14/12/2025
This is a myth. 🤱
Good news: for ONE standard drink, you usually don’t need to dump your milk.
🍷Current guidance from health experts (including the CDC, AAP, and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine) shows that occasional, mild alcohol intake is generally safe when planned around breastfeeding. Breastfeed your baby before you sip, then wait about 2-3 hours per drink before the next nursing. This allows your body time to clear the alcohol, and as your blood alcohol level falls, your breast milk alcohol level falls too.
🍷Importantly, pumping and dumping removes milk — Not ALCOHOL — and it does not speed alcohol clearance. Alcohol leaves breast milk the same way it leaves your bloodstream: with time, not pumping.
👶 For newborns: the same principles apply, but extra caution is advised due to frequent feeding and immature metabolism. Feed just before the drink, allow 3 hours before the next feed when possible, or even better, use previously expressed milk.
Avoid alcohol entirely if feeds are unpredictable or clustered ****
🍷Bottom line: You can enjoy ONE standard celebratory drink without sacrificing your breastfeeding journey. Keep it to one standard drink, plan your feeds, and make sure you feel well enough to safely care for your baby. There’s no need to waste that “liquid gold” — with moderation and a little planning, you and your baby can enjoy a safe, happy holiday season. 🎄