IUD’s and Milk Supply

About 6 weeks to 2 months postpartum, your health care provider will bring up the subject of birth control. Even though sex may be the farthest thing from your mind! Your doctor has your mental and physical health in mind when he talks to you about a birth control method. It can be devastating emotionally and physically to get pregnant again before you are ready.

There are many birth control methods that are compatible with breastfeeding and have absolutely zero risk of harming milk production. Condoms and other barrier methods are safe and effective when used appropriately. But these methods are considered “risky” to many doctors because they rely on patient compliance and errors can occur. More and more doctors, therefore, are encouraging new mothers to use an IUD for birth control.

There is a relatively new IUD on the market, that definitely can and does create problems for breastfeeding mothers. It’s called Mirena. The Mirena IUD releases small amounts of synthetic progesterone over time. Progesterone is the hormone that keeps you from lactating during pregnancy. It follows that progesterone, even a small amount, could cause a reduction in milk supply for a breastfeeding mother.

There is no research that I know of to back up this claim. But I have stories from breastfeeding moms.  I would bet that there are many others who didn’t put 2 and 2 together and just believed that their milk ”dried up” all by itself or because they had returned to work. Since the resumption of birth control and going back to work often occur at about the same time, a mom could easily assume that being away from her baby for 8 hours per day is what caused the drop in milk production. So who knows how many mothers quit breastfeeding because of the Mirena? I believe the number is much, much larger than is reported.

Margie called me because her milk supply had plummeted to practically nothing. Her baby could not breastfeed, but she had been pumping since his birth so she has always known exactly how much milk she produced.

After Margie’s milk came in, she was able to pump 4 ounces every 2 hours—with a hand pump! She continued pumping regularly and always had more than her baby could eat. When her baby was 2 months old, her doctor recommended the Mirena IUD. She agreed that it sounded like a good birth control method for her. She noticed a gradual, slight dip in her milk supply within a week. She thought maybe it was because of the hand pump, so she tried a professional grade pump. Her supply continued to decrease, so she rented a hospital grade pump. There was no improvement. A mere six weeks after the IUD was inserted, her milk supply had practically vanished—down to 2 oz per day. She had the IUD removed.

Maggie is now working hard, with my guidance, to increase her milk production. There is no doubt in her mind (or mine) what caused her supply to plummet. It makes me sad that anyone would have to go through what she has gone through. Especially since it was completely avoidable.

So what should you do about birth control? Talk to your doctor about options. Let him know that breastfeeding is important to you and that you want to avoid risking your milk supply. Explore all options—keeping in mind that any birth control method is largely a “back up” method if you are fully breastfeeding and your baby is under 6 months old. . Avoid any birth control method that relies on hormones. Remember that you will be breastfeeding for a relatively short period of time in your child’s life. The Mirena and other hormonal methods may be a good choice for you when your baby is older and is not reliant on your milk for nourishment. Lastly, if you have already instituted birth control that includes hormones, and you are concerned about milk production, please call me for help!

Note: Many breastfeeding mothers use the Mirena IUD with no noticeable effect on breastfeeding. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to predict how an individual mom’s milk supply will react to the introduction of progesterone.

See also, “Breastfeeding and Fertility”   This link will take you to the latest version of my blog and website.  I hope you enjoy the new look!

Guest Post–When Nursing Makes you Sick

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

When a woman thinks of birth and breastfeeding she expects it to be the happiest time of her life. Occasionally, to a mother’s dismay, she finds that breastfeeding brings on new challenges, feelings and experiences. She may experience feelings of pain with breastfeeding, or an unexplainable twist in her gut when her milk lets down. Unable to justify or validate what she is feeling leaves her at a loss and feeling confused. These feelings may be the result of a condition known as D-MER. D-MER stands for Dysmorphic Milk Ejection Reflex and it is treatable.

D-MER is caused by a drop in dopamine activity when oxytocin rises which creates a feeling of dysphoria in the mother (D-Mer.org). It is a physiological disorder, not a mental disorder. To understand D-MER better I have interviewed Renee Beebe, IBCLC. Renee Beebe is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who works with mothers who may be exhibiting symptoms of D-MER.

A mother asked Renee the following questions:

Q. “Dear Renee, when I nurse my baby I feel nauseated and a dull ache. What is causing this pain and what can I do about it?”

