Lolli’s Lesson: Are your boobs buzzed?

Do you think a mama can drink alcohol and still breastfeed her baby? The answer may surprise you, but yes, you can drink alcohol and breastfeed your baby. No, you do not need to pump and dump. BUT, let me tell you how to drink alcohol and safely feed your baby…

First, we need to establish what a drink of alcohol actually is. A 12 oz. can of beer, a glass of wine, a mixed drink—each may contain varying amounts of alcohol. When we talk about a drink we are talking about one serving. Years ago, our counsel was that any amount of alcohol that you consume while breastfeeding your baby would need to be pumped and dumped. This guidance has evolved through the years as we have learned there is a way to have a drink and safely feed your baby.

IF a mom is or has had issues with over consumption, the safest for these mothers would be to steer clear from alcohol altogether. Please know that I am not condoning drinking alcohol while breastfeeding. But we have found that it is likely that some moms will find themselves in a situation where they would like to have a drink. So we want to educate on how to do this safely.

If you decide that you would like to have a drink, make sure you feed your baby BEFORE having that drink. Typically once breastfeeding has been established (at 2-3 weeks) most babies will eat on average every 2-3 hours. So plan ahead! If you plan to go out and celebrate that you just had the most beautiful baby? Absolutely do it. Have that glass of wine. But make sure you feed your baby as close to before you have your drink as possible.

Now that you’ve had your drink, chances are if it’s the first time since before pregnancy (absolutely NO alcohol should be consumed while pregnant) then you are probably feeling a bit of a buzz. And if this is the case? DO NOT FEED YOUR BABY. Wait until you do not feel the effects of the alcohol. So if your baby is needing to be fed during this time—give the baby a bottle of pumped milk. You do NOT need to pump and dump. You simply need to wait until the effects are no longer felt. There is a very simple way to know if you are able to feed your baby. And it is this…

IF YOUR BRAIN IS BUZZED? THEN YOUR BOOB IS BUZZED. We do not feed babies when our boobs are buzzed.