When alcohol passes into breast milk. Is it possible to combine breastfeeding and alcohol? Video: Alcohol during breastfeeding Komarovsky

There is a lot of information about how alcohol consumption affects a child in the womb. Research has been conducted on this topic and the opinion of experts here is clear. As for the extent of harm caused by drinking alcohol while breastfeeding, there is much less information. And, as you know, where there is less data, there are more guesses, conjectures and myths. The result is that some adhere to excessively strict limits, while others, out of ignorance or mistaken opinion, on the contrary, take unforgivable liberties.

Alcohol and breast milk

It is necessary to note 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 approximately half an hour or an hour after it enters the mother’s body. It depends on the individual characteristics the body absorbs substances into the blood, the type of alcoholic drink that the nursing mother 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 within an hour. But if, for example, a woman has eaten a hearty meal after drinking a glass of wine (preferably 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.

Alcohol neutralization occurs in the liver, which is no secret to anyone. But the speed of this process depends entirely on the condition of this organ and, accordingly, on the woman’s weight. If a young lady, for example, is quite petite and weighs no more than fifty kilograms, then her liver will take three and a half hours to cope with alcohol. The organ will spend this time processing weak alcohol, for example, a three-hundred-gram glass of beer or half that volume of wine. If a nursing mother drank up to fifty grams of cognac, then her body will process and eliminate alcohol in just over half a day. Therefore, doctors and pediatricians strongly advise nursing mothers not to drink 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 is breastfeeding gets into the milk, and, therefore, into the child’s body, it is reasonable to say that alcohol has a certain effect on the fragile little body. 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 no. But by small doses, each means something different, and therefore, in fact, it is necessary to clarify 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 approximately twice as much in the case of beer. This dose is called the daily dose, that is, the norm should not be exceeded within 24 hours. But this does not mean that alcohol must be included in your daily diet. If the mother, for example, has low blood pressure or vegetative-vascular dystonia, then a small glass of red wine saves her from headaches caused by vasospasm. But this is not a reason to “treat” yourself in this way every day.

When a nursing mother consumes a reasonable dose of alcohol once, the child experiences the following symptoms:

  1. Drowsiness.
  2. Apathy.
  3. Lack of appetite and long breaks between feedings.

But if we are talking about the fact that drinks with a degree are consumed and, therefore, end up in breast milk regularly or in larger quantities than is conventionally acceptable, then the symptoms will be much deeper and more serious.

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

  1. The child is underweight.
  2. His psychomotor skills are inhibited or delayed in development.
  3. The sucking reflex is slow.
  4. The child's appetite is poor.

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It goes without saying that what smaller child weighs, and the greater the dose of alcohol that he consumed along with his mother’s milk, the more pronounced all these symptoms are. Then the second will be added to the first list of symptoms, and all together already poses serious problems for the health of the little person.

When any dose of “degree” enters a child’s body, the contraction frequency of the small heart increases sharply, but blood pressure decreases. Frequently changing the pace of the heart artificially can cause the development of arrhythmias in the future.

It often happens that after tasting mother’s milk after she has drunk alcohol, the child does not fall asleep, but, on the contrary, cries. The fact is that the ethyl alcohol contained in such “graded” milk strongly irritates the stomach and then the intestines, causing a burning sensation. In children, the digestive system is already problematic, because the flora is not established: there are colics, pain from gas formation, and other things of the same kind. And alcohol makes such troubles worse. In addition, alcohol greatly reduces the main function of the intestines: absorbing everything useful. And therefore, in fact, the vitamins and minerals that are so necessary for a growing and developing body will bypass the child. This is also fraught with a decrease in natural protective barrier, that is, immunity, which, as is known, fundamentally depends on the functions of the intestine.

Most antenatal clinics, as well as children's clinics, do not require mothers to completely abstain from alcohol for the entire period of lactation. If the dose of a graduated drink is small and alcohol is not a frequent guest on the nursing mother’s table, but only special occasions and holidays, then, in principle, doctors do not see much harm from mother’s milk for the baby.

How to minimize the consequences of drinking alcohol by a nursing mother and avoid harm to the baby?

Since the newborn’s liver is not sufficiently developed, it copes with any intoxication, including alcohol, more slowly and worse. Therefore, drinking alcohol by a nursing mother should still be avoided. In a child under six months of age, the liver cannot 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. Breast milk production is a continuous process and is directly related to blood circulation.

