Is Beer Good For Breastfeeding. Well drinking in moderation ie one standard glass of alcohol while breastfeeding is likely fine but more research is still needed. While the immediate effects of alcohol on milk production and delivery last only as long as the alcohol is in your system chronic alcohol use has the potential to lower your milk supply overall. Along with many other. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends breastfeeding mothers avoid alcohol but notes that an occasional or celebratory standard size drink 12 oz.
Beer in general has been regarded as a galactagogue or stimulant of lactation for much of history. Beer is traditionally used as a cure for women having trouble breastfeeding however the dangers posed by its alcoholic content makes non-alcoholic beer a much wiser choice. Its one of the richest sources of beta-glucan which is a polysaccharide known to increase prolactin the breastfeeding hormone 5. It is important to remember though that alcohol on its own can decrease milk production and decrease the occurrence of let down while breastfeeding. But now a single beer or glass of wine or other alcoholic drink is generally considered safe while breastfeeding because alcohol is processed in breastmilk the same way it is in our bloodstreams. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends breastfeeding mothers avoid alcohol but notes that an occasional or celebratory standard size drink 12 oz.
While the immediate effects of alcohol on milk production and delivery last only as long as the alcohol is in your system chronic alcohol use has the potential to lower your milk supply overall.
It is important to remember though that alcohol on its own can decrease milk production and decrease the occurrence of let down while breastfeeding. Generally moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother up to 1 standard drink per day is not known to be harmful to the infant especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours after a single drink before nursing. However just because the barley in beer may help with some aspects of milk production it takes more than just prolactin to achieve successful breastfeeding. The whole concept of beer drinking to make more milk seemed too good to be true. While the immediate effects of alcohol on milk production and delivery last only as long as the alcohol is in your system chronic alcohol use has the potential to lower your milk supply overall. If you choose to drink avoid breast-feeding until alcohol has completely cleared your breast milk.