How long after drinking alcohol can I breastfeed?
May 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Chen Zhe
Introduction
While breastfeeding, if the mother consumes alcohol, she must refrain from nursing her baby for at least 72 hours. During this period of temporary cessation of breastfeeding, the mother should drink large amounts of warm water to help accelerate the elimination of alcohol from her body. Since alcohol can pass into breast milk and be absorbed by the baby, breastfeeding must be paused not only after the mother drinks alcohol but also after undergoing hair perming or dyeing.
In daily life, some breastfeeding mothers consume alcohol. Although these mothers are aware that drinking alcohol is harmful to their babies, they often do not know how long they must wait before resuming breastfeeding. So, how long after drinking alcohol can a mother safely breastfeed?
How long after drinking alcohol can a mother breastfeed?
If a breastfeeding mother consumes alcohol, she should refrain from nursing her baby for at least 72 hours. During this period, she should drink ample warm water to help accelerate the elimination of alcohol from her body. Alcohol can pass into breast milk and be absorbed by the infant. It is not only alcohol consumption that necessitates a temporary halt in breastfeeding—certain medications (especially those contraindicated during lactation), as well as hair perming or dyeing, also require temporary cessation of breastfeeding.
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol entirely throughout pregnancy, as alcohol consumption poses risks to both fetal and maternal health. Heavy or chronic alcohol use during pregnancy may lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), characterized primarily by permanent damage to the fetal central nervous system. This may result in impaired brain tissue and neuronal development—or even structural malformations—commonly manifesting after birth as deficits in basic cognitive function, growth retardation, and underdevelopment of the heart and kidneys. Additionally, alcohol places extra metabolic strain on the mother’s liver, increasing the risk of alcoholic liver injury.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended that mothers avoid alcohol entirely while breastfeeding. A light, balanced diet and increased intake of plain water are advised. We hope this article has been helpful to you!
