Can a nursing mother drink alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer and how does it affect the mother and breastfed baby? Can a nursing mother drink beer?

Do you know the answer to the question, can a nursing mother drink beer? Are you sure it is? For most new mothers, alcohol is a taboo product. On the other hand, many believe that beer is beneficial during lactation. Let's think about this topic and find the right answers.

Myths and reality

Many mothers believe that the intoxicating drink promotes the flow of breast milk. Some people feel this effect immediately after drinking the drink when they begin to breastfeed their baby.

Did you realize that this is a banal self-hypnosis? The authenticity of medical hypotheses is based on clinical and laboratory research- this is a fact. More than one clinical study has failed to prove this statement.

Bulanov Leonid Yurievich, Kiev, central city clinic, pediatrician

The question of whether beer is possible during breastfeeding is a complicated one. There is no clear answer to this.

I advise my patients to avoid drinking intoxicating drinks during lactation, replacing them with kvass.

Beer does not have magical properties, no matter how much some mothers would like it. A woman’s milk supply occurs due to various factors:

• drinking hot tea;
• massage of the cervical area;
• when taking a hot bath.

A variety of situations contribute to this phenomenon. In fact, the hormone oxytocin promotes. It is produced in the body in response to the baby suckling at the breast. The hormone is also produced under the influence of massage, heat and pleasant emotions.

The feeling of a rush of milk is associated with pleasure when drinking an intoxicating drink. A surge of pleasant emotions affects the production of oxytocin, as mentioned above in the article.

Also, the feeling of increased lactation is associated with relaxation of the milk ducts and dilation of the vessels through which milk flows from the milk lobules.

This is a short-term phenomenon, which is facilitated only by the first glass of intoxicating drink. One glass will not lead to a significant increase in blood alcohol levels.

If you continue to drink beer, it will have the opposite effect and lactation will worsen significantly. This is facilitated by ethyl alcohol, which reduces the concentration of oxytocin in the blood. At the same time, the breast seems full, the baby attaches to it, but receives a minimum of milk.

There is another opinion among mothers that you can drink more than one glass of beer per day during lactation.. This helps the child sleep better and gain weight. This statement is partly true.

Indeed, if you drink more than one glass of intoxicating drink, the baby becomes drowsy after breastfeeding. However, this does not benefit him. During sleepiness, he does not eat enough, which leads to weight loss.

In addition, ethyl alcohol affects the passage of milk through the ducts, which also affects the normal feeding of the baby.

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Drinking cannot be prohibited, where should I put a comma?

So we come to the main question: can a nursing mother drink beer? Many young couples are looking for a definite answer to this question. Let us reassure all lovers and connoisseurs of the foamy drink - daily use 250 ml alcoholic beer will do no harm.

This applies to weak types of beer, the alcohol content of which does not exceed 6%, and the child must have reached 3 months of age.

Can a nursing mother have non-alcoholic beer? It is possible, but not more than 500 ml per day. We should not forget that even non-alcoholic beer contains alcohol, which often does not exceed 1.5%. This is more than regular kefir, however less than in live kvass.

Zaitsev Yuri Vasilievich, Odessa, children's clinic, pediatrician

Many people ask me whether beer can be breastfeeding? Often, young mothers after the birth of a child are in a difficult psychological state and in this way try to “relax”.

I advise you to drink only non-alcoholic drinks, no more than a bottle a day. This way you will not harm the baby's health.

It is also necessary to monitor the child’s reaction to:

• carbon dioxide, which is an integral part of the foamy drink;
• hop;
• malt and other components of the drink.

The above refutes the myth about after drinking foam, so as not to harm the baby’s health during feeding.

To be more likely to prevent the penetration of unsafe substances contained in beer, you should follow the rules:

• It is better to postpone tasting alcoholic beverages until your baby is 3 months old. At this age, his intestines will learn to filter out harmful substances more efficiently;
• The daily portion of an intoxicating drink should not exceed 250 ml. Non-alcoholic – 500 ml;
• Before you start drinking beer, feed your baby so that after 1.5 hours there is no ethyl alcohol left in the milk;
• if there is an effect of intoxication, even after one sip, this indicates an alcohol intolerance in the body. There may also be a lack of enzymes for its absorption. In this case, it is necessary to completely stop taking any alcoholic beverages, as they pose a huge danger to mother and baby.

