohol for the entire duration of lactation, while others, in an effort to relax, occasionally allow themselves one hundred grams of cognac or vodka, a mug of beer, a glass of wine or champagne.

That’s why you need to figure out how compatible alcohol and breastfeeding are, how alcohol affects a newborn baby, and whether it’s safe to drink at all.

According to statistics, every seventh mother who gives milk to a child drinks alcohol. A woman who allows herself a glass of beer or a glass of cognac in the company of friends believes that she does not harm the baby.

We are not now discussing cases of formed addiction to alcohol and what are the consequences for the child's body from maternal alcoholism. Everything is so very clear.

In general, there are several different views of healthy mothers on the question of concern to many - is it possible for nursing women to drink:

Alcohol is a taboo at the time of planning, the period of bearing the crumbs, after childbirth and the entire period of natural feeding of the child with milk.
Drinking alcohol (beer, cocktails, low-alcohol drinks) with HB is acceptable if you drink occasionally and in minimal dosages.
A nursing mother can "enjoy" alcohol, if at the same time follow the technique of safe use.

Which opinion is more reasoned is up to you to decide after reading the article, but for now, you should consider the numerous myths and speculation surrounding nursing mothers and alcoholic beverages.

Myth #1 Beer improves lactation. Some "well-wishers", having offered a glass of beer to a nursing mother, convince that it affects the volume of milk. Probably, such an opinion was formed due to the fact that the child, after consuming this foamy drink, asks for breasts more often, that is, the number of meals increases. Scientists have proven that, despite the increase in the frequency of feeding after beer, the total volume of milk decreases by 25%. So, you can’t drink beer to improve lactation.
Myth number 2. Alcohol helps the child fall asleep. Often, nursing mothers are advised to drink a glass of beer or a glass of weak wine before evening feeding, so that the child sleeps well all night. However, American scientists have refuted this misconception, establishing that the use of alcoholic beverages by the mother leads to the opposite effect. At first, the child, having eaten "drunk" milk, feels light, then little by little he begins to fall asleep. But these dreams are short, shallow, they do not have phases of rest, during which the baby could restore strength. Yes, and the duration of sleep in a child who drank “drunk” milk is significantly shorter than in a baby who consumed a healthy product without additives.
Myth number 3. Alcohol does not change the taste of milk. A nursing mother who takes this opinion on faith is certainly mistaken. Many foods, drinks, including those containing alcohol, change the taste and composition of breast milk. If a nursing mother enjoyed a glass of beer or drank 100 grams of strong drink before breastfeeding, the child often refuses milk that has become unusual.
Myth #4: Pumping reduces the alcohol content of milk. There is little logic in such actions, since alcohol is not able to accumulate in mother's milk. This substance, penetrating into the bloodstream, with its help enters the mammary glands, and then, having made a “circle”, again returns to the blood. That is, it is useless to express a “hoppy” product, since this will not reduce the alcohol in milk. It is useless in this regard to drink a large amount of liquids - tea or water.
Myth No. 5. Strong intoxication of the mother does not pose a danger to the child. Naturally, with excessive libations, alcohol in milk exceeds all reasonable limits, which is fraught with big problems for the baby. In addition, “several times a hundred” significantly slows down the reaction time of a nursing mother to a variety of stimuli. The baby spins, tries to get up in a crib or stroller, grabs potentially dangerous objects - all this requires speed and attention from the mother. The consequences of a mother’s insufficiently quick reaction can be deplorable.
Myth No. 6. Alcohol in minimal doses can relieve stress in nursing mothers after childbirth. An absolutely untenable statement, since ethyl alcohol is only able to increase depression, including that that occurs after childbirth. In addition, the body of a newborn child is not able to cope with the toxic effect of alcohol that has come to him through milk. The harm will be done, first of all, to the immature children's liver.

Domestic doctors are convinced that alcohol during breastfeeding is unacceptable. Nursing mothers are categorically not recommended, and sometimes simply forbidden to drink alcohol during breastfeeding. Many medicines containing alcohol are banned.

Restrictions also apply to certain foods and dishes (for example, you can’t eat seafood, citrus fruits and excessively “odorous” vegetables). That is, a woman who strictly decided to follow all the rules is deprived of some things for a long time, including alcohol.

Meanwhile, American pediatricians and experts from the La Leche League (International Organization for the Support of Breastfeeding Mothers) are not so categorical. In their opinion, it is possible to drink alcohol in a small amount while nursing, but you should not get carried away and you need to know the timing of the withdrawal of alcohol from the body.

