What Parents Need to Know About Drinking and Breastfeeding

We've got all your questions answered.

Medically reviewed by Rebecca Agi, MS, IBCLC

Drinking alcohol is a cautionary no-no during pregnancy, and many parents wonder if this holds true while they are breastfeeding or chestfeeding their little ones. In other words, “Can I finally have a glass of wine? How about a nice, cold beer?” However, the answer to whether or not you can drink while breastfeeding is a little complicated. In a nutshell, the answer is that you can have an occasional drink, but in moderation, according to the CDC.

Ahead, we’ll go into more detail about drinking and breastfeeding, including what major health organizations recommend, along with insights from two breastfeeding specialists, so that you can make the best decision for your situation and lifestyle.

Related: No, You Don't Need to Dilute Your Pumped Milk After Drinking Alcohol

How Does Alcohol Affect Breast Milk?

Alcohol can and does get into breast milk. According to the National Library of Medicine, the amount of alcohol that gets into milk is nearly the same amount that gets into a breastfeeding parents’ blood stream. This is an important point to keep in mind, because alcohol leaves breast milk at the same rate as it leaves your bloodstream.

“I think some people imagine that alcohol has to pass through your body and end up in your milk last and then stays there longer than the alcohol in your blood,” says Cindy Rubin, MD, IBCLC, pediatrician and breastfeeding medicine specialist at In Touch Pediatrics and Lactation. But this is not the case, she clarifies. “When your blood-alcohol level rises, so does your milk level; when your blood-alcohol level decreases, so does your milk level.”

In terms of how alcohol affects breast milk, it can do several things, says Pierrette Mimi Poinsett, MD, pediatrician and consultant for Mom Loves Best. First of all, drinking alcohol can change the flavor of your milk, she points out. Additionally, alcohol can inhibit milk production, especially if you drink more than one alcoholic drink per day. “The hormones involved in breast milk letdown and production, oxytocin and prolactin, are inhibited by alcohol," Dr. Poinsett describes.

Related: How Long Can Breast Milk Stay Out?

How Much Alcohol Can You Drink While Breastfeeding?

According to the CDC, the safest choice is to abstain from drinking alcohol at all while breastfeeding. However, there is little evidence that drinking one standard sized drink per day is harmful to breastfeeding babies.

According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one standard drink is equivalent to:

• 12 ounces of 5% alcohol beer

• 5 ounces of 12% alcohol wine

• 1.5 ounces of 40% alcohol distilled spirits

What might happen if you go beyond these recommended guidelines? While it’s generally thought that occasional moderate drinking doesn’t have short- or long-term negative effects on breastfed infants, it's important to note that more serious drinking may cause harm. “Daily consumption of alcohol or more heavy consumption may have more significant effects, especially long-term developmental, growth, and cognitive impacts,” Dr. Rubin says.

As per LactMed, daily significant alcohol consumption can decrease the duration that a parent breastfeeds their baby. There’s also evidence that it may affect motor function, cause excessive sedation, retention of fluids, and may contribute to hormonal imbalances in babies.

Related: I Tried Lactation Cookies to Boost My Breastmilk Production

How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Breast Milk?

Basically, alcohol stays in breast milk for the same amount of time that it stays in your bloodstream, as the levels of alcohol in milk are about 95% of the concentration in a breastfeeding parents’ blood. In other words, they run parallel in amount. The amount of alcohol in the milk tends to peak about an hour after you consume alcohol, but the timing may vary based on factors like how recently you’ve eaten. If you’ve recently had a meal, it may take longer for the alcohol content to peak in your milk.

In total, it takes about two to three hours for a standard alcoholic drink to be broken down in your body and exit your breast milk, says Dr. Poinsett. “The greater the amount of alcohol ingested, the longer it takes for alcohol to be broken down,” she says. So, if you drink two standard drinks of alcohol, it will take between four and six hours to break down the alcohol, and if you have three standard sized drinks, it will take between six and nine hours.

Related: What Do Different Breast Milk Colors Mean?

How Long After Drinking Can You Breastfeed?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waiting about two hours after your last drink to breastfeed. A good way to manage drinking and breastfeeding is to nurse your little one right before you have a drink. That way, they will be full and can wait the two hours it takes for the alcohol to pass out of your milk.

Keep in mind, though, that the two hour “rule” only applies to the consumption of one standard alcoholic drink. “If you drink more than two drinks, you may need to wait more than two hours, or until you no longer feel the effects of the alcohol, to feed your baby your breastmilk,” Dr. Rubin says.

Remember, too, that if you are sensitive to alcohol and tend to feel its effects strongly only after one drink, you'll need to wait longer to breastfeed your baby. “If you’re feeling too drunk to hold your baby, you should assume your milk is likely not safe for your baby at that moment either,” Dr Rubin notes.

When Should I Pump and Dump?

Some breastfeeding parents believe that if they pump their milk after drinking, doing so will somehow remove the alcohol from their milk. Unfortunately, this is not true. “Pumping and dumping after drinking will not decrease the amount of alcohol in breast milk,” says Dr. Poinsett. “This is because the alcohol level in breast milk depends on the mother’s blood-alcohol level.”

In essence, there is no way to speed up the process of milk leaving your milk—you just have to wait for the blood-alcohol levels to decrease, says the AAP. Again, this means waiting about two hours for one standard drink.

So are there any times when it might make sense to “pump and dump” after drinking? “You may need to pump and dump if you have ingested more than three alcoholic drinks in a sitting,” Dr.  Poinsett says. This is because this milk will still have unsafe levels of alcohol in it. If your baby is hungry during this time period, you will need to offer them pumped milk that was collected when you were not intoxicated, Dr. Poinsett adds.

Another scenario involves when your milk would be unsafe for your baby to consume, but your breasts are feeling full and sore—you might want to "pump and dump" here in order to prevent engorgement.

More Expert Tips on Drinking and Breastfeeding

Besides the safety of drinking and breastfeeding, there are some common misconceptions out there about the topic. The most common one has to do with breastfeeding and milk supply. For example, Dr. Poinsett says that it’s an old wives’ tale that drinking beer boosts your supply. “This is not the case, as alcohol can decrease breast milk production,” she says.

All forms of alcohol can potentially decrease your milk supply especially if consumed in excess, Dr. Rubin says. “Drinking alcohol can adversely affect milk production and the milk ejection reflex in the lactating person, which is something to consider if you are already having difficulty with supply,” she warns.

Finally, Dr. Rubin says that parents should remember that drinking and breastfeeding isn’t just about what alcohol can do to your breastmilk. It’s vital that if you are intoxicated, you don’t share a bed with your baby.

“Ensuring a safe sleep environment for your baby is always important, but it is especially important to note that under no circumstances should anyone bedshare with an infant if you are under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances,” Dr. Rubin says.   

The Bottom Line

The issue of drinking and breastfeeding may feel confusing at times, but it’s actually fairly simple. You can drink on occasion if you want to, but don’t drink more than one standard drink per day, and wait about two hours after drinking to nurse your baby. If you have further questions about drinking and breastfeeding, don’t hesitate to reach out to a lactation professional, pediatrician, or health care provider.

Related: What Exactly Does a Lactation Consultant Do, and How Do I Know if I Need One?

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