The effect of beer on a baby

Everyone knows that foam contains ethyl alcohol. This is a poison that destroys the liver. The nervous, reproductive and hormonal systems are primarily affected..

We emphasize that this is the effect of an intoxicating drink on an adult with a strong immune system. Imagine the effect of beer on the body of a fragile baby! As a consequence of this, an obvious answer arises to the question of whether a nursing mother can drink beer in large doses.

Until one year of age, infants’ immunity is not able to produce special enzymes that are aimed at removing alcohol and harmful substances from the body.

It is difficult for a baby’s body to fight ethyl alcohol. The following happens:

• the child’s liver cannot cope with alcohol, its young cells degrade and die, turning into scar tissue;
• the next blow is taken by the central nervous system. The child's behavior disturbances, poor sleep, developmental delays, and motor skills are noticeable.;
• the digestive process is disrupted, most useful substances are not absorbed during digestion of food;
• The child becomes accustomed to alcohol, which can lead to addiction at an early age.

Watch the video that shows what will happen to the body of a person who regularly drinks beer:

Why does mommy want beer?

Many mothers are perplexed when they are overcome by a strong desire to drink this product, even if they do not prefer this drink. Why is this happening?

Beer contains a complex of vitamins B2 and B1, which help a nursing mother restore normal metabolism in the body. Moreover, these vitamins improve skin elasticity and tone.

Beer shakes contain unique substance, which is converted into vitamin D2 when exposed to light on the skin. This substance strengthens the bones, nail tissue, teeth of the mother and her baby.

During lactation, the mother's body is deficient in these nutrients. This explains the craving for beer. However, this can be fixed. Maintain a balanced diet during lactation, this will provide the body with the necessary vitamins and beneficial minerals.

If you find yourself craving beer, start drinking whole grains. bakery products, meat, vegetables, fruits. You can resort to using pharmaceutical brewer's yeast.

It should be remembered that despite the usefulness of vitamins for the body that are contained in foam, their value is negated by fusel oil and hops. Consume this drink in limited doses, especially during lactation.

What it should be like in the first month after the birth of a child, read in the next article.

Malyshev Vladimir Nikolaevich, Moscow, city central clinic, pediatrician

From many years of professional experience, I would advise that if you have an uncontrollable desire to drink beer during lactation, do not deny yourself this.

But follow some rules: do not exceed the dose of 250 ml, drink 1.5 hours before the next feeding.

How to replace the intoxicating drink during breastfeeding

This question may arise if the mother is sure that beer, even in small quantities, should not be consumed during breastfeeding, because the opinions of doctors on this matter differ strikingly.

For example, many reputable doctors advise drinking a bottle of non-alcoholic drink once a day if mommy has a craving for it. They don't see anything wrong with it. However, they emphasize that you should drink the drink only when a person feels an irresistible urge to drink it.

You can always find a substitute for non-alcoholic beer. The same percentage of alcohol is contained in kefir or live kvass. This alternative will be healthier for you and your baby.

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The fact that drinking alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding is unacceptable does not need proof. This opinion is shared by both doctors and the vast majority of young mothers. However, many impose an unequivocal ban on strong drinks, while the attitude towards light wines and beer is more loyal.

Opinion on the possibility of use low alcohol drinks pregnant and lactating women are shared by some authoritative doctors, citing a lack of specific data on the undoubted harm of a small amount of wine or beer on the body of a newborn.

Beer - natural drink, obtained from grain malt with the addition of hops and yeast. Malt is a supplier of vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 ​​(pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B8 (meso-inositol), B9 ( folic acid) and B12 (cyanocobalamin).

Brewing yeast supplies silicon, iron, selenium, molybdenum, and zinc to the drink. Microelements contained in beer have beneficial effect on nervous system, heart and blood vessels, help the liver function, strengthen bone and cartilage tissue.

Besides, vegetable fiber, which is present in liquid form, prevents constipation and prevents the formation of cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels.

Thus, if you occasionally drink a glass of beer, your body will respond to it with gratitude.

There is a persistent belief among the population that drinking beer while breastfeeding significantly improves lactation. Indeed, a woman who has drunk one or two glasses of beer may feel “bloating” in her breasts and may mistake this sensation for a rush of milk.

