What Happens When You Combine Feeding And Alcohol?

Can feeding and alcohol go together? This is a debatable question. Some are of the view that a drink or two won't do any harm, while some suggest waiting for a certain period, yet others are strictly against it.

Feeding And Alcohol Is A Bad Idea

Medical experts have proved that, except in particular medical conditions, mother's milk is the ideal food for a newborn. There are two hormones that work during breastfeeding - Prolactin and Oxytocin. Prolactin activates your breasts to produce milk and Oxytocin pushes the milk to the nipple so that your baby can suckle.

A study conducted in 2005 showed that after consuming alcohol, the level of Prolactin increases while that of Oxytocin decreases. Thus, it is obvious what will happen - you will feel full at your breast, but your baby will find it hard to suckle, as milk will not be pushed to the nipple due to the low level of Oxytocin.

Well, it's true that after nine long months of pregnancy, you would crave for reverting to your normal lifestyle. Moreover, you definitely want to celebrate the birth of your baby with your favorite glass of tipple! But, hey, would you want your baby to starve of your milk just for a few drinks, which you can always have later? And what about her delicate liver? It is not developed enough to digest alcohol. You can't be so cruel to your baby, can you?

Don't 'Contaminate' Your Colostrum!

Remember, when your baby breastfeeds, it is actually consuming a substance called 'colostrum.' This is packed with antibodies and increases your baby's resistance against infections and diseases. This is why doctors advise moms to breastfeed their babies at least for the first six weeks, for this is when you produce colostrum.

At this time, it is better not to drink alcohol at all. However, if you really have to, then restrict to drinking ONLY after you have breastfeed. By doing this, alcohol gets some time to circulate throughout your body before you sit to breastfeed next. Alcohol is not accumulated in your breast milk. Therefore, the amount of alcohol passed to your baby through your milk depends on the amount of it present in your blood at the time of breastfeeding.

You can enjoy a couple of drinks later. Always remember to wait before breastfeeding your tiny tot. You can even express milk in a pump to avoid feeding directly from the breast. This is a good thing for those who find it tough to compromise on their drinks.

One more thing - don't be surprised if your baby does not like the taste or smell of your milk. Well, it may not always be the case, but it happens often. The only way of providing pure milk to your baby is not touching a single drop of alcohol during breastfeeding.

So, ladies, please do not mix feeding and alcohol. Do you want your baby to start drinking right from infancy?