Choice Beverages for the Nursing Mama
Did /do you agonize over what you consume while nursing? An urbanMama is curious as to how much is too much, and what you feel o.k. ingesting versus what you abstain from. She writes:
I've been thinking about the recent post for Happy Hour recommendations and feeling a bit thirsty. I am currently nursing a four month old who suffers from bottle angst so is completely dependent on me for sustenance (I do realize if push came to shove he could probably drink from a bottle). So what do nursing mamas drink? How much and how often? Do you pump and dump? Think about timing? I will confess to my large cup of coffee every morning and sometimes one drink in the evening without too much worry. Or do breastfeeding mamas abstain and live by a stricter pregnancy-esk diet? Obviously, getting drunk is not responsible, but what about one drink? Caffeine? Ibuprofen for that aching back? Water from a Nalgene bottle?
(Photo courtesy: cafemama.com)
Besides water, I indulge in: 1 cup of coffee in the am and 1 can of caffeine-free Coke at lunch.
I don't drink alcohol, so no internal struggles there. I felt a bit guilty at first for my cup o'coffee in the morning, but my (3 month old) daughter doesn't seem to have an issue with it.
Posted by: christine | May 27, 2008 at 06:55 AM
Funny you should ask. I was just wondering how much coffee would be OK. Heading to work after a low sleep night. He is 6 mo & back to sleeping like he did at 6 weeks. Hope this is teething. & hope it doesn't last much longer. Anyhow, I haven't had much since before being pg but I'll be drinking at least one cup of coffee today.
Don't really miss alcohol, but I'll have a few sips once in a while.
Posted by: CG | May 27, 2008 at 07:21 AM
So maybe I have too much faith in the human liver? I drink one or two oh so lovely beers a couple of times a week and chase them with good sized glasses of water (not a bad idea nursing or no) and have never bothered with the pump and dump business. Coffee? Yeah I can only handle decaf lately anyway. Sleep is way to precious to risk. Best of luck.
-c
Posted by: chris | May 27, 2008 at 07:45 AM
I gave up caffeine years ago, so no issues there. I do have the occasional beer or wine with dinner, which I was told by the moderator at the Providence PDX lacatation class was perfectly acceptable. I usually try to time it so that if I plan on having a drink, it's right after I have finished feeding her, which (in theory) will give the alcohol time to run through my system so there will be minimal alcohol left by the time she needs to eat again. I have only pumped and dumped once, after our anniversary (where we were given loads of free wine), but I've heard that isn't really effective anyway. I say moderation is the key...good luck!
Posted by: LilRed | May 27, 2008 at 08:31 AM
With my firstborn, I went every month to a breastfeeding class led by the head of the Portland Lactation Coalition (or whatever it's called). Anyway, she emphasized over and over again that you do NOT need to pump and dump. Alcohol breaks down quickly in the body. If you cannot feel the effects of the alcohol (either because you have not had enough or because it has worn off), neither will your baby. If you drink a lot and need to feed the baby while you are still very tipsy, you may choose to use a bottle for that feeding, but you don't need to pump and dump; your milk will be fine when you recover.
Posted by: Makeshift Mama | May 27, 2008 at 09:57 AM
"At 5pm every day, put your feet up, have a glass of wine, and nurse that baby. You'll feel much more relaxed, you'll see. Millions of French women can't be wrong!"
Those were my mother's instructions when I had my first child. Instructions I saw no need to disregard. (Until I had my second child, that is, when the concept of relaxation while nursing a baby and entertaining a 3yo became entirely moot.)
Posted by: Zinemama | May 27, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Ever since Asa was a few days old, I have had a split shot or double espresso drink with a tiny bit of water (think Americano but w/ less water) in the morning. Asa was never affected by the caffeine. He slept fine during the day - thank goodness! However, if I had (or still have) coffee later in the day, his sleep is terrible! I know that caffeine stays in the body around nine hours, so my cut off time is 2pm.
