Let’s face it, motherhood is intense! Sometimes, a glass of wine or a Tequila Pineapple feels like exactly what you need to unwind. And yes, you can still be a fantastic breastfeeding mom while enjoying a little “me time” beverage. Let’s break it down, guilt-free, with some quick and easy-to-understand facts on drinking alcohol while nursing.

1. How Alcohol Actually Affects Breast Milk 🍷
The amount of alcohol in your breast milk is directly tied to your blood alcohol level (BAC). This means if you drink a single glass of wine, your milk doesn’t suddenly become “alcoholic”—the amount of alcohol that gets into your milk is tiny! Think of it this way: when you drink a glass of wine, your BAC might be around 0.08%. So, your breast milk’s alcohol level would also be about 0.08%—far lower than the alcohol level in a non-alcoholic wine.
2. Timing Your Feedings (And Why Pumping & Dumping Isn’t Necessary)
Alcohol levels in breast milk are highest around 30 to 60 minutes after you drink (or 90 minutes if you’ve had food). After that, the levels slowly decrease as your body processes the alcohol. If you’re concerned, you can wait about 2 hours per drink before breastfeeding again. But if you’re just having one drink, there’s generally no need to wait long, and definitely no need to pump and dump. Your milk’s alcohol level naturally decreases as your blood alcohol level does.
3. Quick Safety Check – Can You Hold Your Baby?
Here’s an easy rule of thumb: if you feel okay holding and caring for your baby, you’re okay to feed your baby. One drink will typically have minimal effect on your coordination, and that’s your best indicator. However, if you feel light-headed or extra sleepy, it might be best to wait a bit before breastfeeding and or handling baby.
4. What to Do with Milk That’s “Too Tipsy”
If you’ve had more than a couple of drinks and feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding right away, consider storing that milk for a milk bath instead. Alcohol doesn’t stay in breast milk indefinitely, so it won’t “store” the alcohol, but if you’d rather not feed the milk, a milk bath is an amazing alternative. Breast milk is incredibly nourishing for your baby’s skin—think hydration and healing benefits!
5. Helpful Tips for Enjoying Alcohol While Breastfeeding
Hydrate! Always drink water along with any alcohol, which can help your body process it faster.
Eat Before You Drink. Food slows down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, which means even less ends up in your milk.
Space Out Drinks if you’re having more than one. Waiting a bit between drinks gives your body time to metabolize each one.
Pump or feed first immediately before drinking- buy yourself a little more time.
6. Let Go of the Guilt – You Deserve a Break
Motherhood is about balance, so if a drink now and then brings a little bit of joy and relaxation, go for it. Staying healthy and happy yourself is a big part of being an awesome mom. So next time you pour that glass, raise a toast to all the hard work you’re doing—and remember, you’ve got this!
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