A. Renee’s answer is “First of all let me assure you that you are not causing this situation.  It can be very disturbing to a mother to feel sick, sad or otherwise uncomfortable when breastfeeding or pumping.  After all, breastfeeding is supposed to be pleasant, right?  Various hormones increase and drop dramatically during the process of breastfeeding–particularly during the milk ejection reflex (commonly known as the let down).  Most mothers feel wonderful when the milk ejection reflex or MER occurs.  A few mothers, however, feel awful.  The good news is, the nausea or sad feelings usually dissipate after the MER is finished and it usually dissipates over time during the course of breastfeeding.  Some mothers may need to be on medication temporarily until the condition improves.  Others may find relief with breathing exercises or other coping methods”.  Please see www.d-mer.org for more information and support. You are not alone!

Q: How can I reach Renee Beebe, M. Ed., IBCLC for help if I think I may have D-MER?

A. “Mothers may call or email if they’d like support.  Most mothers call because it ensures I can answer them sooner.  I would encourage women to call before they have the baby to make a connection.  After the baby is born, if things aren’t going absolutely smoothly, call as soon as possible.  I can usually see mothers within 24 hours.  Often the same day.  I take calls 7 days/week till 9 pm.” Renee can be reached at 206-356-7252 or you can go to her website  http://www.second9months.com/.  This entire blog is now located at my new website!

Q. What is an IBCLC?

A. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is the certifying body for lactation consultants.  It is the only certification available.  The exam is given once a year all over the world on the same day.  A lactation consultant should have the letters IBCLC after her name.  That is the only way you can ensure that she has achieved this minimum competency required by IBLCE.  The terms “breastfeeding specialist,” “lactation educator,” or “lactation specialist” really don’t mean much.  Usually those people have taken some valuable coursework, but don’t have the clinical hours required to actually sit for and pass the certifying exam.

Q. How did you become a lactation consultant?

A. After the birth of my first baby, I became involved with La Leche League for support.  where I was living at the time, breastfeeding was not the norm and La Leche League provided me with mommy wisdom and role models.  Soon I was helping other mothers and became a La Leche League Leader myself.   It was clear I had found my calling!  6 years later I had accumulated enough “helping” hours (2500!) to become certified as a lactation consultant.  I first took and passed the certifying exam in 1997.  I’ve been working as a lactation consultant ever since.

If you are experiencing negative feelings, pain, or nausea when you nurse your baby please know that you are not alone. Conditions such as D-MER are not caused by the mother. They are physiological in nature and beyond your control. Treatment is available for mothers with D-MER. Please visit www.D-MER.org for more information.

Written by Trina Baggett, Certified Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator.  www.atranquiljourney.com

Tongue Tie: More than “Just” a Breastfeeding Problem

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

Let’s assume for a moment that breastfeeding is not important. That the oral development that breastfeeding provides is inconsequential. We will ignore, for just a moment, the fact that the act of breastfeeding helps develop the baby’s jaw, his facial muscles and properly shapes the palate to make room for his future teeth. We’ll ignore all of that so that I can give you a few other reasons to agree to have your baby’s frenulum clipped. Just in case the possibility of pain free, effective breastfeeding is not a good enough reason for you.

The reason I’m being just a bit sarcastic is because there are plenty of health care professionals out there who do not “believe in” freeing a tongue tied baby’s tongue “just” so he can breastfeed. “After all,” they say, “..you can just feed your baby pumped milk or formula from a bottle.”

Let’s say you are pondering that question yourself. And you don’t want to put your baby through even a second of pain—however minor—if you don’t have to. And, up until the moment your lactation consultant told you your baby is tongue tied, you’d never heard of such a thing. Why should your baby have a frenotomy (clipping the frenulum) when it’s only going to help with breastfeeding and breastfeeding is such a short time in your baby’s life? I’ll tell you why. Because freeing the tongue with a quick clip now may help your baby avoid health problems in childhood and even into adulthood.

The tongue is a very strong muscle and that frenulum is an inelastic cord that is constantly pulling on the floor of the mouth and/or the lower gum ridge (called the alveolar ridge) when the tongue tries to move normally. Without normal tongue movements the oral cavity does not develop properly and since one body part is connected to the other, problems can occur in the rest of the body as well. Here are some effects of tongue tie that are not breastfeeding related.

