Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Women are often warned to not consume alcohol during pregnancy, as ample evidence has shown that it poses a severe and avoidable risk to her unborn baby. The risks of consuming alcohol while breastfeeding are not as well defined. (And let’s face it.  You were so good for 9 months.  How long before you can really enjoy the Veuve?)  Breastfeeding mothers receive conflicting advice about whether alcohol and breastfeeding can have an affect on their baby, which often leaves mothers feeling like they have more questions than answers. So, what information should a mother who is considering drinking while breastfeeding know?

A compilation of literature on Alcohol and Breastfeeding

La Leche League’s THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING (p. 328) says:
The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother ingests. When the breastfeeding mother drinks occasionally or limits her consumption to one drink or less per day, the amount of alcohol her baby recieves has not been proven to be harmful.

La Leche League’s THE BREASTFE