However, from a medical point of view, when drinking beer, two hormones with mutually exclusive effects are produced in the body of a nursing woman:

• the hormone prolactin - promotes the production of colostrum and its transformation into mature breast milk. Under the influence of ethanol, its amount increases, and milk formation occurs more intensively;
• the hormone oxytocin - helps the secretion of breast milk. With a sufficient amount of this hormone, the child is able to easily get enough, milk will not linger in the breast. When drinking even a small amount of alcohol, the production of oxytocin slows down and the amount of milk produced decreases significantly.

Talk that a child fed with “beer” milk has a higher appetite is another myth.

Alcohol entering the baby's body through mother's milk actually increases the baby's appetite for some time. But the paradox is that the amount of milk a child eats is 23% less than when giving up beer.

All the beneficial properties of beer described above are categorically canceled out by its negative impact on the baby. You should know that the alcohol contained in beer passes into breast milk in the same amount as into the mother’s blood. One glass of beer corresponds to an alcohol content of 0.3 ppm.

The highest concentration of alcohol in the mother's blood and milk is achieved 30-40 minutes after drinking beer. If a woman drinks alcohol after hearty lunch, the time during which ethanol enters breast milk increases to 1-1.5 hours.

If a nursing woman drinks beer once, then a standard portion of beer (300 ml) will be “neutralized” 2.5-3 hours after drinking the strong drink. The complete removal of alcohol breakdown products depends on the amount of beer drunk, the woman’s weight and the alcohol content in the drink.

Alcohol entering the baby's bloodstream through breast milk breaks down in the baby's liver. Until three months of age, this organ is absolutely incapable of processing ethanol. Therefore, even occasional consumption of beer can lead to the most disastrous consequences, including a detailed outcome due to alcohol intoxication.

But even breastfed children older than 3 months can suffer serious complications due to the mother’s alcohol intake:

Even a single drink by a nursing mother of beer with a low alcohol content can cause lethargy, impaired reflexes, and unhealthy sleep in the child.

Video - smoking and alcohol during lactation

If a nursing mother experiences an irresistible urge to drink invigorating drink, then most often non-alcoholic beer acts as an alternative that is not dangerous for babies. The taste and smell are completely similar natural beer, but the alcohol content varies from 0 to 1.5-2%.

In addition to the fact that non-alcoholic beer may contain a small amount of ethanol, which has a negative effect on an infant, it has quite a few other negative qualities. For the most part they consist in those used in the manufacture non-alcoholic beer harmful additives.

A safe analogue of beer, the product is far from harmless. It contains dyes, preservatives and flavors.

The most harmless consequence of a mother taking surrogate beer is an allergic reaction to chemical additives. In addition, there may be problems with the stomach, which may not appear immediately, but after several years.

In Japan, special beer is produced for nursing mothers. It contains absolutely no alcohol, and the content of chemical additives is minimal.

A relatively safe dose that a woman with an infant can afford is 1 glass. But even in this case, it is better to insure yourself and take safety measures - before drinking beer, it is better to express milk for the upcoming feeding of the baby.

If you can't resist

Breastfeeding is a process that can last up to a year and a half. And it is quite possible that a woman will not be able to resist drinking a glass of delicious fresh beer.

Episodic eating light alcohol will not harm the child if you follow the following rules:

• time the feeding of the child to coincide with night sleep (the longest), give him the breast before drinking a glass of beer;
• if beer is consumed during the day, then you can feed the baby immediately after the mother drinks beer. Within half an hour, alcohol will not yet enter breast milk and the baby will not receive an unsafe dose of alcohol;
• the use of even non-alcoholic beer with a minimum strength in combination with medicines containing paracetamol is unacceptable, because it can have the most negative effect on the baby;
• Under no circumstances should you drink any type of beer before the child reaches the age of 3 months - his liver will not be able to cope with even a tiny dose of alcohol. In addition, the structure of the mammary gland of a woman who has a baby at the age of 1-2 months cannot delay the flow of ethanol into breast milk;
• If the amount of beer drunk by a nursing mother exceeds the “safe” dose, then the baby can be fed only after at least 12 hours. A day after the “beer party,” breast milk is guaranteed to be free of alcohol. Until this time, it is necessary to use only expressed milk to feed the baby.