Alcohol itself does not reduce or increase the amount of milk produced; this is also a mistaken opinion. We are only talking about the fact that drinking a glass of beer complicates the passage of the milk itself through the nipple, which means that it is more difficult for the baby to get it. Excessively tired, the baby may well fall asleep half-starved, but soon wake up again and try to finish his quota.

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

If the mother drank alcohol, then it is better for her to spend the time until she sobers up alone, and not next to the child. Due to poor coordination, she can accidentally injure the baby, or injure him while sleeping together, since a person who has drunk a fair amount 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 high-quality non-alcoholic drink. For example, non-alcoholic beer in its taste is no different from regular beer - graduated. A mother should remember that while continuing the process of breastfeeding, she has a huge responsibility for the life and health of her child.

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It’s so customary that almost no holiday is complete without alcoholic drinks on the table. It is believed that they help to relax, maintain a conversation, and create a good mood in the company. The birth of a child in a family is a holiday, which means it is celebrated among family and friends. But a young mother should not forget that alcohol is not recommended during breastfeeding. The consequences for the child and woman can be dire.

Is it possible to drink?

Is it okay to drink alcohol while breastfeeding? Not always. If a nursing mother drank alcohol and started feeding after 20-30 minutes, she should understand that the baby will be harmed. Degree negative impact depends on the dose and frequency of use. A rare dose can lead to drowsiness, disinhibition, and fatigue for the baby.

After drinking alcohol, alcohol molecules penetrate the bloodstream, which means they are distributed throughout the body. Before young mothers pick up a glass of wine or a stronger drink, they should think not only about their health, but, above all, about the condition of the tiny lump in their hands. Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding will not lead to anything good.

The rate of penetration of alcohol into milk

Does alcohol pass into breast milk? Yes, after drinking a glass of alcohol, the alcohol will penetrate into breast milk in about half an hour. The maximum concentration will be reached in an hour and a half. In milk, it is usually the same amount as in blood - 10% of the amount drunk. Each woman will be excreted from the body differently, it depends on the general health and body weight of the mother.

Before drinking alcohol, you need to remember simple recommendations:

  1. Babies under 3 months of age are most sensitive to the effects of alcohol in breast milk.
  2. If it remains less than an hour Before feeding, you should not take alcoholic drinks, as they will not have time to be neutralized in the liver.
  3. A nursing mother needs to take into account her weight; the lower it is, the longer the process of removing alcohol molecules from the blood.

It is permissible to take 200 ml of wine, 250 ml of beer or 30 ml of strong drinks per day, but, as noted, not just before feeding and without mixing drinks.

After a couple of hours, there remains a risk that alcohol molecules in a nursing mother’s milk remain and continue to harm the baby.

The rate at which alcohol is eliminated from the body

We have found out what percentage of alcohol enters breast milk, but how long will it take to remove it and how long does it take for alcohol to be removed from breast milk? The table for the removal of alcohol from breast milk will help you understand the information:

1 drink = 340 ml of 5% beer, or 140 ml of 11% wine, or 40 ml of 40% whiskey or vodka.

The dangers of alcohol for children's bodies

Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages leads to serious consequences:

  • The baby is lethargic and indifferent to external influences and others.
  • Sleep becomes short-lived and superficial.
  • Alcohol passes into milk and negatively affects nervous system child, provoking nervous excitability.
  • The heart rate increases and blood pressure drops.
  • Shortness of breath appears.
  • The child becomes whiny.
  • Alcohol during breastfeeding disrupts the functioning of all organ systems, suffers digestive system. It is not surprising that he may have frequent colic due to disrupted microflora.
  • The child is stunted because the absorption of nutrients is disrupted.
  • Drinking while breastfeeding can cause a baby to lag behind in physical and mental development.
  • The organs in the child’s body are not yet fully formed; the liver will not cope with the alcohol that penetrates with mother’s milk.
  • If you express milk immediately after drinking alcohol, this will not save your baby from its harmful effects. The rate of processing of alcohol molecules in newborn babies is low, so the breakdown products remain in the body for a long time and can lead to toxic poisoning.
  • You cannot breastfeed a child if the mother often abuses it. The baby develops a dependence, alcohol becomes a substance for him, without which his health worsens.

Research confirms that breastfeeding and alcohol are incompatible. Children whose mothers cannot imagine life without alcoholic beverages are significantly behind in psychomotor and intellectual development.

