When it comes to drinking while breastfeeding, it’s important to consider that the amount consumed is related to the risk posed to the baby, bearing in mind that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption during this period.
Mothers who are initiating or have already begun breastfeeding should be informed that, while it’s preferable to abstain completely, if alcohol consumption persists, they should consider that the newborn’s organic immaturity makes them more vulnerable to any potential harm alcohol may cause. Therefore, during the baby’s first month of life, it’s crucial to emphasize complete abstinence from this toxin.
Furthermore, alcohol intake immediately before breastfeeding should be avoided. Instead, breastfeeding or pumping milk should be done before drinking alcohol.
It’s also important to provide women with information about the effects of alcohol on oxytocin, whose levels are decreased in this circumstance. This affects the milk ejection reflex, potentially reducing milk volume. Additionally, it has been observed that babies exposed to alcohol-containing milk from maternal consumption tend to have smaller feedings compared to cases where the mother spaces alcohol intake and breastfeeding by at least 3 or 4 hours.
Bibliography:
- Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. Lactancia Materna – Fomento y Apoyo al Inicio, la Exclusividad y la Continuación de la Lactancia Materna para Recién Nacidos, Lactantes y Niños Pequeños. 2018 p. 208.
- Burbidge A. Alcohol and breastfeeding [Internet]. La Leche League GB. 2014 [citado 22 de mayo de 2024]. Disponible en: https://laleche.org.uk/alcohol-and-breastfeeding/
