08/12/2025
*Myth Busting Monday*
It is coming up to all the festivities that comes with Christmas and breastfeeding mums might be worrying about what is best when it comes to drinking alcohol whilst breastfeeding. Most resources agree that drinking small amounts of alcohol occasionally while breastfeeding won't harm your baby.
Here is the answer to some common questions you may have.
* Can you drink alcohol whilst breastfeeding? - YES, breastfeeding mothers can have occasional, small amounts of alcohol but should not drink regularly or heavily without considering how to limit the baby's exposure.
* Does alcohol go into my breast milk? - YES, alcohol passes freely into breastmilk reaching approximately maternal levels BUT maternal blood levels have to reach 300mg/100ml before mild sedation is reached in the baby (this compares with a level of 80mg/100ml needed to fail the police breath test in England, Wales and N. Ireland; 50mg/100ml Scotland).
* Should I wait after drinking alcohol before feeding the baby? - YES, to reduce exposure of the baby to alcohol, avoid breastfeeding for 2-3 hours after drinking. Peak levels in the milk appear after 30-90 minutes but this does not mean that social drinking or small amounts of alcohol mean that you cannot breastfeed!
* Do I need to 'pump and dump' to clear the alcohol? - NO, it is not necessary to express breastmilk to clear the alcohol, as your blood levels fall, the level of alcohol in the breastmilk will decrease too.
* Is it safe to co-sleep with baby after drinking alcohol? NO, never share a bed or sofa with your baby if you have drunk any alcohol. Doing this has an increased association with SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
For more information, please visit Breastfeeding Network or NHS guidance on Breastfeeding and alcohol.
