Breastfeeding and Booze
This topic comes up every time there’s a celebration, and people spout all kinds of opinions. I thought I’d share what information I relied on to make my decisions. I hope you find it helpful.
Alcohol does pass into your milk, but it doesn’t mean you have to ‘pump and dump,’ depending on how much you drink and when you need to next feed/pump.
It’s basically the same idea as having a drink and knowing when you’re okay to drive. There’s a formula based on your weight, the amount of alcohol, and the length of time that has passed. For example, if you weigh 150lbs and have two 5ounce glasses of wine with a celebratory dinner, you should wait four and a half hours before breastfeeding.
Motherisk, through The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, has created a great chart I had bookmarked when I was breastfeeding and pumping. Take a look and ease your mind when celebrating. (PLEASE NOTE: In 2019, this resource was discontinued and is no longer offering the same material.)
Cheers!
Pickle Planet Podcast: How to donate breast milk in New Brunswick