Search resultsAlcohol's effect on lactation
Title
Alcohol's effect on lactation
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2001
Authors
Journal
Alcohol Research and Health
Volume
25
Issue
3
Pagination
230 - 234
Date published
2001
ISBN
0090838X (ISSN)
Keywords
alcohol, Alcohol Drinking, Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, breast feeding, breast milk, Developmental delay, drinking behavior, drug effect, Ethanol, Female, growth, development and aging, human, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, lactation, Learning, male, metabolism, Milk, Human, Motor coordination, newborn, Physiological AODE (alcohol or other drug effects), Pregnancy hormones, review, sleep disorder, Sleep Disorders
Abstract
Although pregnant women are discouraged from drinking alcohol because of alcohol's detrimental effect on fetal development, the lore of many cultures encourages lactating women to drink alcohol to optimize breast milk production and infant nutrition. In contrast to this folklore, however, studies demonstrate that maternal alcohol consumption may slightly reduce milk production. Furthermore, some of the alcohol consumed by a lactating woman is transferred to her milk and thus consumed by the infant. This alcohol consumption may adversely affect the infant's sleep and gross motor development and influence early learning about alcohol. Based on this science, it would seem that the recommendation for a nursing mother to drink a glass of beer or wine shortly before nursing may actually be counterproductive.