What happens to a baby if the mother drinks alcohol while breastfeeding?

The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Breastfeeding Infants
When a mother consumes alcohol while breastfeeding, the effects on her baby can be significant, raising concerns among healthcare professionals and new parents alike. Understanding these effects is crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of both mother and child.
Alcohol in Breast Milk
Alcohol passes into breast milk, and its concentration can be similar to that found in the mother’s bloodstream. This means that when a breastfeeding mother drinks, her infant is also exposed to alcohol, albeit in smaller amounts. The general consensus among health experts is that moderate alcohol consumption—defined as up to one standard drink per day—may not pose significant risks to the infant. However, higher levels of alcohol consumption can lead to various developmental issues and health concerns for the baby.
Potential Effects on Infants
Research indicates that exposure to alcohol through breast milk can disrupt an infant’s development, growth, and sleep patterns. Babies may exhibit signs such as increased crying, drowsiness, lethargy, and even nausea or vomiting after consuming alcohol-laden milk . Furthermore, alcohol can interfere with the mother’s ability to care for her child safely, as it may impair her judgment and responsiveness.
Long-Term Consequences
While moderate drinking has not been conclusively linked to long-term adverse health outcomes, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to more serious issues. Studies suggest that heavy drinking may contribute to poor weight gain, disrupted sleep, and delays in psychomotor skills. Although preliminary data has not shown a direct correlation between moderate alcohol use during breastfeeding and conditions like autism spectrum disorder or ADHD, the potential for cognitive delays remains a concern.
Milk Production and Alcohol
In addition to its effects on the infant, alcohol can also impact the mother’s milk production. Alcohol acts as an inhibitor of oxytocin, a hormone crucial for milk ejection. This inhibition can lead to decreased milk supply, which may affect the baby’s nutrition.
Guidelines for Safe Consumption
For mothers who choose to drink, experts recommend waiting a minimum of two hours after consuming one standard drink before breastfeeding. This waiting period allows the body to metabolize the alcohol, reducing the amount present in breast milk. For multiple drinks, the waiting time should be extended accordingly.
Conclusion
In summary, while moderate alcohol consumption may not pose significant risks to breastfeeding infants, it is essential for mothers to be aware of the potential effects on their babies. Understanding the implications of alcohol on both milk production and infant health can help mothers make informed decisions about their drinking habits while nursing. Ultimately, prioritizing the well-being of the child should guide any choices regarding alcohol consumption during breastfeeding.

How long does it take for alcohol to cycle out of breastmilk?

The more alcohol consumed, the longer it takes to clear the body. The CDC state “Alcohol from 1 drink can be detected in breast milk for about 2-3 hours, alcohol from 2 drinks can be detected for about 4-5 hours, and alcohol from 3 drinks can be detected for about 6-8 hours, and so on.”

What happens to a baby if the mother drinks alcohol?

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birthweight. It can also affect your baby after they’re born. Drinking during pregnancy can cause your baby to develop a serious life-long condition called fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

How long is breastmilk good after baby starts drinking?

Leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be thrown away. To avoid wasting unfed milk, consider storing, thawing, and warming it in smaller amounts.

How do I know if my baby is affected by alcohol?

How Does Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Affect Children? Children with fetal alcohol syndrome have facial features such as small eyes, a thin upper lip, and a smooth philtrum (the groove between nose and upper lip). They also can have: Poor growth.

How much alcohol in breastmilk will affect a baby?

Ultimately, just as in pregnancy, there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption while breastfeeding. We cannot know for certain the safety of even small amounts of alcohol for young babies.

How do I know if my baby is affected by alcohol in breastmilk?

If your baby consumes breast milk with alcohol in it, it may have negative effects on your baby, including:

• Increased crying.
• Increased arousal.
• Decreased milk intake.
• Decreased weight gain.
• Increased REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep when their brain is more active)

What happens if a baby drinks breast milk after drinking?

To be safest, the mother can wait at least 2 hours after a single drink before nursing. Exposure to alcohol above moderate levels through breast milk could be damaging to an infant’s development, growth, and sleep patterns.

Can you get fetal alcohol from breastfeeding?

Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which describes the range of complex physical, mental, and behavioural disabilities that can occur. Although alcohol exposure through the consumption of breast milk does not cause FASD, it can impact central nervous system development vii.

Do I have to throw out breast milk after baby drinks?

Leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be thrown away. To avoid wasting unfed milk, consider storing, thawing, and warming it in smaller amounts. See Breast Milk Storage and Preparation for more information.

What can happen if a baby drinks old breast milk?

Based on research published on the Unair website, breast milk that is stored for a long time can be contaminated by various bacteria. One of them is E. coli. This bacteria can cause digestive tract infections such as diarrhea.