It’s important to avoid drinking alcohol until your baby is 1 month old.
In the first few weeks, you and your baby are getting used to breastfeeding. This is called establishing breastfeeding.
Alcohol in your breast milk can affect your baby’s sleep and development. Young babies have an immature liver and take longer to clear alcohol than an older baby or adult.
If your baby is premature or sick, ask your baby's doctor if it's OK to drink any alcohol.
Breastfeeding is usually established by the time your baby is 1 month old. If you chose to drink alcohol, you can avoid passing alcohol to your baby through your milk.
Regularly drinking alcohol can cause a decrease in your milk supply.
Your baby's first month
Your supply of breast milk is established in the early weeks of your baby's life. This works by supply and demand. The more you breastfeed, the more milk your body produces. This is why it is important not to miss a breastfeed in the first month.
During this time, your baby will be feeding very often. It may be difficult for you to predict when they will need their next feed.
It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol in the first month. This is because your baby may need another feed while there is still alcohol in your system.
Expressing breast milk in the first month
If possible, avoid expressing breast milk while breastfeeding is being established. This allows your baby to feed often from your breasts in the early days and weeks to build up your milk supply.
Some mothers have to express before breastfeeding is established.
For example, you may need to express if your baby:
- will not feed directly at the breast
- was born sick or premature
Drinking when breastfeeding is established
If you choose to drink alcohol when breastfeeding is established, there are things you can do to avoid passing alcohol to your baby through your milk.
Do
-
feed your baby before drinking alcohol
-
express your breast milk beforehand if you plan to drink more than 2 standard drinks
-
wait 2 hours after each standard drink before feeding your baby - for example, if you have 2 standard drinks, wait 4 hours
-
stick to the weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines
Don't
-
do not share a bed or sofa with your baby after drinking alcohol - this can increase the risk of cot death (sudden infant death syndrome)
What is a standard drink
A standard drink has 10g of pure alcohol.
This is usually around a:
- half a pint of beer
- single pub measure of a spirit
- small glass of wine
But some drinks are much stronger than others. Check the label if you are not sure.
Important
If you drink a lot of alcohol regularly, it could harm your baby.
You may not be able to take care of your baby properly if you are affected by alcohol.
Alcohol and your breast milk
When you drink alcohol, it passes from your bloodstream into your breast milk.
It takes your body an average of 1 to 2 hours to get rid of 1 standard drink.
The alcohol level in your breast milk is highest at about 1 hour after drinking a standard drink. Wait 2 hours before feeding your baby.
If you have more than 1 drink, you will need to wait longer.
As alcohol leaves your bloodstream, it also leaves your breast milk.
How long it takes for alcohol to clear from breast milk
| Standard drinks | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard drinks 1 | Hours 2 |
| Standard drinks 2 | Hours 4 |
| Standard drinks 3 | Hours 6 |
| Standard drinks 4 | Hours 8 |
| Standard drinks 5 | Hours 10 |
This is a only a guide.
The amount of alcohol in your breast milk will depend on things such as:
- your weight
- how fast you drink
- if you have food with alcohol
Important
Drinking water or expressing your breast milk will not clear the alcohol from your body any faster. It only clears with time.
When drinking alcohol, you may want to express to relieve breast fullness or engorgement. There is no need to store this breast milk as it will contain alcohol.
Risks from drinking
Research shows that breastfeeding after 1 or 2 standard drinks can disrupt your baby’s sleep. This means they may sleep for shorter periods than normal. It can also affect the quality of their sleep.
At this level of drinking (1 or 2 drinks), the concentration of alcohol reaching the baby through the milk is about 30 times less than what is consumed by the mother.
We cannot say for sure if there are any long-term effects on your baby from exposure to very small amounts of alcohol in breast milk.
The best way to avoid exposing your baby to alcohol in breast milk, even in small amounts, is to follow the guidance above.
Eliminating alcohol from breast milk
Alcohol in your breast milk and in your bloodstream clears only with time.
Expressing breast milk will not make the alcohol leave your body any faster.
But it can help to:
- maintain your milk supply
- relieve discomfort if your breasts are very full
When you express milk after drinking alcohol, it should not be stored. This is because it contains alcohol.
You cannot reduce the amount of alcohol in your breast milk by:
- drinking water
- resting
If you plan to drink on a night out
Here are some tips to help you prepare for a night out:
Feed beforehand
Breastfeed before you drink alcohol.
Babysitter
Arrange for a babysitter to care for your baby and stay overnight, if necessary.
Express beforehand
Express enough milk before drinking so that your babysitter can feed your baby. Your baby can also have expressed milk while you have alcohol in your system.
Have extra milk ready if needed
Have extra milk ready in case you need it while you’re waiting for the alcohol to leave your body. If you do not have extra breast milk, give your baby formula milk, if needed.
You may need to talk to your public health nurse (PHN), GP practice nurse or midwife about formula milk. They can give you advice on how to prepare, handle and store formula milk in the correct way.
Limit your drinks
When you are out, limit the amount of alcohol you drink by drinking water in between drinks.
Express your milk to relieve any breast fullness or engorgement. Do not store this breast milk.