• Ineffective oral hygiene
• Tooth decay
• Crowding of teeth—especially lower teeth
• Orthodontia
• Lisps and other speech impairments
• Excess saliva production–frenulum pulls salivary glans to unnatural position.
• Fatigue with speaking
• Shame, embarrassment with speaking
• High, arched or “bubble” palate
• Choking
• Reflux
• Snoring
• Sleep apnea
• Headaches

So now you know. If your baby is tongue tied and you have been wondering if a frenotomy is “just” for breastfeeding, wonder no more. Your baby will thank you some day!  

See also, “My Baby is Tongue Tied?”

My Baby is Tongue Tied?

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

“My lactation consultant told me my baby is tongue tied and she needs to get her frenulum clipped so she can breastfeed. What is a frenulum? Why does my baby need this procedure?”

The frenulum is a (usually) thin, fibrous band that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. The mere existence of a lingual (tongue) frenulum is not an indicator of a problem. The important thing is whether the frenulum restricts the movement of the tongue in a way that interferes with its normal functions.  If it does, your baby has a condition known as tongue tie or ankyloglossia.

One of the vital roles of the tongue for a baby is for feeding. Your baby depends on her tongue for creating a vacuum, sustaining a vacuum, moving the milk to the back of her mouth and swallowing. These things are important whether a baby is breastfeeding or bottle feeding. But when a baby is breastfeeding, the function of the tongue is more critical because incorrect tongue movement/placement equals sore nipples for mommy!

How do you know if your baby is tongue tied? Take a minute to observe your baby with this questions in mind:

• Does your baby have a hard time latching on?
• Do your nipples looked creased or flattened after breastfeeding?
• When your baby cries, does the center of his tongue look “’stuck” to the floor of his mouth with just the edges curling up?
• When your baby sucks on your finger, do you feel the lower gums either constantly or intermittently?
• Does your baby seemed stressed with a fast flow of milk?
• Do feedings take a long time? Or is baby feeding very frequently and never seems satisfied?
• Does your baby have symptoms of reflux?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, Your baby may be tongue tied! Check with an experienced lactation consultant to be sure. She will examine the baby—paying particular attention to assessment of tongue function. She will also observe the baby feeding. After a thorough evaluation, the lactation consultant may recommend that the baby have the frenulum clipped.

The clipping—called a frenotomy—is usually performed by a doctor or dentist. The doctor will assess tongue function, may observe a feeding or ask you detailed questions about feeding. You should be given instructions to stretch your baby’s tongue periodically after the procedure to ensure that it heals properly. Sometimes a topical anesthetic is used, but not always. The pain the baby experiences is mild and brief (similar to biting your tongue) and bleeding is minimal. After this very quick procedure (it literally takes about 1 second!) most mothers and babies notice an immediate difference in breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Diet Quiz

This is a test! Please read the following statements and respond “true” or “false” to each one.

1. If I breastfeed, I have to eat a bland diet.

2. If I eat broccoli, my baby will have gas.

 3.  If I have a glass of wine, I have to “pump and dump.”

4.  I cannot drink coffee while breastfeeding.

5.  If I eat chocolate, my breastfed baby will get diarrhea.

6.  I have to drink lots of milk to produce milk for my baby.

7.  I can’t eat spicy foods and breastfeed my baby.

If you answered false to each question, congratulations! Your score is 100 percent!

1. Babies love a varied diet. One study demonstrated that babies nurse longer after their mothers ate garlic.

2. It is a rare baby who doesn’t like nutritious vegetables. On the other hand, if your baby seems to be gassy after a particular food, try avoiding it for a few days and then re-introduce it just to be sure.

3. Drinking alcohol when breastfeeding is NOT the same as drinking while you’re pregnant. An occasional drink is just fine while breastfeeding.

4 and 5. Caffeine and chocolate in moderation are fine for mom and baby.

6. When was the last time you saw an adult cow or any other adult mammal drink milk?

7.  Spicy foods? Mothers all over the world breastfeed and enjoy the foods of their culture.

So, indulge in the nutritious foods you love. Enjoy the occasional pleasure of a glass of wine or some yummy chocolate. You deserve itImportant notice:  

This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

Nipple Confusion…Really?

