About This Article
Zoom Baby has more than 20 years’ experience providing fertility, pregnancy and parenting information. This article explains how alcohol passes into breast milk, current safety guidance and how to plan ahead if you choose to drink while breastfeeding.
Published: 28 October 2024 | Last Updated: 11 September 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
Should breastfeeding mothers be concerned that drinking alcohol could negatively affect their baby? There is so much conflicting info that they end up having even more questions and fewer answers. Pregnant women are advised not to consume alcohol during their pregnancy as research shows that it could negatively affect the unborn baby, but the evidence isn’t as clear when it comes to consuming alcohol while breastfeeding.
It isn’t illegal to drink alcohol while breastfeeding and throughout history, breastfeeding women have enjoyed the occasional alcoholic drink. The safest option while breastfeeding is not to drink alcohol. However, if a breastfeeding mother drinks alcohol occasionally, the impact on the baby will depend on how much she drinks and how long she waits before feeding.
It’s important to note that the effects of alcohol on a breastfeeding baby can vary depending on the age, weight and general health of the baby. Newborns, premature babies and babies with health issues may have a harder time processing alcohol, and it can lead to drowsiness, deep sleep and decreased milk intake.
If you choose to have an occasional drink, alcohol will usually take around 2 to 3 hours per drink to leave your breast milk, although this varies according to factors including your weight, whether you have eaten and how much alcohol you have consumed. Feeding your baby before drinking can help maximise the time before the next feed.
If you are planning to drink more than one drink, expressing and storing milk beforehand can provide an alternative feed. Expressing milk does not make alcohol leave your breast milk more quickly. Alcohol levels fall naturally as the level in your bloodstream falls.
It’s also important to remember that drinking in excess can impair your judgement and ability to care for your baby safely. If you have consumed enough alcohol to affect your judgement or alertness, wait until you are sober before breastfeeding and make sure a sober adult is available to care for your baby.
Contents
Things to Take Into Account
Your baby’s age
- The liver of a newborn isn’t fully developed and alcohol could have a negative impact.
- Young babies process alcohol more slowly than adults.
- Older babies have the ability to metabolise alcohol faster than newborn babies.
Your weight
- The size of a person will help determine how quickly they are able to metabolise alcohol.
- A person who is heavier will generally metabolise the same amount of alcohol faster than a person who is lighter.
Amount of Alcohol
- The impact of alcohol on an infant will depend on how much alcohol has been consumed.
- The more alcohol ingested, the more time it will take to be eliminated from the mother’s system.
Will You Be Eating?
- Eating before or while drinking slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
How Much Alcohol Passes Into Breast Milk?
A breastfeeding mother’s milk has approximately the same concentration of alcohol as her blood, and it increases and decreases accordingly. Alcohol is easily absorbed into breast milk and typically reaches its highest level around 30 to 60 minutes after a drink, or later when the drink is consumed with food.
Alcohol also passes out of breast milk as it leaves the bloodstream, so it isn’t usually necessary to express and discard milk. The time taken varies according to the amount consumed and individual factors. As a general guide, it usually takes around 2 to 3 hours for each drink to leave breast milk, and longer when several drinks have been consumed.
Alcohol Abuse Negatively Affects the Baby
Regular or heavy alcohol consumption may affect feeding, milk supply and the baby’s weight gain and development. If you are concerned about your drinking or your baby’s feeding and growth, speak to your GP, health visitor or another qualified healthcare professional.
Alcohol can make a baby drowsy and may reduce the amount of milk they take.
Never share a bed, sofa or armchair with your baby after drinking alcohol, as this substantially increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Planning Ahead for Social Events
While enjoying the occasional drink is possible when breastfeeding, social events need extra thought. Don’t let anxiety about drinking stop you from celebrating special occasions, but plan ahead. Try scheduling your baby’s feeding right before heading out. This gives you more flexibility during the event since you’ll have a few hours before the next feed.
Keep a “just in case” supply of expressed milk in your freezer for unexpected situations. If you’re heading to a wedding or birthday party, express enough milk beforehand to cover potential feeds. This way, you can enjoy an occasional drink while allowing sufficient time before breastfeeding again.
Breast milk alcohol test strips can provide an indication that alcohol is present in expressed milk, but they cannot guarantee that milk is safe for a baby or replace appropriate waiting time and professional advice.
Breast Milk Alcohol Test Strips
Breast Milk Alcohol Test Strips
Zoom Baby’s Breast Milk Alcohol Test Strips provide a rapid indication of whether alcohol is present in expressed breast milk, with results in five minutes. They should be used as an additional check, not as a guarantee that milk is safe to give to a baby.
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham, BA (Hons), MA, is a UK-based fertility testing expert and editor with over 20 years’ experience running Zoom Baby, a trusted source for accurate pregnancy, ovulation and fertility tests and testing guidance. He creates clear, evidence-based articles using NHS guidance, professional fertility resources and conception planning best practices. Where possible, content is reviewed by fertility specialists and healthcare professionals to enhance accuracy and reliability, helping readers make informed testing decisions.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have concerns about your health or symptoms, speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, seek urgent medical help.
