Dear Friends:
 
Alcohol is one of those areas where values are used to make  recommendations. 
This abstract is interesting...."The acute health risks for  infants exposed 
to alcohol through their mother's milk under the current  exposure scenario 
are low."
 
    _Alcohol_ (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/07418329)        
_Volume  37, Issue 3_ 
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=#TOC#4960#2005#999629996#622897#FLA#&_cdi=4960&_pubType=J&_auth=y&_ac
ct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=cb4d1a13ba9a0efdcf541da8
ae8f405e) , November 2005, Pages 143-150 
Chien et  al.

 
 
Abstract
This study examined the effects of exposure to ethanol through cultural  
practices by lactating mothers. Specifically, the pharmacokinetics of alcohol in  
Chinese lactating mothers was investigated after they consumed chicken soup  
flavored with sesame oil and rice wine (CSSR), a typically prescribed diet  
during the postpartum “doing-the-month” period. Experimental findings were  
employed to estimate the potential ethanol dose to neonates and determine  
associated health risks. Twenty-three lactating mothers were examined. Informed  
consent was obtained from each subject. The target alcohol dosage was  0.3 g/kg. 
Milk and blood samples were collected at fixed time intervals  from each 
subject following exposure to CSSR, and alcohol levels were  determined. Acute 
health risks to infants were estimated by comparing the  potential infant dosage to 
an established criterion dose. Blood alcohol level  peaked at 20 min after 
exposure to CSSR and decreased almost linearly  thereafter. Alcohol in milk 
reached a plateau roughly at 20–40 min after  exposure to CSSR and then decreased. 
Alcohol pharmacokinetics among subjects  varied widely. The coefficients of 
variation in subject alcohol concentrations  were 16.5–46.2% (mean, 30.0%) for 
blood and 32.8–57.6% (mean, 44.4%) for milk.  Mean maximal alcohol 
concentration in blood (30.2 ± 5.0 mg/dl)  was achieved at 23.5 ± 7.6 min and in milk  
(31.6 ± 10.3 mg/dl) at 31.7 ± 12.7 min. Potential  infant doses were 3.0–58.8 mg 
(mean, 13.4 mg), and the predicted time  required for milk alcohol level to 
return to zero level was 175 min. The  acute health risks for infants exposed 
to alcohol through their mothers' milk  under the current exposure scenario are 
low (hazard index < 0.2).  Nursing infants at least 3 h after ingesting a 
diet containing alcohol  would further reduce potential health risks. 
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My objection to cautions about alcohol ingestion ("to reduce potential  
risks") is that there are no data showing that alcohol in human milk hurts  
babies.........except for that one case report where the mother was drinking  over 7 
units a day! Folks that drink moderately can drive and breastfeed and  
whatever else they want to do.
 
This notion of "reducing potential risk" leads people to tell mothers to  
wean if any drug is prescribed or anesthesia is used (I've had moms tell me they  
were told to pump and dump for 2 days after an out-patient surgical 
procedure)  or if they get their hair colored or get mastitis. Doesn't Jack Newman call 
 this "Weaning on the altar of ignorance"?
 
warmly,

Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI
craniosacral  therapy practitioner
_www.myspace.com/adonicalee_ (http://www.myspace/adonicalee) 



**************Start the year off right.  Easy ways to stay in shape.     
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