Alcohol and Breastfeeding

Baby & Child

Obie Editorial Team

Q: Is it true that alcohol can get into the breastmilk if you drink while nursing?

A: When you drink alcohol while breastfeeding, even very small amounts of alcohol can get into breast milk and pass to the baby. One study found that the breastfed babies of women who had one or more drinks a day were a little slower in acquiring motor skills (such as crawling and walking) than babies who had not been exposed to alcohol.

Large amounts of alcohol may also interfere with the ejection of milk from the breast. It is therefore recommended that women don't drink alcohol while nursing.