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Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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Breastfeeding after Drinking Alcohol
QUESTION
Dear Dr. Greenfield,
My husband and I are going to a party where there will be drinking. I breastfeed our son and would like to know how long I should wait to feed him after drinking alcohol.

— Wondering in Orlando

ANSWER
November 1, 2001
Dear Wondering,
This is a great question. It sounds like you are ready for some fun, yet you want to approach this in a responsible way.

The American Academy of Pediatrics considers maternal alcohol use to be compatible with breastfeeding. It takes a maternal blood alcohol level of 300 mg/dl to cause mild sleepiness in a breastfeeding infant. Even then, maternal drinking as a rare occurrence is not considered dangerous. Daily drinking or severe binge drinking on the other hand may pose some risk of delayed motor development in the child. It's not totally clear if that risk is directly from the alcohol or from other factors in the lives of babies with mothers who drink a lot.

From your description it sounds like there shouldn't be any restrictions on when you can breastfeed your son during or after the party. Remember, though, that your child does need live parents--so while you are preparing for this party, don't forget to plan on a designated driver to get you home. Enjoy!

— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

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