Alcohol in breastmilk, reposted from Dr Jack Newman's FB page

[Rachel_C]

This was posted by Dr Jack Newman on his Facebook page today:

The following is from a blog by a mother who tested her milk for alcohol. Not one of those useless kits that you can buy at various stores, but tested at a toxicology laboratory. I will copy from her blog the method she used and the results. I think this puts the lie to the notion that women should not drink while breastfeeding or need to "pump and dump" (an appalling term) after having even one drink. The following is an exact quote from her blog:

Method:
First I took a sample of my milk (about 1 mL) prior to drinking any alcoholic beverage. I expressed the milk mid-nursing session to ensure I had a goodly portion of fore & hind milk. After completing the nursing session, I mixed myself an alcoholic beverage consisting of 2 oz of 80 proof (40%) vodka in 10 oz of soda (Sprite). I proceeded to drink the entire 12 oz in about 30 minutes. About 30 minutes after finishing (1 hour after beginning to drink), I expressed some milk (about 1 mL) and labeled it 'immediate'. I then waited 1 hour and expressed more milk (about 1 mL) and labeled it '2 hours'. In the 2 hours (from the beginning), I did not drink any more alcoholic beverages, drink other beverages, or eat any other foods. Another day, 1/2 of a beer (4.3% alcohol) and 2-6 oz glasses of wine were consumed within 1.5 hours. About an hour from the beginning of the last drink, a milk sample (about 1 mL) was taken. This sample was labeled '1 hour - 3 drinks'. Another sample was taken about an hour after that (2 hours after the beginning of the last drink). This sample was labeled '2 hours - 3 drinks'.

The samples were stored in the refrigerator until processing. An Agilent headspace instrument was used to run the tests. Propanol and ethanol standards were also tested to ensure the instrument was within limits. The instrument is maintained by the KSP Lab Toxicology Section and used in forensic determinations of blood and urine alcohol content.

Results:
The sample labeled as 'immediate' registered as 0.1370 mg/mL which correlates to 0.01370% alcohol in the sample. The sample labeled '2 hours' registered as 0.0000 mg/ml which correlates to 0.0000%. The sample labeled '1 hour - 3 drinks' registered as 0.3749 mg/mL which correlates to 0.03749% alcohol in the sample. The sample labeled '2 hours - 3 drinks' registered as 0.0629 mg/mL which correlates to 0.00629% alcohol in the sample.

Conclusion:
The alcohol content in breast milk immediately after drinking is equivalent to a 0.0274 proof beverage. That's like mixing 1 oz of 80 proof vodka (one shot) with 2919 oz of mixer . By the way, 2919 oz is over 70 liters. Two hours after drinking one (strong) drink the alcohol has disappeared from the sample. Completely harmless to the nursing infant. Drinking about 3 drinks in 1.5 hours resulted in higher numbers, but still negligible amounts of alcohol would be transferred to the child. One hour after imbibing in 3 drinks, the milk was the equivalent of 0.07498 proof beverage. That would be like adding 1 oz of 80 proof vodka (one shot) to 1066 oz of mixer (1066 oz is over 26 liters). Two hours after imbibing in 3 drinks, the milk was 0.01258 proof. That would be like adding 1 oz of 80 proof vodka to 3179 oz of mixer (over almost 80 liters). So, even though an infant has much less body weight, any of these percentage of alcohol in breast milk is unlikely to adversely affect the baby. Bottoms up!

I don't drink anyway but I found it pretty interesting. Go boobs!

 

[summer rain]

Yeah I don't drink either but that is very interesting stuff. They should experiment with other substances that are said to pass into breast milk, caffeine, milk protein etc and see what happens there...xx

 

[sue_88]

Thats really interesting.

I drink again now but have 1 or 1.5 glasses (wine/champagne) and stop there, I may now allow myself that full 2nd glass!

 

[misspriss]

Thats really interesting.

I drink again now but have 1 or 1.5 glasses (wine/champagne) and stop there, I may now allow myself that full 2nd glass!

Same here, I've only been allowing myself a small glass of wine, turns out I could probably have 2! (like I ever have time to drink...heck I hardly have time to eat...)

Thanks for the info!

 

[cat lover]

Awesomeness, that.is really interesting. İ dont feel so.bad about.my occasional couple of glasses.of wine now!

 

[fatandlumpy]

Yay! science

 

[Debi]

Definitely good to know!!

 

[Calif]

Nice!

 

[9jawife]

Good to know. I put the hard apple cider back on the shelf that I was tempted to buy today. I may have to treat myself, knowing this.

 

[starlight2801]

Thanks for this. I'm not a massive drinker but would be lovely to treat myself to a glass of wine or two guilt free x

 

[Dk1234]

This is awesome seems like it would've been tested a lot sooner than this

 

[maidelyn]

The rate of alcohol metabolism is going to be dependant on your lover function though and that will vary greatly. I never worry about the odd drink myself.

 

[JessPape]

I drank 3-4 times while nursing my daughter (I waited till she was over 3months from my own research on drinking, I don't drink often, if more than 2 times a year normally). Anyways, out of all them times we never noticed a reaction with her, or nothing.

 

[NerdyMama]

That's awesome my lactation consultant told me of I could drive j could feed so I've lived by that on the few occasions I can sneak a beer

 

[CupcakeBaby]

Very interesting.

I would also love them to test this with caffeine as I much prefer it to alcohol!!

 

[MommaCC]

I don't feel guilty for the sip of champagne I had to wet the babies head last night now lol! Although I don't drink anyway that's really good to know! X

 

[lily28]

Great article, to be honest I never felt guilty of the 150 ml of beer I have with my dinner, it makes me happy, and I never noticed a reaction from baby
But it's good to know someone took it a step further and tested actual breast milk at a lab. Whoever that lady is , she rocks!