The dangers of alcohol for a nursing woman

The consequences of a bad habit are:

  • Lactation suffers, the amount of milk produced is significantly reduced.
  • There is a danger of premature cessation of lactation and it does not matter how long alcohol lasts in breast milk.
  • Alcohol in milk spoils its taste, the baby may refuse such tasteless food and the mother will have to spend money on purchasing expensive milk formulas.
  • Alcohol withdrawal time ranges from several minutes to hours. At this time, the reaction is dulled, and this will affect the quality of care for the baby. It is no secret that serious injuries in young children are often caused by parents who are intoxicated.

The myth that alcohol helps female body recovering after childbirth is a misconception. Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding is fraught with serious problems in the development of the child. Moms should remember this.

Safe drinking

The safest way to express milk is

Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding is possible subject to the following recommendations:

  1. It is advisable to feed the baby before the feast.
  2. Should I express milk after drinking alcohol? This will not change anything, so it is advisable to do this before taking it, with an expectation of 2-3 feedings.
  3. Large doses of alcohol are contraindicated; limit yourself to a glass of wine or a glass of beer.
  4. Breastfeeding immediately after the feast is strictly prohibited.

There is an opinion that beer enhances milk production, but this is a misconception, the baby simply sucks less due to the unpleasant taste and smell that appears.

Considering that beer production uses natural ingredients, it contains B vitamins, then it is permissible for a nursing mother to occasionally drink a glass of this drink, but not before feeding.

Non-alcoholic beer is a great alternative if you really want to keep your husband company in front of the TV. But when choosing, you should pay attention to the composition and avoid varieties with the addition of preservatives and other chemical additives.

The mother decides how long to breastfeed after drinking alcohol, but she should always put the interests of the baby and his health first. A competent approach will allow a woman to sometimes relax and not harm the baby.

Video

During pregnancy, alcoholic drinks are prohibited. But this period is already behind us... The child is growing, and the young mother is increasingly beginning to wonder - is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding?

There are many legends about the intoxicating drink: beer contains useful substances and vitamins, consists of natural ingredients. How true are such statements?

After a successful birth, sometimes you really want to treat yourself to a glass of amber beer! How to combine this drink and breastfeeding?

Alcohol while breastfeeding

Breastfeeding imposes obligations and restrictions on a young mother. Sometimes you really want to relax, drink a glass of beer or sip a glass of wine at a common table on a holiday... Is it possible to drink alcohol during lactation? Is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding?

The newborn's intestines are susceptible to changes in diet. The microbes necessary for its normal functioning are supplied to the baby with mother's milk. Therefore, alcohol abuse is strictly contraindicated during breastfeeding. There are no special enzymes in the baby’s body that help break down alcohol. Even a small dose can harm a child's health.

Is it possible to have a glass of beer during lactation? This question causes lively debate among doctors and scientists. They have not yet been able to reach a consensus. Some argue that a glass of beer is acceptable when breastfeeding. Others claim that even non-alcoholic drinks can lead to delayed psychomotor development of a child. Is beer acceptable while breastfeeding?

Drinking alcoholic beverages

After drinking beer it is from digestive tract It first enters the stomach, then into the intestines. It is in the intestine, in its upper section, that the absorption of alcohol begins. It is detected in the blood within a time period of 30 to 90 minutes. It depends on whether the alcoholic drink was taken with food or on an empty stomach.

Once alcohol is in the blood, it also appears in the mother's milk. And after the breakdown of ethanol products, blood and milk are purified. The process of removing alcohol from the body depends on the woman’s height and weight and the strength of the drink.

When drinking alcohol on an empty stomach, alcohol appears in the milk after 30-60 minutes. If mommy took an alcoholic drink with food, the alcohol will enter the milk in 60-90 minutes.

One portion of alcohol is eliminated from the body within 2-3 hours. This is the case if the weight of a nursing woman is from 50 to 55 kg. Please note that one serving of wine is 150 ml, and one serving of beer is 330 ml. Strong alcoholic drinks (cognac, whiskey, vodka, brandy) are eliminated from the body much more slowly (up to 13 hours).

Is it worth drinking beer while breastfeeding? Doctors advise minimizing alcohol consumption. Occasional consumption is allowed, but modern science does not know the safe dosage for the baby - a lot depends on the individual characteristics of the mother and child.

