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Drinking on the Job
Alcohol and Breastfeeding Do They Mix? By Laura Urbani
If a mother wants to have a drink, she should pay attention to timing. "I suggest feeding the baby first, then have the drink," says Huberty.
LeAnn Junker of Greensburg, Pa., was not comfortable with drinking any alcohol during the months she breastfed her baby. "I would have been nervous to have alcohol when she was first born," says Junker. "I was sleep deprived. There were days when I just didn't feel myself, so I didn't want to introduce alcohol into my system."
In substantial doses, alcohol can act as a depressant on the baby's nervous system, and potentially the respiratory system. Alcohol also acts on the liver, causing the organ to block production of blood sugar which can lead to hypoglycemia. "This would be worrisome only if the mother consumed significantly more than a small amount of alcohol," says Hull. "If the mother did that, I as a physician would actually be more immediately concerned about the baby's safety as it relates to what mistakes an intoxicated mother might make. For example, co-sleeping is known to carry a higher risk for smothering deaths. Co-sleeping with a mother whose senses are dulled by alcohol would be downright dangerous for the infant."
Whether alcohol affects the baby or not, it will affect the mother. Large amounts of alcohol will hinder a woman's ability to properly care for her infant. "It's not a good idea to drink with a newborn at home, whether you are nursing or not," says Heh.
Any mother who has a question concerning alcohol consumption while breastfeeding should talk with her pediatrician. Information is also available from the La Leche League, which has local chapters throughout the United States, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
