If you just had your baby, it may have been a while since you got to sit back and relax with a nice glass of wine. So, you may have some questions about wine and breastfeeding. For example, you might be thinking, “How can I enjoy a glass of wine while breastfeeding?” Is this a safe thing to do, combining breastfeeding or pumping and wine? Or, is mixing breastfeeding and alcohol in general okay? If you want to be super safe, the best option is not drinking any alcohol. But moderate alcohol consumption for breastfeeding moms is okay. It shouldn’t affect your baby at all — especially if you wait two to four hours after a single drink before you feed your baby.
Can I drink one glass of alcohol while breastfeeding? Having a glass of wine with dinner shouldn’t be a problem at all — it would put minuscule amounts of alcohol in your breast milk. Drinking when pregnant is different than moderate drinking while breastfeeding.
On the other hand, exposing your child to above-moderate alcohol levels can be damaging. It could affect your child’s growth, development, weight, and sleep. Additionally, heavy drinking can decrease your milk supply. So, you should make sure you’re drinking in moderation. For adult females, that means you’re allowed one standard drink each day.
What is a Drink for a Breastfeeding Mother?
How much wine may I drink while breastfeeding? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, an alcoholic-drink equivalent contains 14 g of pure alcohol. That equals 12 fl oz of regular 5% alcohol beer, 5 fl oz of 12% alcohol wine, and 1.5 fl oz of 80 proof distilled spirits at 40% alcohol. The rate that the alcohol leaves your system is affected by the type of beverage you have as well as by your personal characteristics. That includes your metabolism, height, and weight. If you’re not sure if the alcohol is gone out of your system, you can check with a milkscreen test strip.
What about Pumping and Dumping?
You may be asking, “What about the pump and dump?” Pumping and dumping is when you dump out your pumped breast milk instead of storing it in the fridge. If you’ve had too much alcohol, the pump and dump won’t really do anything to help you. The alcohol will still be there in your system. The alcohol will naturally leave your breast milk just as it leaves your bloodstream.
Will Drinking Boost My Breast Milk Supply?
Actually, drinking alcohol will lower your milk supply. For about three to four hours, you’ll produce about one ounce less milk. If you’re looking for some tips for boosting breast milk production, check out this post.
How can I Enjoy a Glass of Wine While Breastfeeding?
While breastfeeding is a beautiful experience, it can be very draining on moms. Sometimes you just need to relax a bit at the end of the day. And a daily glass of wine while breastfeeding is perfectly fine. You just have to remember to only drink in moderation. We hope we’ve answered your questions if you’ve been thinking, “How can I enjoy a glass of wine while breastfeeding?” If you’re looking for any more helpful breastfeeding and pumping information, feel free to reach out to us at The Breastfeeding Shop. We’re here to help new moms care for their babies any way that we can.
