Alcohol and breastfeeding: what is safe and how it works
Updated: Sep 24
Alcohol and breastfeeding: it's a topic that causes a lot of confusion. Can you have a glass of wine? Do you have to pump and throw it away? And what exactly is your baby getting?
It is not wise to give your baby breast milk when there is still alcohol in your blood, because then there will also be alcohol in your breast milk.
But that doesn't mean you can never drink anything again while you're breastfeeding.
The safest choice is to drink no alcohol while you are breastfeeding. No amount has been shown to be safe. During pregnancy the advice is clear: no alcohol, and no waiting time makes it safe. If you do choose to drink, it helps to know how alcohol works and what to look out for.
Alcohol and breastfeeding aren't black and white. It's all about how much, when, how old your baby is, and how your body processes alcohol.
Let's make that clear step by step.
Contents
Alcohol and breast milk
When you drink alcohol, alcohol enters your bloodstream. Breast milk is made from your blood. Alcohol passes directly from your bloodstream into your breast milk.
As long as there is alcohol in your blood, it is also in your breast milk.
As the alcohol content in your blood drops, the alcohol content in your breast milk automatically drops as well.
So alcohol is not stored in breast milk.
The alcohol percentage in breast milk ≈ the alcohol percentage in your blood.
It works like this:
After drinking, the alcohol level in your blood rises
The alcohol content in your blood, and thus in your breast milk, reaches a peak.
Then your body begins to break down the alcohol.
Over time, your body breaks down the alcohol and the alcohol content in your blood and breast milk decreases simultaneously.
Time is the only factor that makes alcohol disappear. Drinking water, sleeping, or pumping doesn't speed this up.
How long does alcohol last in breast milk?
How long alcohol stays in your blood and breast milk depends on how much alcohol you drink. That is counted in standard glasses: about 100 ml of wine, 250 ml of beer or 35 ml of spirits.
If you drink more, there will be more alcohol in your blood, and it will take longer for your body to break it down.
If you drink less, the alcohol percentage is lower and your body can break down the alcohol faster.
How long you have to wait before you can breastfeed again depends on how much you drank.
Number of drinks | Wait before feeding again |
1 drink | about 3 hours |
2 drinks | about 6 hours |
3 drinks | about 9 hours |
4 drinks | about 12 hours |
The rule of thumb is about three hours per standard glass. This is a guideline, because your body breaks alcohol down at its own pace. That can differ from person to person. The time starts from your last glass.
The most important principle: timing
The safest way to combine alcohol and breastfeeding is to time it wisely.
Practical example
You feed or express
You drink one standard glass of wine immediately afterwards
About 3 hours later you feed or express again
The alcohol is then largely out of your blood.
You don't have to throw away milk.
If you want to keep milk aside, the normal storage rules apply.
Pump & dump for alcohol?
Pump & dump literally means: expressing (“pump”) breast milk and then throwing it away (“dump”).
Parents usually do this:
after drinking alcohol
when using certain medications
or when they think their milk is “not safe”
The idea behind this is that you prevent your baby from ingesting something that you would rather not pass on through breastfeeding.
But pump & dump only makes sense:
to relieve engorgement
or if your breasts feel uncomfortably full
in case of leakage
with multiple glasses of alcohol (it then takes longer for your blood (and milk) to become alcohol-free again)
Not to remove alcohol from your milk, because as you now know, that happens naturally over time.
Milk you do keep follows the usual storage times for breast milk.
Example: when pump & dump is useful
Say:
You feed your baby at 7:00 PM.
Then, on a night out, you drink 2 standard glasses of alcohol. You finish your last glass around 9:00 PM.
Your breasts feel full and tense around 10:00 to 11:00 PM. It is still too early to nurse, because there is still alcohol in your blood.
In that case you can:
pump around 10:30 PM to reduce engorgement and discard this milk, as there is still alcohol present at that time.
You can then feed or pump again around 3:00 AM, about 6 hours after your last glass.
In this example you use pump & dump for your comfort.
When is caution important?
With young babies extra caution is needed. A newborn breaks alcohol down more slowly and feeds more often during the day.
The safest choice is to drink no alcohol at all while you are breastfeeding. That applies for the whole period, and certainly in the early weeks with a newborn.
Alcohol also affects you, not just your milk.
Aside from the milk, if you feel drowsy, dizzy, or less alert, it's not a good time to feed or care for your baby.
Different advice applies to caffeine than to alcohol.
Effect of alcohol on milk production
This is an important point that's often overlooked. Alcohol can slow down your milk flow. The hormone that helps your milk flow is temporarily less effective, meaning your baby may take in less milk while nursing.
Your breasts may feel fuller during this time, but that doesn't mean you have more milk. It simply means your milk is being released less effectively.
This may also mean that you have to pump for longer to collect the same amount of milk.
What can you do to break down alcohol better?
The honest answer is: your body breaks down alcohol at its own pace. You can't speed it up. But you can prevent alcohol from hitting you harder and support your body as best as possible.
Practical tips
Drink after a feeding or pumping session
This way you have the most time until the next feeding.
Eat before or while you drink
Alcohol is then absorbed more slowly and the peak remains lower.
Limit the number of glasses
Allow about 3 hours per standard glass. For 2 glasses that is 6 hours, for 3 glasses 9 hours.
Drink slowly
Spreading a drink over time gives a lower peak than drinking quickly.
Alternate with water
This does not accelerate the breakdown, but it does help against dehydration and headaches.
Plan ahead
Is your baby feeding irregularly or is he young? Consider expressing a feeding beforehand.
Listen to your body
Are you feeling unfocused, sleepy, or dizzy? Then it's not a good time to feed or care for your baby, apart from milk.
Finally
Breastfeeding is beautiful, but it also demands a lot from you. From your body, your energy, and your constant presence. It's okay to acknowledge that.
That's precisely why it's important, in addition to caring for your baby, to also consider what you need. And if that sometimes means a glass of wine, that's perfectly fine.
With a little preparation and the right knowledge, this can be safely combined with breastfeeding. Not out of guilt, but out of balance, for you and your baby.
Rest and relaxation affect milk production more than a single glass.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a glass of wine while breastfeeding?
The safest choice is to drink no alcohol. If you do choose to, smart timing helps. Feed or express first, drink afterwards, and wait about 3 hours per standard glass.
Do I always have to pump and dump after alcohol?
No. Expressing and throwing milk away does not remove alcohol from your milk any faster. It can be comfortable if your breasts feel full while you do not want to feed yet.
How long should I wait after alcohol before feeding again?
That depends on how much you drink and how your body breaks alcohol down. One glass straight after a feed often gives enough time until the next feed if you wait about three hours.
Does anything extra apply with a newborn?
A newborn breaks alcohol down more slowly and feeds more often during the day. Extra caution is therefore needed. Dutch guidance does not set a fixed age limit. The safest choice is to drink no alcohol at all.
Does alcohol affect your milk production?
Yes, temporarily. Alcohol can slow the let-down, so milk flows less easily. Your breasts may feel fuller, but that does not mean there is more milk.
Can I clear alcohol from my milk faster by drinking water or sleeping?
No. Only time lowers the alcohol level in your blood and therefore in your milk. Drinking water helps against dehydration but does not speed up the breakdown.
Love,
Bobby
Sources
Written by Bobby, maternity nurse at Bobby Kraamzorg. Last updated: September 2026.