As far as alcohol is concerned, I was also never very concerned indulging in an occasional drink and nursing him at the same time. The amount is so tiny and I drank so rarely that I figured it wouldn't be a big deal. There is a product called Milk Screen and there's something similar that is sold at BRU if you want to screen your breastmilk for alcohol.
Breastmilk continues to circulate, much like our blood does, so it isn't like the alcohol is going to hang out waiting for baby to have a treat! That said, there's no need to pump and dump.
Posted by: Kelly S | May 27, 2008 at 11:26 AM
I agree, the french know best :)
Posted by: nwmanicmama | May 27, 2008 at 11:46 AM
As I understand it, the blood alcohol level of your breast milk is the same as your blood. I always figured this meant that I should be mindful of the drinking/feeding connection but not avoid it altogether. I would usually have a glass of wine or beer while I sat down to nurse. You get a few sips in before baby is done and then you have a couple hours still, assuming babe isn't on a nurse-fest. If you figure an hour for your body to fully metabolize the alcohol, this method worked for me.
As for caffeine, I needed that cup of coffee everyday. I stuck to one, and tried to do it after baby was fed, sort of like with the alcohol. For my second, I drank a cup/day through pregnancy and nursing (sometimes more than one cup when nursing!). He didn't get as careful of attention!
Posted by: anon | May 27, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I just had my 3rd son five weeks ago. His brothers are 5 and 3. That being said, I often end up nursing and drinking coffee (1 cup in the am; an occasional early afternoon cup--depending on the previous night), otherwise, I'll may never get that coffee. I have the afternoon coffee about 1x/2x per week--with that one I wait until after the little critter has just nursed.
As far as alcohol, a drink here and there--maybe once or twice a week. I do try to nurse then drink. I will admit that at the Alberta Art Hop the other weekend, when it was, like, 95 degrees out, I did nurse while drinking--although apparently I wasn't drinking fast enough, as DH helped himself to about half of said drink.
As with almost everything in life, it's all about moderation.
Posted by: KMat | May 27, 2008 at 12:29 PM
I'm in KMat's boat, but with an older baby (Monroe's 10 months). I have a serious coffee habit, usually imbibing 16-20 ounces a day (of the best Stumptown direct trade shade grown beans of course :) and occasionally having a glass or two of wine, or a glass of beer, at night. probably once or twice in a typical week. I don't notice any difference in behavior or growth rate based on relative amounts of caffeine and alcohol I've drunk over the past six years. all the boys are strong and sturdy, although Truman (the now-three-year-old) loves coffee. he'll take a healthy swig of my cup whenever he gets a chance.
I believe in a moderate bit of moderation, and also that our bodies will tell us what we should or shouldn't do if we are, over all, giving them smart messages. I've been off sugar and processed foods for nearly five months now and I know immediately if I eat anything that's not going to work for me (I tend to think sugar and overly chemical food products mess up our body's signals). I had a two-day hangover when I ate a particularly enormous doughnut from voodoo. if anything I'd tell nursing moms to work toward giving up the sugar (honey and maple syrup and agave don't have a similar effect, thank goodness).
Posted by: sarah gilbert | May 27, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Yeah, Like Kelly said, as long as you have 'blood alcohol content', you have 'milk alcohol content'. So pumping and dumping is pretty ineffective. Just use your best judgement.
My goddaughters are Italian, and were given wine IN their bottle from day one,(mixed with a little lemon soda, of course). This was said to cure colic, teething and sleep issues!
In spite of that, they are brilliant,and have excelled at every thing they've tried. Just because they turned out so great doesn't mean I am endorsing it, though!
When my daughter was tiny, I would pump a bottle beforehand if I wanted to have a drink. Then, when she was closer to a year, I would let her nurse when I'd had a glass of wine, sometimes even two.
Just use your own wise judgement!
