Can breastfeeding mothers drink wine?

Should you or shouldn't you? Read this to know.

A straight answer to this question should be no. Consumption of alcohol both during pregnancy and lactation can prove harmful for your baby. That said, mothers can still treat themselves to a glass of wine occasionally. Even during pregnancy drinking wine once in a while is considered safe. But during breastfeeding, you need to be more cautious. Alcohol through breast milk has a different effect on babies than alcohol through placenta if the mother used to drink during pregnancy. Here are 10 myths on breastfeeding you should stop following.

Should breastfeeding mothers have wine?

If you are a habitual drinker, you need to give up on this vice right away during your pregnancy. If it is an occasional treat, a mother can indulge in wine. But there are certain precautions she should take so it doesn t affect the baby. She should drink once she has fed the baby and observe a two to three hours of a gap before the next feed. However, drinking wine every day while she plans to breastfeed is not advisable, says Dr Payel Biswas Soo, BPT, ISTC, PTOBG(US),Member of CAPPA, Child Birth Educator & Lactation specialist at Diwakar Speciality Hospital, Bangalore and Member of Medela LC club. Here is a list of foods breastfeeding mothers should stop eating.

Why is too much of wine bad for breastfeeding babies?

Studies have shown that too much of alcohol consumption can harm the baby in the following ways:

It leads to reduced breast milk intake: When a mother consumes alcohol, it gets mixed into the blood stream and with breast milk. If drinking is a habit, even consumption of low to moderate amount of alcohol can lead to a reduction in milk production, curtailing the baby s breast milk intake.

It disturbs sleep-wake cycle: Even the presence of a small amount of alcohol in the breast milk can disrupt baby s sleep-wake cycle. In fact, infants whose mothers have wine or any other alcoholic beverage sleep for a shorter duration.

It retards motor development: Regular or daily alcohol use during lactation can result in a retardation of motor development, but not mental development. Here is what to expect from your child during the first year of his life.

It alters the sense of smell: It can also alter the child s sense of smell in the long term.

What can you do?

To avoid health complications in your baby, here are few things you can do:

• Pump and store breast milk and feed your baby if you are reeling under the influence of alcohol or if the gap between your drink and your baby s feeding time is less than two hours.
• Feed your baby after three hours of having an alcoholic beverage.
• Drink lots of water after having a drink to help your body get rid of the toxins soon.
• Have healthy snacks with your drink to lower the amount of alcohol in your blood.
• Avoid having more than one glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage.

Reference:

Guelinckx, I., Devlieger, R., & Vansant, G. (2011). Alcohol during pregnancy and lactation: recommendations versus real intake. Archives of Public Health, 68(4), 134.

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