Non-alcoholic beer while breastfeeding

There is a belief that non-alcoholic beer cannot harm the baby. It does not contain alcohol, which means its use is possible during lactation.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that in different varieties and brands of beer the presence of alcohol from 0.1 to 2% is allowed. Even such a small amount of alcohol can cause digestive tract upset and disrupt a child’s sleep. Is it worth risking his health if in severe cases epilepsy or death of the newborn is possible?

In addition, preservatives and additives are used for long-term storage of non-alcoholic beer. So

Occasionally drinking a glass of beer without ethanol is allowed. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the drink. Artificial colors and preservatives can cause an allergic reaction in a newborn.

Beer while breastfeeding

Nursing mothers claim that beer affects lactation. As if after a glass of drink a rush of milk is felt, the child eats more actively and sleeps well. Is this statement true? Is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding?

Ethyl alcohol contained in beer tends to reduce oxytocin levels. This hormone is responsible for milk production. After drinking beer, the level of oxytocin in the blood decreases, and the flow of milk into the breast is blocked. It becomes more difficult for the baby to suck it out. The child does not eat enough and falls asleep soundly under the influence of alcohol.

The woman feels as if her glands are filled with milk. In fact, beer accumulates in tissues, leading to their swelling. The flow of milk in fact turns out to be only self-hypnosis.

Beer suppresses lactation, as well as the baby’s nervous system. Until the age of three months, the child’s body is vulnerable, it is not able to filter, and other impurities can affect the further development of the child.

Expressing will not help get rid of the presence of alcohol in milk. Only after its level in the blood decreases will it disappear from milk. Therefore, the question of whether you can or cannot drink beer while breastfeeding remains on the conscience of the young mother.

Benefit or harm?

Incompetent mothers claim that “live” beer contains many vitamins. And they are the ones that enter the baby’s body. Indeed, unfiltered beer contains useful minerals and trace elements. But the effect of fusel oils and ethyl alcohol will negate all the beneficial properties of the drink. Beer intended for long-term storage contains practically no useful substances. Instead, there are flavorings and preservatives.

In addition, beer during breastfeeding, if it enters the child’s body, can cause disturbances in heart rhythm and breathing, and cause intestinal colic.

Constant consumption of alcoholic beverages will lead to:

  • to baby weight loss;
  • to disorders in the nervous system;
  • to stop development (physical, mental);
  • to inflammation of the digestive organs.

Why beer?

Thanks to its bready smell, beer reminds nursing mothers of B vitamins. They are necessary during lactation, as they improve metabolism, increase skin and vascular tone, and stimulate the functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin D contained in brewer's yeast strengthens the bones and teeth of the baby and his mother.

Therefore, the smell of an intoxicating drink makes you want to drink a glass. In fact, it is better to revise your diet by adding the necessary components to it.

Fermented milk products, green vegetables, bran, liver, nuts, and seeds are sources of B vitamins.

Vitamin D can be found in seafood (mackerel, herring, cod liver and halibut), fermented milk products, oatmeal, parsley.

Why drink beer while breastfeeding if the necessary vitamins can be found in foods? Why is it worth putting your child's health at risk?

Age

Before you allow yourself a glass of beer, you should consider that babies under 3 months have an immature liver. Their nervous system is very sensitive to alcohol. Therefore, until the child is 3 months old, it is strictly forbidden to drink any alcoholic beverages.

In specialized works of foreign authors there is a statement that you can drink beer while breastfeeding after the child reaches 6 months. A single dose of low-alcohol drinks once a week will not cause harm. The decision whether to drink beer or wine remains with the nursing mother.

As the child gets older, he masters space more and more: he actively crawls, tries out all kinds of toys and little things on his tongue. Care and supervision of a fidget requires increased attention. The mother's reactions, dulled by alcohol, can lead to injuries to the baby.

Komarovsky about beer

Excited mothers often ask Dr. Komarovsky the question: “Is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding?” Evgeniy Olegovich assures that there is no ban on beer. There are pros and cons to this drink.

  • natural ingredients (hops, barley, brewer's yeast);
  • presence of B vitamins.
  • the presence of alcohol, preservatives and other harmful substances.

Dr. Komarovsky confirms that increased lactation after drinking beer is a myth. A graduated drink does not affect milk production in any way.

