Are there any sort of a guidelines for drinking alcohol while nursing? How long should you wait after you've had "too much" to nurse your child?
Having an occasional alcoholic drink has not been shown to be harmful to your nursing baby, though it may have a mildly sedating effect.
Alcohol can be found in breastmilk about 30 minutes after consumption. While drinking, and for two to three hours afterwards, it is best to avoid breastfeeding.(Medications and Mothers' Milk, Thomas Hale, R.Ph.,Ph.D., 1994)
Regular abuse of alcohol interferes with the mother's ability to care for her baby, can inhibit her milk ejection, may slow baby's motor development, and may result in slow weight gain or failure to thrive. The effect that alcohol has on the baby seems to be directly related to the amount the mother drinks.