Who is right? There is no unequivocal answer, because, despite the archival importance of the problem, significant experiments and studies have not yet been carried out. On the one hand, scientists recognize that alcohol addiction is harmful to the child. On the other hand, doctors are not convinced that a glass of beer or a glass of sparkling wine will cause irreversible consequences.

What is beyond doubt are the following medical facts that every breastfeeding mom should know.

The more “appetizing forms” a nursing mother has, the sooner alcohol will come out of the blood and milk.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

Pediatrician Komarovsky often answers questions from nursing mothers regarding the use of beer and other alcoholic beverages. As for vodka, the doctor has an ambiguous opinion, but he does not prohibit beer.

Moreover, Komarovsky is convinced that a quality product can even be beneficial, not harmful, since beer contains:

natural ingredients (barley malt, brewer's yeast);
vitamins.

However, one should not get carried away with a foamy drink, since beer contains alcohol, various preservatives and other ingredients that are not harmless to a child.

The pediatrician advises breastfeeding women to choose alternative options. For example, if mom wants to drink beer, you can choose a product that does not contain alcohol. And it is better to buy not in a can, but in a bottle.

Consequences for the child

A nursing mother who wants to drink one hundred grams or a glass of beer should understand that alcoholic beverages during lactation can cause significant harm to the baby.

In the case of infrequent use of alcohol by the mother, the child can observe such undesirable symptoms as fatigue, drowsiness, and respiratory depression. If the mother is excessively fond of alcohol, the negative consequences will be much more serious.

As a result of excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother, the baby becomes lethargic and lethargic. The child seems to fall asleep quickly, but wakes up just as quickly. In addition, alcoholic beverages in the milk of nursing mothers negatively affect the nervous system, as a result of which the baby becomes too excitable and nervous.
Regular consumption of alcohol by the mother (one hundred grams of spirits, beer) increases the heart rate of the child. Mom will probably not like it if the blood pressure drops in the crumbs, lethargy, shortness of breath appear, at best, just an unwillingness to play.
Beer and one hundred grams of cognac products that a nursing mother consumes during lactation cause negative consequences associated with the digestive system. That is, due to unformed microflora, one can expect colic attacks in a child, a deterioration in the absorption of useful components of milk. If the mother drinks constantly, the child will begin to gain weight poorly, will begin to lag behind peers in psychophysical development.
Alcohol in the milk of a nursing mother causes negative consequences throughout the body, including for the baby's liver. This organ in a child is immature, therefore it cannot cope with ethanol, which passes from a mug of beer into milk.
The intensity of the processing of ethyl alcohol in infants is several times lower than in a nursing mother. The breakdown product of ethanol leaves the child's body extremely slowly, so the consequences can be extremely undesirable - up to poisoning. Such a threat is quite real, since in addition to ethyl alcohol, alcohol contains other not entirely useful components - phenol and acetaldehyde.
An extra hundred grams of alcoholic beverages consumed by a nursing mother refuses a negative effect on lactation. Alcohol depresses the activity of the nervous system of nursing mothers, due to which the volume of prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast milk, decreases. In addition, ethanol narrows the milk ducts, that is, the process of feeding becomes difficult, and the suckling of the breast by the child becomes painful.
By drinking vodka and other strong alcoholic drinks, a nursing mother can accidentally cause addiction in a child. The effect of alcohol on the child's body is much stronger, that is, it can be expected that alcohol will be a kind of drug for the baby, without which he will feel worse.

The above consequences for the child will become more noticeable if the nursing mother consumes hard liquor. If a parent allows herself to drink one hundred grams almost every day, then the harm will only increase.

Many nursing mothers are interested in whether it is possible to drink vodka, beer, champagne during the lactation period? If possible, how to neutralize their negative qualities and avoid high alcohol content in breast milk?

We repeat once again: domestic doctors oppose the use of alcohol by a nursing mother. American pediatricians are more tolerant of alcoholic beverages. So, Professor Thomas Hale allows mom to drink beer or wine, and give milk as soon as she feels “normal”.

The scientist advises lactating women to follow certain rules for drinking alcohol during the lactation period.

In addition, doctors warn that it is impossible to purify mother's milk from ethanol. Neither sorbents, nor a large volume of liquid, nor other means are able to speed up this process. Milk will again become useful as soon as the alcohol breaks down and is excreted from the mother's body.

Breastfeeding women need to decide for themselves whether to drink and how much alcohol to sip. However, a mother who is preparing for a feast should be prepared to protect her child from all sorts of troubles. How to do it?

