alcohol intake and breastfeeding

Alcohol is transferred to breastmilk. Excessive maternal alcohol intake is associated with failure to initiate the letdown reflex, changes in infant sleep patterns, decreased milk intake, and a risk of hypoglycemia in the infant. Some studies suggest it may also be associated with impaired motor development.

No alcohol intake during lactation is considered to be the safest approach. Although infants are able to detoxify alcohol, decreased liver dehydrogenase activity makes them less able to metabolize it than adults. A nomogram (estimated time to zero level of alcohol in breastmilk) has been published, based on maternal weight/number of drinks/time. (Ho, 2001)