Posted by: lea | May 27, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Not to totally geek out on you, but as a wine steward and a mother of a seven month old, I try to seek out beer and wine with low alcohol percentages. There is a BIG difference between a Old Rasputin at 9% and a Hoegaarden at 4%. As far as wine goes...on summer nights, a couple glasses of Vinho Verde is perfect. It is a slightly effervescent white wine from Portugal that is only 8% alcohol (considerably lower than most other wines at 14-17%) I miss my old wine drinking ways, but having a hangover with a baby to take care of is sheer hell. So a couple glasses here and there is all this mama can do nowadays.
Posted by: bee | May 28, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Does your child sleep through the night? My pediatrician explained to me that alcohol goes out of breastmilk just as it does your body, and as fast. One drink after child goes to bed is gone by morning feed.
I thought I could pump it out and throw away the milk but she said I will pee it out. I think it is like 2 hours per drink to flush out.
Posted by: Gina | May 28, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Doesn't the pump and dump concept come from the idea that if you don't want to miss a feeding you can do it in order to not affect production? I wouldn't worry about pumping and dumping if there was just a long period of time between feeds. If the issue is that you don't want to nurse at a time baby normally would and you have production issues or are uncomfortable because you're too full than you can do it, but otherwise I personally wouldn't worry about doing it.
Posted by: pumpndump | May 28, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Pump and Dump? A total waste of time. I drink coffee, I drink wine, I drink soda... everyone is healthy and happy. Mama's milk is always best over bottle, even if mama needs a caffeine fix. The amount of transfer through breast milk is too small to cause any harm to baby. Stop feeling guilty! And, as always, moderate and continue with what you feel comfortable with.
Posted by: MamaG | May 28, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I agree with bee. I've nursed two kids for over a year each and never pumped and dumped. It's way too precious for that! I know that I'll never have a very high blood alcohol level because the thought of taking care of my kids with a hangover is enough to slow me down. I know I'll be up early in the am no matter how much I drink! As for coffee, I aim for a little more moderation than when not nursing. If I need coffee to keep me going, it's better to have a mom on coffee than the alternative at my house!
Posted by: Nic | May 28, 2008 at 11:39 AM
I'm nursing a four month old as well, who refuses a bottle. I stick to a small cup of coffee in the morning and probably have 1-2 beers or glasses of wine per week. I limit these drinks to times after she has just nursed. I've also gotten rid of the old Nalgene bottles and on occasion drink soda without caffeine.
Posted by: Jessica | May 28, 2008 at 01:09 PM
I found I couldn't do coffee because it kept the little one up (my local barista always poked fun (lovingly) at my no-caf soy caramel latte every Sunday, I think he called it the "not worth it" or the "what's the point").
I had beer at home (once or twice a week), but was always nervous drinking out since I would bf on demand. By the time he was 6 months old or so I got over it, and have fond memories of nursing my boy at Mt. Hood Brewing in Gov't Camp with a pint of stout at my side.
Posted by: lesley a | May 28, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Several of you have stated that the amount of transfer is too small, but I am wondering if this is based off of personal opinion or actual data? I ask this b/c when I was nursing I read the opposite. Similar to what Lea stated regarding the "milk alcohol content". Yes, it may be a small amount related to our body weights, but how does that transfer to a small baby? I opted to not drink alcohol, as it seemed the data was a bit inconclusive/inconsistent. I think if you decide to drink, it needs to be in moderation and at your own comfort level. This comes from a mom who likes to enjoy a beer/mixed drink.
Posted by: sm | May 29, 2008 at 12:04 AM
Older Nalgene Water bottles contain Bisphenol A. In April the company announced it plans to produce BPA-free bottles and sippy cups. If you're still weary of this brand, here are some alternatives:
http://gardenaut.blogspot.com/search?q=water+bottles
Posted by: Andi | May 29, 2008 at 09:30 AM
as others have said, pump & dump for comfort, not because you think it will remove the alcohol from your milk.