Alcoholic drinks are not the best "friends" of nursing women. Naturally, no one can forbid mom from drinking alcohol, but drinking another hundred grams, she should be prepared for the likely negative consequences for the child's health. Thus, wine or beer are completely optional products in the diet of a nursing mother.

Hello, I'm Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully studied at SUSU as a special psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and advising parents on raising children. I apply the experience gained, among other things, in the creation of psychological articles. Of course, by no means do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.

Can you drink alcohol while breastfeeding? What is its mechanism of action on the child's body? How do different drinks affect the baby: beer, wine and champagne? Is there a safe technique for using them?

The critical attitude of society towards the problem of combining alcohol and breastfeeding has good reasons. Alcohol is a poison, a well-known axiom. It disrupts the metabolic processes in the body of an adult, and a child of the first year of life can bring tremendous harm. However, there are many “buts” in this problem that it is important for a nursing mother to know about.

Facts and research

Despite the importance of the issue, significant research has not yet been conducted on it. Doctors make recommendations based on generally accepted theses about the effect of alcohol on a child's body. Nursing mothers are advised to completely stop drinking alcohol. A refutation of this ban was published in 2006 by an American pediatrician, a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the International Breastfeeding Organization La Leche League, Jack Newman.

In his opinion, the ban on full drinking is one of the unnecessary taboos that surround new mothers. Taking it in small doses does not lead to dangerous consequences. The professor believes that a woman can drink a little and feed the baby, as usual. The main emphasis is on the word "a little".

But where are the limits of what is acceptable? And what actually happens to alcoholic beverages that enter the mother's body? Let's consider in detail.

Taking a drink. Drinking beer or wine enters the digestive tract. The drink stays in the stomach for about 20 minutes. Then it moves to the intestines.
Suction . Occurs in the upper, small intestine. Alcohol is released into the blood. Processing time is 10 minutes.
Maximum blood concentration. Observed within 30-60 minutes after self-administration or 60-90 minutes after ingestion with food. Champagne "works" faster. It passes the first and second stage in 10 minutes. At the same time, part of the ethanol from an alcohol-containing drink ends up in breast milk.
Excretion from the body. Its speed is 10 milliliters of ethanol per hour, but it depends on the weight of the woman, the amount of alcohol consumed. It takes more time to process strong alcoholic beverages. Along with the drop in blood levels, alcohol leaves breast milk.

Thus, it is possible to answer the main questions that link alcohol and breastfeeding.

Does alcohol pass into breast milk? Yes, it does. The intensity of absorption is similar to the absorption of drugs and is 10% of the volume drunk by the mother.
When can a child get the maximum dose of an alcohol-containing "cocktail"? When breastfeeding, 30-60 minutes after drinking beer and wine and 10 minutes after drinking champagne.
When will milk be pure again? This will happen after cleansing the blood of the decay products of ethanol. The intensity of the process is individual. With an average weight of a woman of 55 kilograms, one glass of red wine during breastfeeding is neutralized within 2-3 hours. For spirits, the process takes longer. So, cognac, brandy, vodka are displayed within 13 hours.

The intensity of the excretion of alcohol from the body is determined by the weight and height of the woman, the amount of alcohol consumed. Its average speed is shown in the table. The unit of measure for alcohol is "drink". One "drink" means:

340 g of beer (5%);
142 g of wine (11%);
42.5 g of strong drink (40%).

It is impossible to purify milk from alcohol,. As long as the alcohol is in the blood, it will again and again pass into the thoracic ducts. But when its level in the blood drops, it will also not remain in the milk.

How alcohol affects the baby

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, lactation and alcohol are compatible. In small quantities, it does not harm the baby. The danger of this judgment is that each woman sets her own line of "a small amount" for herself.

No need to reproach yourself for being weak if you allowed a glass of light wine to be drunk in honor of the celebration. And it is worth considering if the minimum consumption of alcohol pushes you to uncontrolled drinking of alcoholic beverages.

Myths and conjectures

There are several myths associated with alcohol that haunt young mothers. Because of them, alcohol-containing drinks are either completely banned. Or they are interpreted as curative and useful for a woman and a baby. Here is some of them.