Often, a nursing mother’s desire to drink beer is associated with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals in her body. In this case, you should consult your doctor about taking vitamin complexes, safe for the child.

Is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding? Today this question is heard on many programs about the health of your baby and is discussed on forums for young mothers. Oddly enough, the opinions of doctors and some nursing mothers are divided. The fact is that this alcoholic drink actually contains beneficial substances. However, the harm of such a drink lies in fusel oils, which neutralizes all benefits.

In addition, doctors say that beer does not help increase lactation at all, and this is already a common self-hypnosis. Mothers, in turn, describe the miraculous effect of alcohol in small quantities. They tell how they have tried all the remedies and teas, but nothing helps. Then one of them drank a little beer, which led to a large flow of milk.

How can we explain this? It has been scientifically proven that this drink tends to accumulate in tissues, which leads to their stretching and swelling. Thus, the mother begins to feel a rush of milk, but feeding is difficult for the baby. Why? Beer retains fluid in the body, including mother's breast milk, which forces the baby to suck with all his might.

Is it possible to drink beer while breastfeeding? The answer is ambiguous. If a young mother consumes, for example, at least 250 ml unfiltered beer, then, undoubtedly, it gets into the milk, although after some time. If you drink non-alcoholic drink, then the permissible dosage is approximately 500 ml, nothing will threaten the baby’s health.

Of course, there are times when you want to drink, but you need to think about the child first. Any, even a small amount of alcohol is harmful to the baby. According to research results, it was found that the drink itself has an effect on milk production, but this can bring both benefit and harm.

Many mothers cannot imagine their life without alcohol. As for pregnancy, all sorts of bad habits should be excluded. After giving birth, it is usually necessary for at least 3 months to pass before breastfeeding and alcohol can be combined.

Maybe this is self-hypnosis?

Modern mothers both smoke and drink. Then they only wonder why their child is sick. It has been proven that during breastfeeding, the baby absorbs along with the milk everything that the mother ate and drank the day before. That is, if you do drink, then depending on the weight and amount you drink, you cannot feed the baby for some time.

Experienced mothers advise all other breastfeeding women to drink a little beer, they say, it helps you relax and the baby is well-fed. However, something completely different happens. You couldn’t resist allowing yourself a glass of alcoholic drink and soon decided to feed the baby. He seemed to have eaten (as it seems) and fell asleep. In fact, alcohol penetrates the body and, accordingly, into the milk. It feels good, you relax. Next, the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for milk production, slows down this process, and you feel that there is a lot of milk in your breasts. During breastfeeding, a baby who is trying to suck milk (but it doesn't come out well) finally stops doing it, never having had enough. Soon he falls asleep and sleeps soundly. This happens under the influence of alcohol that gets into the milk during feeding. It's good if you drank a little and the baby is more than 3 months old.

If you want to increase lactation, you don’t have to use a product whose benefits you doubt. Usually milk appears when you experience any positive emotions, take a hot shower, directing it to the back at chest level, or from a hot drink. Here, as in the famous proverb, all means are good. The main thing is that it is pleasant. This, by the way, can be achieved with an ordinary massage or watching a good movie. But alcohol in any form or quantity has never brought benefit to nursing mothers.

The point here is precisely in self-hypnosis, which relates to the psychological aspect. This is a kind of placebo method, that is, a person convinces himself that it is useful, necessary, necessary, but in reality - the opposite or no result at all.

Therefore, do not be deceived when on some forum one young mother advises you to drink your favorite alcoholic drink. And then you won’t have to look for reasons to drink a glass a day.

Beer and breast milk: are there any benefits?

Most often it happens like this: a mother gave birth, and then she was drawn to beer. Why? Although she is not an alcoholic, sometimes she really wants to drink. This is explained by the fact that real beer actually contains a substance that has beneficial properties. This is brewer's yeast. The smell of beer is bready, and the body of a young mother associates it with vitamins such as B1 and B2, as well as D2. In the first case, the vitamin improves metabolism and restores strength, and in the second, skin renewal occurs, which has a beneficial effect on appearance. Vitamin D2 is essential for strengthening teeth and rapid hair growth. In addition, the above microelements help the development of the child.

Therefore, as soon as you feel the urgent need to drink beer, reconsider your diet, it lacks these vitamins. Try increasing your bran intake, whole grain bread, vegetables, meat products and, accordingly, fermented milk. It is very important to monitor your nutrition during feeding, as this is what you are feeding your baby.

