What you drink your baby drinks too. When you drink, alcohol goes directly into your breast milk.
Getting drunk at any time when you are parenting a small baby can put your baby in danger. The best option is to avoid alcohol altogether when you are breastfeeding. If you do drink there are precautions you can take to protect your baby.
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby; it is also good for your health. However, when you drink alcohol it passes directly into your bloodstream and breast milk.
If you drink alcohol
If you drink alcohol, wait two hours for every standard drink before breastfeeding.
- One standard drink – wait two hours.
- Two standard drinks – wait four hours.
- If you are planning to drink for a special occasion, express milk beforehand and feed this to your baby while there is alcohol still in your system.
Even if you feel slightly drunk or tipsy it’s better to avoid breastfeeding.
![standard drinks guide](https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/made/assets/images/health-information/standard-drinks_709_355_s_c1.jpg)
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