Before we talk about feeding and alcohol, you need to know that there are two hormones that work in breastfeeding. They are prolactin and oxytocin. The former arouses your breast to produce milk while the latter urges it to release the milk to the nipple in order to enable your baby to suckle.

When you drink alcohol the level of prolactin increases. At the same time the level of oxytocin decreases. As a result, you feel the fullness of milk in your breasts but actually your baby has to suckle harder to get it because it’s not been pushed to the nipple for easy suckling. This has been proven in a study conducted in 2005. Most of the breastfeeding problems arise at this point, when the milk is not secreted easily from the breasts.

It’s true that after delivery, you are tempted to revert to your original lifestyle, and that means you may want to enjoy your favorite tipple. There is no hard and fast rule that says you should not touch it at all. A couple of drinks are harmless. However, some doctors, who promote the breastfeeding diet, are of the view that it’s better to wait for a few months.

There is no doubt that there is an ongoing debate on feeding and alcohol. However, a smart mom takes breastfeeding help and knows what’s best for her and her tiny tot.

Effects Of Alcohol

For the first six months, your baby is on a diet of colostrum, which he or she gets from your milk. Your baby’s liver is not that developed to digest small quantities of alcohol. Therefore, it would be wise to avoid drinking alcohol. However, if you must, then taking a drink just after a breastfeeding session is okay, as then alcohol gets some time to circulate through your body before its time for the next feed.

Drinking does not remain accumulated in breast milk. So, any amount that passes to your tiny tot depends on the amount present in your blood at the time of breastfeeding. Besides this, whatever you eat and drink has an impact on the smell and taste of your milk. Therefore, there are chances that your baby is repelled by the difference in taste or smell and may not suckle.

As an all-encompassing answer to myriad breastfeeding questions, there is no harm in going off drinks for a few months. To know more on the subject, it’s good to read books and articles regarding consumption during breastfeeding. However, make sure not to mix feeding and alcohol.