I have never, in all my years of breastfeeding help, seen a case of nipple confusion. There, I said it. For many years I thought I saw it. I bought the whole concept that introduction of bottles too early would cause a baby to reject his mother’s breast. That somehow the baby would get “confused” and suddenly not know how to breastfeed.

So what made me change my tune? The babies themselves. They proved to me over and over again that the idea of nipple confusion is nonsense. They showed me that they are infant mammals and that mammals are hard-wired to do this thing we call breastfeeding. And they showed me that they are born to be adaptable and perfectly capable of adjusting to a wide variety of challenges that life doles out on a daily basis.

But, please… don’t listen to what I have to say about this. Listen to the babies. They taught me. Maybe they can teach you too!

Here are the stories of just a few of the many, many babies who teach me every day:

Case 1–Baby could not latch on to breast. Nipple shield was given to mom to help with latch and milk transfer. Baby used nipple shield for 4 months. By 5 months of age she had completely transitioned from the shield and was happily breastfeeding all by herself.

Case 2– Twins born prematurely. Neither could breastfeed at birth and needed a lot of help to suck at all. Eventually they learned to bottle feed well. Mom pumped for 3 months so these babies could have her milk. At 3 months, as mom was bathing with one of the babies, he rooted and latched and suckled. Encouraged, she tried to nurse the other twin and he did the same thing. They never looked back.

Case 3– Mom pumped and bottle fed for 3 months because baby was unable to breastfeed after birth. She was told the baby probably never would. She called me as a last resort. I showed her how to hold the baby and support her breast, and baby latched on and breastfed like she’d been doing it all along.

Case 4—Baby born tongue tied and unable to latch. The parents were referred to a Dr. who clipped the frenulum, but didn’t clip enough so the tongue was still restricted. By the time the mother had called me, her milk supply was severely compromised. She worked on her milk production, finally got her son’s tongue properly released and continued to pump and bottle feed. Another lactation consultant told her “your baby has learned to like the bottle better” and he would never breastfeed. The baby and mom had other ideas. At 11 weeks this baby was 100% breastfed.

Case 5–(My favorite). This baby girl had been born with a cleft palate so she was unable to breastfeed or even use a regular bottle. Mom pumped for 4 months until the palate was repaired, hoping to breastfeed after her baby had healed from surgery. But she wasn’t successful. Finally, she called me at 7 months. When baby was sleepy, mom was able to coax her baby to the breast using a nipple shield. She suckled a bit then came off. I suggested she keep trying—that she had proved to us she could do it. A few months later I received an email from an elated mom telling me her baby had figured it out and at long last really breastfeeding!

I have many more stories of mothers and babies who persisted and triumphed. What about you? Do you have a story to share? Feel free to let us know by commenting here!

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

More about Milk Supply

You probably already know that certain foods and herbs can increase milk supply. Oatmeal, fenugreek* and blessed thistle* and many others all have a reputation for helping mothers overflow with milk.

But many people don’t know that some foods can actually decrease milk production. There is no need to worry about small amounts of any of the following foods, but if you’re struggling with low milk supply already, avoid ingesting large quantities of the following. On the other hand, if you are one of those mothers with an over-abundance of milk, or if you are in the process of weaning, you may find the following foods helpful!

Parsley is a diuretic. Nibbling on a sprig of parsley after a meal tastes refreshing and will not harm your milk supply. You may wish to avoid dishes with large amounts of parsley, however, if you are breastfeeding and you are concerned about milk production. One dish to avoid in the immediate postpartum period is tabouleh. Once your supply is established and everything is going well, and occasional plate of tabouleh is probably OK.

Peppermint and spearmint can adversely affect milk supply. Drinking an occasional cup of peppermint tea should not be a problem. You’d have to drink very large amounts daily to decrease your supply. Altoids and other candies made from peppermint oil are a different story. Mothers who enjoy many of these candies each day have noticed a drop in milk production.

Sage and oregano can negatively impact milk production. Sage tea is a common remedy for over-production.

The topical application of cabbage leaves. Cabbage can work wonders to relieve breast engorgement, but don’t over-do it! Applying cabbage more than once or twice a day can decrease your milk supply. Topical creams made from cabbage extract can have the same effect.

