When breastfeeding, many questions arise about what is safe to consume. Among the most common are coffee and alcohol. Is it possible to enjoy a coffee in the morning or a glass of wine at dinner without harming your baby? Here’s what you need to know, based on current research and recommendations.
Coffee and breastfeeding
Compatibility of caffeine and breastfeeding
Yes, you can drink coffee while breast-feeding, but in moderation. Caffeine passes into breast milk, and it’s important to monitor the amount consumed to avoid negative effects on the baby.
- Caffeine has a ½ lifetime of 5 to 7 hours (longer for the baby).
- Caffeine is eliminated by the liver
- There is genetic variation from one individual to another (more efficient version for eliminating caffeine)
Recommendations
The majority of experts, including Leche League, suggest limiting coffee consumption to around two to three cups a day. This equates to around 200-300 mg of caffeine, which is considered safe for the majority of breast-fed infants.
Effects on babies
Babies react differently to caffeine. Some may become irritable at very low doses, have trouble sleeping or become colicky if you take too much caffeine. The younger the baby, the more sensitive he is to caffeine. If you notice signs of restlessness or difficulty getting to sleep in your baby, consider reducing or, in some cases, eliminating your caffeine intake and observe the changes. Don’t hesitate to discuss this with your ibclc or midwife.
Other sources of caffeine
Don’t forget that caffeine isn’t just found in coffee. Tea, chocolate, soft drinks and some energy drinks also contain caffeine. So it’s important to monitor your total caffeine intake from all these sources.
Alcohol and breastfeeding
Can I drink alcohol while breast-feeding?
It’s possible to drink alcohol in moderation while breastfeeding, but it’s crucial to do so carefully to minimize the risks to the baby.
Recommendations
Health authorities, including Leche League, recommend limiting alcohol consumption to an occasional glass. After a drink, it’s advisable to wait at least 2 hours before breastfeeding to allow the alcohol to leave your system. This period may vary according to your weight, the type and quantity of alcohol consumed. We therefore advise you to breastfeed just before drinking.
Alcohol consumption has an impact on milk production. It reduces oxytocin production and can therefore (partially) inhibit the milk ejection reflex. It also changes the taste and smell of milk.
The effect varies greatly from one mother to another. Depending on her weight, body fat, the quantity ingested, the speed of ingestion and whether her stomach is empty or full (fat slows alcohol absorption).
If you’ve been drinking all evening, we advise you not to breastfeed the next morning, but to express your milk instead. We also advise you to avoid co-sleeping that night.
Effects on the baby
Alcohol passes into breast milk at the same time as it passes into the mother’s bloodstream, and can affect the baby. Even moderate alcohol consumption can disrupt a baby’s sleep, increase restlessness and reduce milk intake. In the long term, regular and excessive alcohol consumption can have harmful effects on the baby’s motor and cognitive development.
How to minimize the risks
- Plan your drinks: Breastfeed just before drinking to minimize your baby’s exposure.
- Plan your drinking: Breastfeed just before consuming alcohol to minimize your baby’s exposure.
- Pump and store your milk: If you plan to drink, pump and store breast milk in advance so that someone else can feed your baby.
- Follow the advice: If you drink alcohol, wait at least two hours per glass before breastfeeding again.
- Express your milk: To avoid engorgement and, above all, to continue stimulating milk production, express and discard milk if alcohol consumption has been unreasonable.
Conclusion
Ideally, alcohol is not recommended. Only occasionally, with a clear definition of what occasional means. Moderation is therefore the key when it comes to consuming coffee and alcohol while breastfeeding. By following the recommendations and carefully observing your baby’s reactions, you can enjoy these pleasures while ensuring your child’s health and well-being. If you have any specific concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare professional or lactation consultant.
Additional references :
Hale, Thomas. Medications and Mothers’ Milk, 2019 edition. Springer Publishing, 2019: 275-277.
Wilson J, Tay RY, McCormack C, Allsop S, Najman J, Burns L, Olsson CA, Elliott E, Jacobs S, Mattick RP, Hutchinson D. Alcohol consumption by breastfeeding mothers: Frequency, correlates and infant outcomes. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2017 Sep;36(5):667-676. doi: 10.1111/dar.12473. Epub 2017 Mar 13.
Haastrup MB, Pottegård A, Damkier P. Alcohol and breastfeeding. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2014 Feb;114(2):168-73. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.12149. Epub 2013 Nov 7.
AAP Section on Breastfeeding. Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. PEDIATRICS Vol. 129 No. 3 March 2012, pp. e827 -e841.
Pepino MY, Steinmeyer AL, Mennella JA. Lactational state modifies alcohol pharmacokinetics in women. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Jun;31(6):909-18. Epub 2007 Apr 13.
Health Council of the Netherlands. Risks of alcohol consumption related to conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding. The Hague: Health Council of the Netherlands, 2005; publication no. 2004/22. (Paper is in Dutch but the executive summary is also in English.)
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AAP Committee on Drugs. Policy Statement: The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals Into Human Milk. PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 3 September 2001, pp. 776-789.
Mennella JA. Alcohol’s Effect on Lactation. Alcohol Research & Health 2001; 25(3):230-234.
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