Recommended Maximum Intake of Alcoholic Beverages - Breastfeeding Women

Breastfeeding Women

"Alcohol passes to the baby in small amounts in breast milk. The milk will smell different to the baby and may affect their feeding, sleeping or digestion. The best advice is to avoid drinking shortly before a baby’s feed." "Alcohol inhibits a mother’s let-down (the release of milk to the nipple). Studies have shown that babies take around 20% less milk if there’s alcohol present, so they’ll need to feed more often – although infants have been known to go on ‘nursing strike’, probably because of the altered taste of the milk." "There is little research evidence available about the effect that has on the baby, although practitioners report that, even at relatively low levels of drinking, it may reduce the amount of milk available and cause irritability, poor feeding and sleep disturbance in the infant. Given these concerns, a prudent approach is advised."

• Australia: Total abstinence (New guidelines were adopted on 6 March 2009.)
• Iceland: Advise that women abstain from alcohol during breast feeding because no safe consumption level exists.
• New Zealand: "Alcohol should be avoided during breastfeeding, particularly in the first month, when it is important for sound breastfeeding patterns to be established..."
• United Kingdom: "The occasional drink — one to two units no more than once or twice a week — probably won't do any harm. Any more than this isn't good, as it can make the baby so sleepy that it won't take enough milk."