How to drink beer correctly and what you can replace it with

So, here you need to take into account that you will be drinking exclusively non-alcoholic beer. But even it contains approximately 0.5-1.5% alcohol. If the child is not allergic to the components of this drink (for example, hops) and does not react to carbon dioxide, which is an integral component of beer, then 500 ml will not bring special harm neither mother nor baby.

As for the 6% alcohol content of this drink, the dose should be halved, that is, 250 ml. Do not forget that you cannot feed the baby for an hour, since ethyl alcohol has not yet been removed from the milk. By the way, after this time there is no need to express milk, there will be no alcohol in it.

Beer while breastfeeding: some tips.

1. The child should be fed before drinking alcohol and after 1-1.5 hours. This way you will protect him from alcohol entering his body.
2. Don't drink beer if you get drunk even from one sip. This is explained by the fact that there are not enough special enzymes for the absorption of alcohol, or there is individual intolerance.
3. Remember, the lower your weight, the slower the alcohol is eliminated. However, due to the fact that almost every seventh mother drinks alcohol (mostly beer or wine), doctors have drawn up rules to protect the child from the harmful effects of alcohol.
4. One of the main conditions is the age of the child. Until 3 months, his intestines are not able to filter good and bad substances. When breastfeeding, he absorbs absolutely everything. Therefore, set yourself a ban on alcohol at least in the first few months of his life.

You can always substitute beer. The same percentage of alcohol is contained in live kvass and kefir. This is much more useful, and the effect is the same. However, if there is a repeated need for alcohol, it means that a mechanism for the development of alcoholism has been launched, and when a person drinks systematically (especially a woman), this can become an incurable problem.

To increase lactation while breastfeeding, drink more water, juice, and tea.

The latter can be purchased at the pharmacy; it is based on herbs that promote milk production.

What to do if you really want to drink during lactation?

There are cases when a woman during breastfeeding for some reason cannot give up alcohol, for example, on her birthday. It is necessary to protect your baby from possible negative consequences. To combine beer and feeding, good option will express milk in advance for one or two feedings. When feeding, it is advisable to consume no more than 0.5 liters of beer, and the gas must first be released. Breastfeeding after alcohol is not recommended for 12-24 hours; it is better to use milk prepared in advance.

One more point: it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol (even beer) on an empty stomach. Always have something to eat and then drink alcohol. Otherwise, you will quickly get drunk, and the alcohol itself will be completely eliminated after many hours. A nursing mother cannot take such risks.

Thank you for your feedback

Comments

Megan92 () 2 weeks ago

Has anyone succeeded in ridding their husband of alcoholism? My drink never stops, I don’t know what to do anymore ((I was thinking about getting a divorce, but I don’t want to leave the child without a father, and I feel sorry for my husband, he’s a great person when he doesn’t drink

Daria () 2 weeks ago

I have already tried so many things, and only after reading this article, I was able to wean my husband off alcohol; now he doesn’t drink at all, even on holidays.

Megan92 () 13 days ago

Daria () 12 days ago

Megan92, that’s what I wrote in my first comment) I’ll duplicate it just in case - link to article.

Sonya 10 days ago

Isn't this a scam? Why do they sell on the Internet?

Yulek26 (Tver) 10 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in? They sell it on the Internet because stores and pharmacies charge outrageous markups. In addition, payment is only made after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now they sell everything on the Internet - from clothes to TVs and furniture.

Editor's response 10 days ago

Sonya, hello. This drug is used to treat alcohol addiction really is not sold through pharmacy chains and retail stores in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently you can only order from official website. Be healthy!

Sonya 10 days ago

I apologize, I didn’t notice the information about cash on delivery at first. Then everything is fine if payment is made upon receipt.

Margo (Ulyanovsk) 8 days ago

Has anyone tried traditional methods to get rid of alcoholism? My father drinks, I can’t influence him in any way ((

Andrey () A week ago

Which ones folk remedies I haven’t tried it, my father-in-law still drinks

Many nursing mothers are interested in whether it is possible to drink beer while breastfeeding. In fact, beneficial substances were found in this alcoholic drink, but other components of beer can cause significant harm to the baby.

Why does a nursing woman want beer?

