Alcohol
Did you know that a 250ml glass of wine
(ABV 12%) contains 3 units of alcohol and that one unit of alcohol takes about
two hours to clear from a mother’s milk?
The facts about breastfeeding and alcohol
How will drinking affect my baby?
Be assured that by breastfeeding, you’re giving your baby the best possible
start in life. It’s very unlikely that having the occasional drink will
harm your baby.
However, we do know that alcohol passes to the baby in very small amounts
through the breast milk. Because of this is it advisable to avoid alcohol
or keep your drinking to the limits recommended for pregnant women. If
you regularly drink more than the recommended amount, it can affect your baby
in a number of ways:
• Your milk may smell different and put your baby off feeding
• The alcohol may make your baby too sleepy to feed
• The baby may have difficulties with digestion and problems with his/her
sleeping patterns
For more information on breastfeeding and alcohol speak to your Midwife, Health
Visitor or GP.
Keeping baby safe
As well as being a time of joy and
excitement, the first few months after giving birth can be difficult and
demanding. Sleep deprivation, endless feeding and changing routines,
emotional ups and downs, can leave you feeling tired and drained, but heavy
drinking will leave you feeling a whole lot worse.
Although it may help you feel relaxed at first, drinking too much at this time
will make you feel more irritable and low. This will make it harder to
cope with the constant attention that your baby needs.
Tmedications are a smokers, or very
tired. ‘Avoidance of alcohol is the
safest option for you and your baby’.
If you want advice on making changes to
the way you use alcohol, please contact Swanswell, our approved provider of
alcohol support services, on tel: 01788 559400 or email admin@swanswell.org