I am a milk donor and they are UBER strict about medications since the milk often goes to tiny one-pounders whose livers can't handle anything. I cannot donate milk if I've had a drink within 8 hours but that is really over-the-top in my opinion. The lady at the milk bank said I would know if my milk had too much alcohol because it wouldn't freeze completely, but I can't see that happening if I pumped even two hours after a glass of wine!
I have a double-shot espresso drink a few times a week and have never been concerned though - there is less caffeine in a double shot than in a cup of brewed coffee anyway.
Posted by: Andrea | May 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
I ready a study that monitored caffine intake of women and how it affects their babies and it found that up to 150mg of caffiene had no effect on the babies.So I drink my 2 or so cups a day without worry.
MILLIGRAMS OF CAFFEINE
ITEM
TYPICAL
RANGE*
Coffee (8 fl. oz. Cup)
Brewed, drip method
85
65 - 120
Brewed, percolator
75
60 - 85
Decaffeinated, brewed
3
2 - 4
Espresso (1 fl. oz. serving)
40
30 - 50
Teas (8 fl. oz. cup)
Brewed
40
20 - 90
Instant
28
24 - 31
Iced (8 fl. oz. glass)
25
9 - 50
Some soft drinks (8 fl. oz.)
24
20 - 40
"Energy drinks"
80
0 - 80
Cocoa beverage (8 fl. oz.)
6
3 - 32
Chocolate milk beverage (8 fl. oz.)
5
2 - 7
Milk chocolate (1 oz.)
6
1 - 15
Dark chocolate, semi-sweet (1 oz.)
20
5 - 35
Baker’s chocolate (1 oz.)
26
26
Chocolate-flavored syrup (1 fl. oz.)
4
4
*For the coffee and tea products, the range varies due to brewing method, plant variety, brand of product, etc.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Soft Drink Association
Posted by: heather | May 29, 2008 at 03:31 PM
When my oldest (now 6) was a baby, I was having a hard time with my milk supply and my naturopath PRESCRIBED one beer a day to help -- best prescription I've ever had. I don't know how much it helped, but I know I became a happier mama as a result.
Now, he is a healthy child with a 156 IQ, so I think all turned out OK...
Posted by: Kristin | May 30, 2008 at 01:35 PM
What I learned when I was pregnant was that I have a serious caffeine issue. After two days of trying to give it up and being completely unable to do any work, I gave in and drank it throughout the pregnancy - probably about half a pot over the course of the morning. Once I had my daughter (and this was true for my second as well) I continued to drink coffee, only I added an afternoon round as well. Neither of them has ever shown any signs of it bothering them. As far as alcohol, I'll have a glass of wine or a beer and then nurse, but otherwise (if I have more than that) will give them a bottle of expressed milk and, for myself, pump and dump. I don't pump and dump to deal with the alcohol issue, rather, I am afraid that skipping sessions will affect my supply.
Posted by: G | May 30, 2008 at 08:13 PM
I wish my little one wasn't affected by the caffeine!! Little sucker seems to get a drop and is up all night. As for alcohol... doesn't seem to mind a bit. I enjoy a couple of glasses of wine a week. I know a real cup of jo will be one of the first things I have once the little one is weaned.
Posted by: Shannon | June 02, 2008 at 08:08 PM
I have my sencha green tea everyday and a couple of beers on the weekend with my hubby. We love to relax listen to music with the baby and have a drink. The baby has had to apparent reaction. I've read that there are women from so many cultures from all over the world. If alcohol was contraindicated as well as caffeine, we'd know for sure by now. The body has a wonderful way of metabolizing these substances. Moderation is key. Responsibility is necessary. Use your wisdom, enjoy your relaxation time in the evening or "rev" up time in the morning in moderation and responsibly, and you;d be a better mommy because of it.
Posted by: Joanie | August 29, 2008 at 07:00 PM