IN quality beer there are a number of valuable and useful substances, however this drink Can only be consumed by an adult and in very small quantities. Otherwise only him negative properties affect health status. Beer is made from yeast; for a nursing mother, its bready smell is associated with products containing B vitamins. A woman needs them during this period of time to restore strength and maintain the necessary metabolism. However, this is not a reason to drink an alcoholic drink that will enter your child’s body along with milk.

Non-alcoholic beer, like alcoholic beer, is made from yeast, only the percentage of alcohol in it is reduced by artificial means. So that it tastes like usual drink, numerous chemical additives are introduced into it. In addition, non-alcoholic beer contains a small percentage of alcohol (approximately 0.5-1.5%), which also does not make it healthy for a child.

If a nursing mother feels an irresistible craving for an intoxicating drink, she should reconsider her diet and replenish the lack of vitamins. To do this, you need to increase your consumption of whole grain bread, fermented milk products, bran and vegetables. At this time, a woman needs to especially carefully monitor her diet, because these same products enter the baby’s body through breast milk.

Beer and the lactation process

Doctors believe that beer cannot improve the lactation process. However, some nursing mothers unknowingly continue to claim that drinking alcohol in small quantities causes their milk to flow. This effect can be easily explained. Beer has the ability to accumulate in tissues, causing them to swell and stretch. At a time when the mother thinks that she has more milk, feeding is difficult. The baby must suck with all his might, since beer retains all fluids in the body, and breast milk is no exception.

If you need to increase lactation, you should not eat foods whose benefits are in doubt. It is best to drink more water, juices and herbal decoctions which are recommended for this. Alcohol will not benefit either the child or the nursing mother. Self-hypnosis plays a huge role here, a psychological effect when a woman, after listening to her friends justifying their love of alcoholic beverages in this way, decides that they are good for her too.

The effect of beer on a child

Some nursing mothers drink alcohol, smoke, eat foods rich in harmful ingredients, and then are surprised that their baby is sick or suffers from allergies. Any, even a small amount of dangerous substances is detrimental to a child’s fragile body; alcohol is a dangerous poison for him. During breastfeeding, the baby absorbs everything that his mother ate and drank the day before. Most often, children react to carbon dioxide, which is an integral component of beer, or they develop allergic reactions to other components, for example, hops.

Until the age of three months, a child's intestines are not able to filter good and bad substances, at which time his body is very vulnerable. If a woman drank beer, even non-alcoholic, it will end up in the milk after a while along with all the harmful impurities. Ethanol will penetrate it in about 0.5-2 hours. The time it takes depends on a number of factors:

• alcohol was drunk on an empty or full stomach;
• woman's weight;
• her body fat content;
• individual characteristics.

It also takes a certain amount of time to remove alcohol, on average it is 3 hours. This indicator depends on the weight of the mother, the amount of drink, as well as on the properties of the food that was eaten. Therefore, if a nursing mother nevertheless used alcoholic drink, she should not feed it to the baby for a while.

How to protect a child if the drink has been drunk?

If for some reason a nursing mother was unable to give up alcohol, for example, a birthday, it is necessary to take a number of measures to protect the child from exposure to hazardous substances:

• express milk in advance for 1-2 feedings;
• do not breastfeed after drinking an alcoholic drink for 12-24 hours;
• feed the child immediately before drinking alcohol;
• Do not drink the drink on an empty stomach.

You should not drink beer if you get drunk from a small amount of it. This indicates that your body does not produce the special enzymes necessary to metabolize alcohol. Perhaps this indicates individual intolerance. It is not advisable to drink alcohol-containing drinks on an empty stomach, as this will slow down the process of alcohol elimination, which is very risky for a nursing mother. In the first few months of a child’s life, it is necessary to strictly prohibit the consumption of any alcoholic beverages, even in small quantities.

In order for breast milk to benefit the baby, you should follow a strict diet that excludes allergenic foods, alcohol and other dangerous substances that can harm the baby.

Doctors unanimously say that alcohol and breastfeeding not compatible. Even small doses of alcohol slow down normal development baby and contribute to the occurrence of diseases and abnormalities.

Recently, an opinion has emerged that beer, due to the presence of certain beneficial elements, stimulates an increase in lactation. However, experts deny this information. Research shows that beer has no effect on milk supply. And all the benefits of the drink fade into the background due to harmful and dangerous substances.

