Question: Is drinking a glass of wine with dinner going to be harmful to my nursing baby?I’ve received varying advice regarding alcohol and breastfeeding. Some people say that a drink a day is okay, others say to avoid it. I just read an article on another website that says that exposing the baby daily to alcohol can slightly affect his motor skills.I’ve been having a glass of wine with dinner (doing my best to to allow for two hours to get it out of my system). My six-week son’s weight gain and motor skills seem right on track — he’s kicking up a storm and can hold onto and shake a rattle. Also, his neck is very strong and he’s often lifts it and takes a look around. Considering that he was four weeks early, I think this is pretty good. I’ll happily give up my wine with dinner, if it’s best. Any thoughts on this?Answer: The American Academy of Pediatrics has approved the use of alcohol in breastfeeding mothers. Alcohol does pass into breast milk more readily than some other drugs, but unless you drink several drinks or more a day, every day, then there should be no problem.

Some studies have shown that drinking heavily over a long period of time can slow your baby’s motor development, but it has not been proven to cause retardation or any lasting harm. Regular alcohol abuse can cause slow weight gain, but there is no evidence that having a couple of beers or glasses of wine will harm your baby. A mother who is constantly drunk puts her baby more at risk of neglect or accidental injury than from the alcohol that passes into her milk. wine and food classes nycIf your baby is a newborn or a preemie, you may want to be more careful about your alcohol intake than you would be with an older baby, because the liver (which detoxifies alcohol) is less mature in younger or premature babies. best wine tasting in long island nyMothers who drink metabolize alcohol in about one to three hours, so if you want to be conservative, wait a couple of hours for each drink before you nurse. best red wine in 2008

If you have four beers, wait eight hours.Having an occasional glass of wine or a beer or two should not cause any problems, and I would not even worry about it. In his new book Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding, Dr. Newman says “Alcohol while breastfeeding? No problem, in moderation. No need to worry about ‘pumping and dumping’. Just put the baby to the breast, even while you have your drink – why not?”top 100 red wine 2014For years, doctors and midwives suggested having a glass of wine or beer to help you relax and produce more milk. top 10 white wine brands in indiaWhile we know now that alcohol doesn’t increase milk production, and when abused, can actually decrease supply, there is no evidence that drinking in moderation harms your baby in any way.best quotes about food and wine

I hope this info has been helpful. Remember, you don’t have to be Mother Teresa in order to breastfeed! You can enjoy most anything in moderation, including alcohol. We moms have enough stuff to feel guilty about already, and indulging in an occasional glass of wine or a beer doesn’t need to be added to the list.Anne (who also enjoys wine with dinner, and whose kids are not only not brain damaged, but are exceptionally bright).Anne Smith, IBCLC Breastfeeding BasicsSee your doctor or practice nurse if you are drinking above the safe limits and are finding it difficult to cut down.Your liver processes alcohol. It can only cope with so much at a time. Drinking more alcohol than the liver can cope with can damage liver cells and produce toxic by-product chemicals.The more you drink and especially above the recommended limits, the greater the risk of developing serious problems. And remember, binge drinking can be harmful even though the weekly total may not seem too high. For example, if you only drink once or twice a week but when you do you drink 4-5 pints of beer each time, or a bottle of wine each time, this is a risk to your health.

Also, even one or two units can be dangerous if you drive, operate machinery, or take some types of medication.One unit of alcohol is 10 ml (1 cl) by volume, or 8 g by weight, of pure alcohol. For example:But remember, many wines and beers are stronger than the more traditional ordinary strengths. A more accurate way of calculating units is as follows. The percentage alcohol by volume (% abv) of a drink equals the number of units in one litre of that drink. For example:Three pints of beer, three times per week, is at least 18-20 units per week. That is nearly the upper weekly safe limit for a man. However, each drinking session of three pints is at least six units, which is more than the safe limit advised for any one day. Another example: a 750 ml bottle of 12% wine contains nine units. If you drink two bottles of 12% wine over a week, that is 18 units. This is above the upper safe limit for a woman.For men aged over 40 and for women past the menopause, it is thought that drinking a small amount of alcohol helps to protect against heart disease and stroke.