A glass of beer will not have destructive consequences for the child’s body. But you shouldn’t experiment during lactation. Therefore, Dr. Komarovsky offers this best option: If you really want beer, you can drink non-alcoholic beer. Not canned, which contains a lot of preservatives, but bottled. But even in this case, you should limit yourself to a one-time dose.

Prohibitions on drinking alcohol

If a nursing woman decides to allow herself a few glasses of this drink, then she must remember the following rules.

  • Do not feed a child while intoxicated.
  • After drinking alcohol, do not take your baby to your bed.
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach.
  • Take your weight into account overweight women breakdown products are eliminated faster).

You should know that ethyl alcohol changes the taste of milk. Therefore, the baby may refuse to feed. In addition, milk with alcohol contains a minimum of useful substances. This means that the child will not receive the necessary microelements and vitamins.

If you can't, but really want to

If it is impossible to give up alcohol during the holiday or you want to relax before bed, then one serving of beer or wine is allowed (volume - up to a glass).

Is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding? Yes, but subject to certain conditions.

  • Express milk several times to feed your baby. Expressed milk without losing yours useful properties, stored in the refrigerator for a day, in the freezer for a month.
  • Feed your baby immediately before drinking alcohol.
  • Do not drink beer or wine on an empty stomach.
  • Do not breastfeed your baby after drinking alcohol for 12 to 24 hours (if you drink several glasses) or for 3 to 6 hours (if you drink a glass of beer).

A small dose of alcohol will not harm the baby and will bring pleasure to his mother. It's another matter if beer is consumed daily. Regular exposure to alcohol on a child’s body causes lethargy, apathy, and slows down the development of gross motor skills.

Is it possible to drink non-alcoholic beer while breastfeeding? Non-alcoholic and high-quality, it will not harm the baby. But even in this case you should not abuse it.

The health and development of the baby depend on the mother’s diet, the saturation of her milk with essential proteins, microelements, and vitamins. A single dose of the amber drink is compatible with breastfeeding. But if it is possible to refrain from using it, it is better to give it up and preserve the baby’s health.

Most young mothers are well aware that drinking alcohol while breastfeeding is contraindicated. However, many of them allow themselves to drink ethanol-containing drinks from time to time, without thinking about the harm this could cause to the lactation process and the health of the baby.

Effect on lactation

Numerous statements that certain types of alcohol improve lactation have no basis and have long been refuted official medicine. Ethanol not only does not increase milk production, but can also worsen this process. This is explained by the negative effect of ethyl alcohol on the nervous system: by depressing the central nervous system, alcohol inhibits the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactation. As a result, the amount of milk decreases.

Alcohol also contributes to the narrowing of the ducts of the mammary glands, which also impairs the separation of nutrients, interferes with normal breastfeeding and increases the risk of developing lactostasis and mastitis.

Does it get into milk?

When drinking alcohol by a nursing mother, and not just into the blood.

How many

The concentration of ethanol in a mother's milk is almost the same as in her blood. This means that the baby, along with the nutritional fluid, receives a slightly smaller dose of alcohol than an adult woman.

How fast

If a young mother allows herself to drink a little alcohol after a heavy dinner, the alcohol will pass into breast milk in about 30-40 minutes. When drinking an alcoholic drink on an empty stomach, ethanol will begin to be absorbed into the blood faster, so it will be detected in the mammary glands within 10-15 minutes after consumption. The highest concentration of alcohol in milk is detected 30-60 minutes after consumption.

How long does it take for it to be released?

Alcohol is completely removed from breast milk after the process of processing ethanol in the body of a nursing woman is completed. In this case, the time for removing alcohol from the nutrient liquid depends on the amount drunk and the strength of the drink. If a young mother drinks a little wine or beer, then after about 3-4 hours there will be almost no traces of ethanol left in her milk. When taking large doses of cognac, vodka and other drinks with a high alcohol content, the time for removing a toxic substance from a woman’s body increases to 10-13 hours.

Consequences for the child

Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages by a nursing mother can have negative consequences for the child’s body:

  • underweight;
  • developmental delay;
  • neurological disorders;
  • allergic reactions;
  • disruption gastrointestinal tract, of cardio-vascular system.

Children whose mothers regularly drink alcohol while breastfeeding experience rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and severe colic. The child becomes lethargic or overly excitable, sleeps and eats poorly. It is especially dangerous to drink alcohol in the first 1-2 months after birth, when the newborn undergoes the final formation of some systems and organs. At this time, the baby’s liver may be severely damaged, as it is not yet able to fully cope with its functions and is not able to withstand the effects of such a strong poison.