Let's figure out whether you can drink beer while breastfeeding.

Beer improves lactation: myth or not?

Some researchers say that you can drink beer while breastfeeding, but only if you strictly follow the rules of consumption. This opinion was formed due to the fact that the foamy drink contains brewer’s yeast. This component has beneficial properties.

• B1 improves metabolism, restores strength, relieves depression;
• B2 stabilizes the condition of the skin, improves its structure and appearance;
• D2 strengthens teeth and promotes hair growth.

If you feel an urgent need to drink beer, then you are missing exactly these vitamins.

To replenish supplies, It is not necessary to drink alcohol. These useful elements can also be obtained from other products. Increase the dose of bran, bread from whole grain, vegetables and dairy products.

If you still decide to drink alcohol, then choose non-alcoholic beer. Presence of hops and barley in beer drink will improve mom’s mood and hormone production. And carbohydrates and minerals will become a source of nutrients. At the same time, the amount of alcohol in such a drink is minimal.

On the Internet you can often find a story that beer increased the amount of milk. Indeed, when drinking this alcoholic drink, it may seem that there is more milk. However, this is self-deception. Beer does not help improve lactation.

It has been proven that foamy drink accumulates in tissues, as a result they swell and stretch. This is why you begin to feel a rush of milk. At the same time, feeding is difficult. Alcohol delays breast milk, and the baby is forced to suckle harder.

And to increase lactation, it is better to drink more fluids. This natural juices, drinking water, tea and dairy products.

Remember that large number drinking alcohol will cause irreparable harm baby!

Harmful effects on the child

• Delay in the baby's motor development. Non-alcoholic alcohol is no exception. Despite the name, the drink still contains a small dose of alcohol;
• Sleep disturbance, lethargy and weakness;
• Underweight baby
• Risk of hypoglycemia;
• The drink retains fluid in the body and disrupts the flow of breast milk;
• Increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure;
• The occurrence of colic, gas formation, inflammation of the esophagus, stomach or intestines;
• Frequent consumption causes rapid addiction in the baby, which subsequently leads to addiction.

Rules for drinking beer during lactation

Occasional drinking of alcohol will not affect breastfeeding and will not harm the baby. Therefore, if you really want beer, you can drink a little. However, during lactation you should strictly follow the rules of use:

• Non-alcoholic beer contains 0.5 – 1.5% alcohol. For comparison, kefir contains about 0.6%, and kvass contains about 1.2%. In this case, you can drink no more than 500 ml of the drink;
• Low-strength beer with an alcohol content of up to 6% can be drunk occasionally and not more than 250 ml;
• Before use, check whether the child has allergic reaction for hops, barley, carbon dioxide;
• You should not drink any alcoholic beverages, including non-alcoholic beer, for at least three months after giving birth;
• Avoid canned beer as it contains a lot of preservatives;
• Feed your child before drinking alcohol. After drinking, wait until the alcohol has completely dissipated. The weathering time depends on the mass of the mother and the type of drink. A woman weighing 55 kg, drinking 250 ml of beer with low content alcohol (up to 6%) will take an average of two hours;
• If even after a sip of beer there comes severe intoxication, That alcoholic drinks should be urgently excluded. This indicates a lack of enzymes for the absorption of alcohol in the body;
• If after drinking beer you notice a deterioration in the child’s well-being, then it is also not recommended to drink in the future;
• Don't drink on an empty stomach! This will increase the time it takes for alcohol to leave the body.

Drinking alcohol enters the digestive tract, where it remains for 20 minutes. It then moves to the intestine, where absorption occurs. The alcohol is released into the blood and processed within 10 minutes. The maximum concentration of alcohol in the blood is an hour, then gradually disappears.

The baby will receive the largest dose of alcohol when feeding 30-60 minutes after drinking beer. Therefore, it is important to wait until alcohol is completely eliminated from the body. As mentioned earlier, for a mother weighing 55 kg it will take at least two hours.

The longer the time interval between drinking alcohol and feeding, the better. If you are afraid of negative consequences, you can express milk before drinking alcohol.

Thus, occasionally You can drink non-alcoholic or weak beer in small doses. A single use will not cause serious damage. If a nursing mother periodically needs beer, then replace the drink with live kvass or kefir.