How much alcohol gets into breast milk?
Last updated on April 1, 2026
It’s generally safe to consume alcohol while breastfeeding. When you drink, the alcohol level in your breast milk mirrors that in your blood, which means that even if you drink a large amount, the amount of alcohol passing through to the breast milk is quite low. There is no good evidence of any long-term developmental effects of alcohol in breastfeeding. If you want to be extra-cautious, waiting to nurse roughly two hours after your last drink is sufficient. There’s no need to pump and dump, as alcohol doesn't stay in the milk.
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