Beer increases lactation. After drinking beer, a woman notices that the baby often asks to be breastfed. The number of feedings is increasing, which is why this conclusion was made. In 1991, American pediatricians D. Menella and G. Bishomp conducted a study in which some lactating women were offered alcoholic beer, while others were offered non-alcoholic beer. It was noted that the frequency of breastfeeding in women who received alcoholic beer, indeed, increased. However, the total amount of milk consumed by infants has decreased by 20-27%. The researchers concluded that beer does not increase lactation, but rather inhibits it.
Alcohol improves baby sleep. Young mothers are advised to drink a glass of wine before night feeding, so that the child sleeps peacefully until morning. The refutation of this myth was given in 1998 by American pediatricians D. Menella and K. Gerish. During the study, they drew attention to the fact that alcohol consumption by the mother does change the sleep and wakefulness of the infant. But it does not calm the baby, but causes a "failure" of the nervous system. Initially, the child feels "euphoria", close to real intoxication. After that, the nervous system is depressed, and the baby falls into a sleepy state. He falls asleep, but not for long, his sleep is shallow, it lacks the main phases of rest, during which the body recuperates. The duration of sleep in babies who drank "alcoholic" milk was significantly shorter than in children who drank regular milk.

Features of the impact on the body

Regular drinking of wine, beer while breastfeeding is dangerous for a number of reasons.

External manifestations. The mother's excess of the permissible limits is indicated by the lethargy of the baby, apathy. The child sleeps deeply, but wakes up quickly, becomes nervous. A change in lactation can also be observed by a woman. There is less milk! Doctors of the US Academy of Pediatrics Board of Medicines point to this alarming signal.
Violation of the cardiovascular system. Ethanol stimulates the heart, providing its unnatural rhythm. This condition causes weakness of the baby, can cause respiratory failure.
Risk of digestive disorders. Beer, wine during lactation affect the mucous membranes of the esophagus, intestines. For an immature digestive system, this can be fatal, causing an attack. With the constant use of alcohol in large quantities, the mother provokes a decrease in the intensity of absorption of nutrients in the intestines of the infant. The body does not receive the necessary trace elements, valuable substances, which leads to deviations in weight gain.

To the greatest extent, alcoholic beverages affect babies under the age of three months. The reason for this is an immature liver, which cannot cope with alcohol even from a glass of champagne during lactation. The rate of ethanol processing at this age is 3 times lower than that of an adult.

5 rules for a safe holiday

So is it possible for a nursing mother to drink wine, beer? And how to use them correctly in order to prevent harm to the baby?

According to Thomas Hale, MD, professor of pediatrics at Texas Tech University, mothers can drink alcohol in moderation. And feed the baby as soon as they feel "neurologically normal." This statement is made in the book "Medicines and Breast Milk", published by the author in 2006.

The intensity of the influence of alcohol directly depends on the amount of alcohol consumed.. Do not abuse wine, beer, champagne while breastfeeding! One can be allowed to drink one glass on a holiday, but this should not be taken as a daily norm. Regular use is unacceptable and is a sign of alcoholism.
Completely give up alcohol until the child reaches the age of three months. Even minimal, acceptable doses can provoke unforeseen consequences.
Consider your own weight. The smaller it is, the longer the decay products of ethanol are excreted from the body. And, conversely, in overweight women, these processes occur faster.
Don't drink on an empty stomach. When eating food, the intensity and volume of ethanol absorption decrease.
Don't get drunk. In this state, the baby can receive a critical dose of an "alcoholic cocktail" that will cause intoxication. A woman cannot control her own behavior, which is why there is a risk of crushing the baby with her body when sleeping together.

There is no way to quickly cleanse the body of alcohol. Neither sorbents, nor a large amount of water, nor other means speed up the process. All of them work in the intestines, removing by-products of the feast. Ethanol is found in the blood, from which it passes into breast milk. In the latter, it does not accumulate, but calmly leaves it when the general condition is normalized.

But there are rules that will allow you to take part in the celebration and not harm the health of the baby.

Feed the baby immediately before the event if you plan to drink. The next feeding will be safe only when you feel completely sober.
Don't drink too much. Alcohol is safe while breastfeeding in moderate doses. A glass of wine, a glass of beer will not be superfluous for you or your child.
. If you are not confident in your own abilities, express enough milk for one or two feedings and put it in the refrigerator. It can be stored there for days.
Don't breastfeed your baby if you feel full. In this situation, it is necessary to decant the excess and pour it out.
Drink drinks without alcohol. Young mothers can drink non-alcoholic wine while breastfeeding, beer without ethanol is allowed. The only limitation is the quality of the product. If the drink contains artificial colors and preservatives, they can provoke an allergic reaction in the baby.

Alcohol and breastfeeding is a woman's responsibility, the need to make decisions that affect the health of the baby, its normal development. Each mother has the right to make such decisions carefully, assessing the risks and her own condition. But you should not be afraid of alcohol during lactation, as doctors point out. And when asked if a nursing mother can drink non-alcoholic beer or wine, they answer: these drinks will be a safe alternative, especially if you cannot stop at one glass on a holiday.