Does alcohol aid with breast feeding?

I just had my first baby, Chloe, and am breastfeeding. My mom says that when she was nursing me, her doctor told her to have a beer every night! I'd love to have a glass of wine, but really don't want to be sharing it with my baby! What do you think?


Your mom is not alone; many women have heard the same thing. They are told that a beer or a glass of wine will help establish their milk supply and keep it flowing. I'm not aware of any scientific studies which have addressed this issue, but alcohol is known to release inhibitions and helps some people relax. It's important to be calm and relaxed while nursing. In fact, most women find that they have trouble nursing when they are tense or in a stressful environment -- it's hard for the milk to get down.

Does this mean that it's a good idea? Well, not necessarily. A small amount of alcohol does get into breast milk, about one percent on average. While many consider this amount harmless, the best way to avoid giving your baby alcohol is to "pump and dump"; after having a glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, express your milk at the next feeding and discard it. It's fine to resume nursing with the following feeding.

Enjoy your baby and stay well!

Labels: Baby health, Breastfeeding tips, Pregnancy health