Beer and other alcoholic beverages are often touted as milk-supply boosters. “Have a beer! It will help you relax and make your milk come in.” Have you heard that one? It is absolutely false! In fact, alcohol inhibits your milk ejection (let down) reflex. This makes it harder for baby to get your milk. Over time, this can decrease your milk supply. Is an occasional drink ok? Yes! Just be sure to have that drink after you have fed your baby.

*Please seek the advice of a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) before experimenting with ANY herbs to help with milk supply issues. Herbs are medicines and many have potential side effects and even can cause severe allergic reactions. In addition, it is important to understand the history and underlying cause of your particular situation in order for any treatment to be effective.

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

Breastfeeding and Work: New Research

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

It is commonly understood that breastfeeding mothers returning to work face multiple challenges. Balancing work and motherhood, carving out time to pump at work and maintaining adequate milk production are all topics that any employed, lactating mother can discuss at length. Studies have shown over and over again that employment outside the home reduces breastfeeding duration.

A new study just published in the Journal of Human Lactation (August, 2011) has shed some new light on this topic. It sought to understand the relationship between breastfeeding and occupational type (professional, administrative, service, sales, etc.) and postpartum employment status. The researchers asked about initiation of breastfeeding as well as duration of breastfeeding. The subjects in the study included thousands of women in the U.S. from all walks of life.

Instead of boring you with all the statistics and methodology, I’ll just summarize the results. This study found that neither postpartum employment status or occupational type was a significant predictor of duration of predominant (mostly) breastfeeding. However, and this is big, full time workers were less likely to initiate breastfeeding in the first place! There was no significant difference in breastfeeding initiation between part time workers and mothers with no postpartum employment.

Mothers who were employed full time and chose to continue breastfeeding were also less likely to continue breastfeeding beyond 6 months compared to part time workers and “stay at home” mothers. Again, there was no difference in breastfeeding duration between part time workers and non-employed mothers.

Even when mothers have part time jobs that enable pumping breaks, access to lactation consultants, and other amenities, milk production can still be a problem when relying on a breast pump for a large part of the day. Other research has demonstrated that the strategy associated with the longest duration of breastfeeding after returning to work was breastfeeding the baby during the work day. Access to the baby is the number one strategy for maintaining breastfeeding for the longest amount of time.

How does all this relate to you? If you’re breastfeeding and plan to return to work, the following strategies will help you continue your breastfeeding relationship until you and your baby are ready to wean.

• Don’t go back to work for as long as possible.
• When you start back to work, just work part time if possible. Even if it’s only for the first year. Consider job sharing.
• If you must go back full time, find a way to work from home part of the day or a day or two per week.
• Does your employer offer onsite day care? If so, go for it!
• Get childcare close to your job so you can have access to your baby.
• Find a care provider who will bring your baby to you at lunch so you can breastfeed.

Obviously not every mom can enjoy all of the above options.  You can only do what you can do! But if you apply some creativity to your work situation, you may be able to improve your situation somewhat–which may be just enough to make long-term breastfeeding easier!

Breast Engorgement and Cabbage Leaves?

Important notice:  This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!

Let’s be honest. Overly full, engorged breasts are uncomfortable and sometimes downright painful. Fortunately, under normal circumstances true engorgement can be prevented with frequent breastfeeding in the first few days/weeks after the birth of your baby. Some breast fullness and tenderness is to be expected in the first week postpartum as your breasts prepare to provide nourishment for your baby or babies. It may feel like you have enough milk to feed the entire neighborhood, but keep in mind that much of the swelling you are experiencing is simply that—swelling. It’s not just milk “coming in” that is making your breasts feel so full. After the birth of your baby; water, blood and lymphatic fluid rush to your breasts in preparation for breastfeeding. With adequate breastfeeding, the discomfort usually passes in a day or 2. Many mothers don’t experience anything but mild fullness.

Currently, however, many mothers in the U.S. experience births that are anything but “normal.” Epidural anesthesia requires that mother receive an IV of fluids. Inducing labor with pitocin requires extra fluid. C-sections require IV’s. If a mother receives any extra fluids via IV, she will continue to retain the fluid for some time even after the birth of her baby. That extra fluid often results in swollen ankles, fingers and even breasts!

