Following the rather polarized discussion on alcohol.  Considering alcohol as
contraindicated during breastfeeding places an undue restriction on the
mother's normal social life or induces guilt if restriction ignored, yet
doesn't reflect the relative risks to the baby. Premature weaning due to such
restrictions is a far greater risk and a likely outcome of such inflexible
guidelines.

Most mothers are not going to go out and get dead-drunk just because they
"can" drink while breastfeeding.  Those that do would anyway, breastfeeding or
not, as they have an problem with alcohol.  Trauma is the huge risk to the
baby here, typically if she gets behind the wheel of a car when drunk.

More important to tell mothers to avoid breastfeed in a moving car if it means
that one or the other must have their seatbelts unbuckled - that's a
significant  risk and well worth the effort involved to avoid completely.



Sheila Humphrey,  RN   IBCLC   EMT-B