In the most severe cases, the use of ethanol-containing drinks during breastfeeding leads to the formation of alcohol dependence in an infant.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

Dr. Komarovsky is not a supporter of a strict ban on drinking alcohol during breastfeeding, but emphasizes that a young mother needs to observe moderation. The doctor is confident that rare consumption of small amounts of red wine or high-quality beer does not pose a danger to the child. But if a woman drinks regularly and immoderately, this can have unpredictable consequences for the baby’s health.

Breastfeeding - Dr. Komarovsky School

Is it okay to drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

Acceptable dosages

Most doctors are inclined to believe that during lactation you can occasionally allow yourself to take a small dose of alcohol. In this case, you should give preference to drinks from a proven brand with a low ethanol content and high quality.

To minimize the negative effects of alcohol on your baby, you should express milk after drinking alcohol and refrain from breastfeeding for several hours.

Wine

The permissible daily amount of wine during breastfeeding is 1 glass (approximately 140-150 ml). In this case, it is better to choose dry red wines - they are considered to be less harmful than white ones.

It is a well-known fact that everything eaten and drunk by a nursing mother passes through breast milk to the baby. It is no less known that alcohol is harmful to health, but some women today are confident that alcohol during breastfeeding in moderation will not cause any harm. Moreover, some “experienced” mothers claim that it is simply necessary to drink a glass of beer in order to establish successful lactation.

Before drinking this or that drink or dish, a nursing mother should first of all ask the question: will this harm my baby? Even if you doubt whether the answer will be negative, you should refrain from taking this drink or dish.

As for alcohol during breastfeeding, the answer is clearly negative. Alcohol is a poison that causes significant harm to the health of a woman and her baby.

Often a nursing woman, who finds herself visiting, feels insecure in a cheerful drinking company, remaining on the sidelines. In case the willingness to support the company prevails over common sense, then she should at least think about minimizing the harm that alcohol can cause to her baby through breast milk.

What harm does alcohol cause to a child?

So that a nursing mother has an idea of ​​the harm caused by alcohol while breastfeeding, let’s consider how it affects the baby’s organs and systems.
  1. Nervous system. A baby, having tasted the milk of a mother who has drunk an alcoholic drink, usually falls asleep without being satisfied. However, his sleep is short-lived, he wakes up and behaves differently than usual. If the mother regularly drinks alcohol, the baby will experience mental retardation.
  2. The cardiovascular system. General weakness, decrease blood pressure, pulse increases.
  3. Digestive system. Alcohol irritates the mucous membranes of the digestive system, intestinal absorption functions are disrupted, nutrients are poorly absorbed, and the child suffers from frequent colic and bloating. Frequent drinking of alcohol by the mother leads to the fact that the child does not gain weight and is far behind his peers physically.
  4. The mother's regular intake of alcohol causes the baby to become addicted to alcohol, which can cause him to become dependent.

Rules for drinking alcohol while breastfeeding

If a nursing mother considers it possible to take alcohol while breastfeeding, then she at least needs to adhere to the basic rules in order to reduce the harm of its exposure to the baby:
  • Abstain from alcohol at least until the child is three months old. The newborn’s body is not able to digest the aggressive components that enter it with mother’s milk, which means they will have a destructive effect on all the child’s organs.
  • It’s not so much the alcohol that will affect the baby’s body, but its volume and quality. If you compare a glass of dry wine and a glass of vodka, the damage done to the body will, of course, differ. The more alcohol taken, the longer it will take to be eliminated from the body, and, therefore, more of it will end up in the milk.
  • If a nursing mother is going to drink, she needs to express in advance in order to prepare milk for the next two feedings. Or, after feeding your child before drinking alcohol, wait until the next feeding for three to four hours. Vodka and cognac will require a longer period of time to disappear from the body.
  • A nursing woman should be sure of the quality of the alcohol she drinks. Don't forget about the unsafe additives it contains. Low-quality raw materials are not sufficiently purified and have harmful components, and liqueurs and low-alcohol drinks contain dyes and preservatives, which are very harmful to the body not only of a child, but also of an adult.
Alcohol during breastfeeding negatively affects all organs and systems of the baby and mother, leads to developmental delays and the occurrence of many other problems, so it should not be consumed by nursing mothers.
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