The edema in the limbs may be noticeable right away; but the breast swelling will probably not be apparent until day 3-5. When breasts are full in a normal way as the milk “comes in,” your baby will still be able to latch on and breastfeed. The breasts will feel full, but the areola will be soft and compressible. True engorgement is very different. Your breasts are hard. The skin is stretched and shiny. The areola is hard and taut. There is no way a baby can latch on to your breast. Pumping is usually ineffective since the tissue is not malleable. It’s like trying to use a pump on a wall!

So what can you do if your breasts become so engorged that you feel like you have 2 bowling balls on your chest? Try using cabbage leaves to relieve the swelling so that milk can be removed by the baby or a pump. Cabbage? Really? Yes! This is one of those times when folk wisdom can be helpful.

Green cabbage contains sulfa compounds which pass through the skin, and constrict vessels–relieving inflammation. This reduction of inflammation and swelling allows the milk to flow. To use the cabbage to relieve engorgement, rinse the leaves thoroughly in cold water (leaves should not be cooked). Place a leaf or two on your breasts under your bra. Change the leaves as they wilt. Most mothers notice immediate relief using this method.

A couple words of caution: This technique is not recommended for women who are allergic to sulfa or cabbage. It’s also important to not over-do the cabbage cure. There are reports of decreased milk supply with excessive cabbage use.

If you find yourself in the difficult situation of clinical engorgement, you need help! Contact an experienced lactation consultant right away. In the meantime…try some cabbage!

Alcohol and Breastfeeding

It is well known that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. The placenta is not a barrier for toxic substances and even moderate drinking can cause devastating brain damage. But what about breastfeeding? Does that glass of wine you enjoyed with dinner pass into your breast milk? Do you need to be cautious about drinking alcohol?

The short answer is “yes.” The alcohol you consume enters your bloodstream almost immediately and, therefore, is in your milk rather quickly. Even though the alcohol does transfer to your milk, the amount of alcohol your baby experiences is much less than the amount you drink. Unlike the placenta, the breast provides some protection from most toxins in your bloodstream. According to Dr. Thomas Hale, the dose of alcohol in milk is less than 16% of the mother’s milk.

The amount of alcohol in your milk will peak 30 to 60 minutes after you enjoy your drink. After that time, the milk alcohol level decrease rapidly as long as you don’t have another drink. Alcohol is not stored in your milk. It quickly dissipates as your blood-alcohol level decreases.

There is no need to “pump and dump” (how I hate that phrase!) if you enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage. But it is a good idea to time your drink for just after a breastfeeding session. That way most of the alcohol will be out of your bloodstream by the time your baby wants to breastfeed again.

After 40 weeks of abstaining, you may be excited about that first glass of wine. A note of caution from someone who has been there. Be careful! Many sleep-deprived mothers find alcohol packs a much bigger punch than before the pregnancy. If you choose to imbibe, take it slowly. Start with 1/3 to ½ of what you used to drink.

What about alcohol and milk supply? Some mothers are told to drink a beer so their milk will “come in” faster. Perhaps your wise, old grandmother advised you that beer would increase your supply. On the contrary, research has demonstrated that alcohol inhibits oxytocin release. Since oxytocin is responsible for your milk ejection reflex or let down, alcohol consumption actually decreases the amount of milk released from the breast during a feeding. Over time this can lead to a reduction in your milk supply.

Drinking during breastfeeding is a personal choice—one of many decisions that you will make as a mother. The bottom line is that alcohol in moderation, keeping in mind the timing of your drink, is probably not harmful. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists alcohol as “usually compatible” with breastfeeding. Excessive drinking while breastfeeding can, however, lead to developmental delays.

In summary:

• Alcohol enters milk freely, but in lesser amounts than is in your bloodstream.
• The peak level of alcohol in breast milk is 1/2-1 hour after it’s consumed.
• If you choose to drink alcohol, time your drink for right after the baby nurses.
• There is no need to pump and dump.
• Waiting about 2 hours after having a drink is a general guideline to ensure complete metabolism of alcohol. (Based on a 180 lb. female)
• Your milk is the best thing for your baby. Planning your alcohol consumption is advised over using formula to replace milk that may contain a small amount of alcohol.

If you’re too tipsy to safely hold your baby, you’re probably too tipsy to breastfeed! Use some previously pumped, alcohol-free milk instead.Important notice:  

This blog and all its content and subsequent content is now at www.second9months.com.  Please visit there often for updates and new posts!