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Expert Q&A

	By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn.

Does alcohol build up in a mother's breast milk? How long does it takefor alcohol to be eliminated from Mom's milk?

Alcohol, unlike caffeine, can build up more quickly, and then be out of Mom's system (and milk) in a relatively short time, depending on the amount consumed. An occasional drink or regular light drinking (one or fewer drinks per day) hasn't been shown to harm the nursing infant.

Alcohol levels in the milk peak 30 to 60 minutes after drinking, 60 to 90 minutes if the drink is taken with food. It also passes quickly – a 120-pound woman can eliminate the alcohol from one serving of beer or wine in about 2 to 3 hours. The more alcohol consumed, the longer it takes. That same 120-pound woman may take 13 hours to get rid of the alcohol in her system from one high alcohol drink.

There have been some fascinating studies done on alcohol and nursing infants. The smell of alcohol increases in the milk, and babies in turn will suck more frequently. Their over-all milk consumption is decreased though – either the milk ejection reflex is inhibited or Baby's ability to suck efficiently is affected.

Another study showed breastfed babies of mothers who drank tested slightlylower on motor development at 1 year. The study had some flaws in it, however, and needs to be repeated.

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