New Mom Told Drinking “Dark Beer” Increases Breast Milk Production
By Jacqueline Tourville
Mariah Carey played a social worker in the movie Precious, but the new mom of twins, Moroccan and Monroe, came face to face with a real life social worker when Child Protection Services showed up at her Los Angeles hospital room to investigate possible alcohol and drug use charges. The claims, phoned in by an anonymous tipster, were quickly dismissed as a tabloid ploy, but husband Nick Cannon thinks he knows what fueled the call in the first place: advice Mariah was given to drink beer as a natural way to increase breast milk production.
“It all started when a nurse suggested to my wife that if you drink Guinness or a small amount of Guinness, the dark beer, that the yeast improves breastfeeding,” he explained on the talk show Piers Morgan Tonight. “I don’t know if someone heard that, but then they were saying my wife was drinking beer. People will do anything to try to conjure up a story.”
“When I spoke to the person from Child Protection Services, they said, ‘This is ridiculous, we’re going to make sure this isn’t the case,’” Cannon recalled.
Does Beer Boost Milk Supply?
The allegations against Mariah and Nick may have been false, but what about the truth behind the advice that beer aids in breast milk production? That appears to be false, too, according to breastfeeding and pediatric health experts.
Telling moms that having a small beer or single glass of wine while nursing as a way to relax and help stimulate the “letdown” reflex may seem like a relatively harmless bit of folk wisdom. But as research shows, drinking alcohol while breastfeeding may create milk supply problems and temporarily reduce available nourishment for babies. In one study, babies nursed more frequently but took in less milk up to three to fours hours after moms had a drink. Other research turned up that alcohol consumption prior to nursing can result in a 23 percent decrease in milk volume and that downing two or more drinks in a row may inhibit letdown.
“Breastfeeding mothers should avoid the use of alcoholic beverages, because alcohol is concentrated in breast milk and its use can inhibit milk production. An occasional celebratory single, small alcoholic drink is acceptable, but breastfeeding should be avoided for 2 hours after the drink,” the American Academy of Pediatrics states in its official policy on breastfeeding.
If you do indulge in a drink, know that alcohol enters breast milk quickly, about 30 minutes after consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption on the part of moms — or drinking to the point of becoming intoxicated — may lead to drowsiness, deep sleep, and weakness in infants. Over time, excessive drinking is linked to problems with physical development and growth.
So who knew? Mariah Cary was probably prepared for the world to debate her choice in baby names, but instead we get a teachable moment in breastfeeding. Welcome to motherhood, Mimi!