The exact amount is not clear but it is a small amount. So, do not exceed the recommended amount of alcohol as described above in a mistaken belief that it may be good for the heart.When asked 'How much do you drink?' many people give a much lower figure than the true amount. It is not that people usually lie about this but it is easy not to realise your true alcohol intake. To give an honest answer to this question, try making a drinking diary for a couple of weeks or so. Jot down every drink that you have. Remember, it is a pub measure of spirits that equals one unit. A home measure if often a double.If you are drinking more than the safe limits, you should aim to cut down your drinking.About 1 in 3 men and about 1 in 7 women drink more than the safe levels. Many people who drink heavily are not addicted to alcohol and are not alcoholics. To stop or reduce alcohol would not be a problem if there was the will to do so. However, for various reasons, many people have got into a habit of drinking regularly and heavily.

But, drinking heavily is a serious health risk.You should regularly talk to your children about the risks of alcohol in a way that is appropriate for their age. If you feel your child is having a problem with alcohol, talk to your GP, as there are services now available for young people.If you drink heavily you have an increased risk of developing:In England in 2012 there were just under 6,500 alcohol-related deaths.Alcohol gets to a baby through the placenta if a pregnant woman drinks alcohol. A baby cannot process alcohol very well. So, any alcohol in your baby stays in their body much longer than in you. This is known to be a risk for causing serious problems such as:When these problems are severe, the condition is called fetal alcohol syndrome.However, there has been debate over the years as to whether small amounts of alcohol are safe to drink during pregnancy; also, if there is a time of pregnancy when alcohol is most likely to cause harm. Recent research supports the advice of not drinking any alcohol whilst pregnant.

If you are alcohol-dependent you have a strong desire for alcohol and have great difficulty in controlling your drinking. In addition, your body is used to lots of alcohol. Therefore, you may develop withdrawal symptoms 3-8 hours after your last drink as the effect of the alcohol wears off. So, even if you want to stop drinking, it is often difficult because of withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms include:As a result, you may drink regularly to prevent withdrawal symptoms.The severity of dependence can vary. It can develop gradually and become more severe. You may be developing alcohol dependence if you:If you develop severe withdrawal symptoms you may be offered hospital admission or treatment at home. You may be offered medication such as benzodiazepine, carbamazepine or clomethiazole.Heavy alcohol drinking in one person often seriously damages others. Many families have become severely affected by one member becoming a problem drinker. Emotional and financial problems often occur in such families.

It is estimated that 3 in 10 divorces, 4 in 10 cases of domestic violence and 2 in 10 cases of child abuse are alcohol-related. Often, the problem drinker denies or refuses to accept that the root cause is alcohol.Myth - "Coffee will sober me up."Caffeine in coffee is a stimulant so you might feel more alert but it won't make you sober.Myth - "I'll be fine in the morning."Alcohol is broken down by the liver. A healthy liver can get rid of about one unit of alcohol an hour. Sleep will not speed up the rate at which the liver works. Just because you have a night's sleep does not necessarily mean you will be sober in the morning. It depends on how much you drank the night before.Myth - "Alcohol keeps me alert."Alcohol can make you think that you are more alert but it actually has a depressant effect which slows down your reflexes.Myth - "Beer will make me less drunk than spirits."Half a pint of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a single measure of spirits.Myth - "I'll be fine if I drink plenty of water before I go to bed."

This can reduce hangover symptoms by helping to prevent lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). But it won't make you any less drunk, or protect your liver or other organs from the damaging effect of alcohol.Myth - "The recommended safe limits are too low."They are based on good research which has identified the level above which problems start to arise. For example, if a man drinks five units each day (not greatly over the recommended limit) then, on average, he doubles his risk of developing liver disease, raised blood pressure, some cancers and of having a violent death.Myth - "Most people drink more than the recommended limits."Studies show that about 1 in 3 men and about 1 in 7 women drink more than the weekly recommended levels. So, if you drink heavily, it might be what your friends do but it is not what most people do and you are putting yourself and others at risk.Myth - "It's none of my business if a friend is drinking too much."This is a matter of opinion. Some people would say that if you are a real friend, it really is your business.

You may be the one person who can persuade your friend to accept that they have a problem and to seek help if necessary.Once they know the facts, many people can quite easily revert back to sensible drinking if they are drinking above the safe limits. If you are trying to cut down, some tips which may help include:Some people who are heavy drinkers or who are alcohol-dependent deny that they have a problem. The sort of thoughts that people deceive themselves with include: "I can cope"; "I'm only drinking what all my mates drink"; "I can stop at any time".Coming to terms with the fact that you may have a problem and seeking help when needed are often the biggest step to sorting out the problem.Help and treatment are available if you find that you cannot cut down your drinking to safe limits. Counselling and support from a doctor, nurse, or counsellor are often all that is needed. A detoxification treatment may be advised if you are alcohol-dependent. Referral for specialist help may be best for some people.