Breastfeeding and Alcohol: Keeping Infants Healthy from Alcohol Breast Milk

Breastfeeding for many mothers can be time natural bonding, and provide an infant best source of nutrition, assuming the mother is healthy, and does not have any breastfeeding complications. The American Academy Of Pediatrics recommend mothers exclusively breastfed their babies for the first six months, and that breastfeeding should continue until 12 months (and beyond), if both the mother and baby are willing. The nutrients of breast milk help an infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler. Infants triple their total body weight during the first year of life. Also, antibodies passed from the nursing mother to her baby, protect against common childhood illnesses (ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections, and meningitis) and may provide immunity (or less often), certain types of cancer. Breastfeeding is particularly beneficial for premature babies, protecting against allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). A cost study published in the April 1999 issue of the journal Pediatrics, researchers determined that infants, who were never breastfed, increase additional medical costs $331 to $475 per year. Dr. James W. Anderson, professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of Kentucky, a lead researcher, investing the connection between breast milk and babies with higher intelligence (IQ), attributes the higher IQ level to brain food found in the mother’s milk. Breast milk has nutrients that contain docasahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic Acid (AA) (long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) appear to support brain development, and not found in formulas sold in the United States. Nursing helps most women lose weight after delivery, as 500 calories or more are used by breastfeeding each day.

Ensuring Infants receive the best nutrients from breast milk, mothers should consume plenty of wholesome fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and calcium — rich foods. In March 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency issued new guidelines regarding nursing mothers (and women trying to conceive and pregnant women) limit their exposure to mercury in fish, eating no more than six ounces (about one serving) of canned albacore or “white” tuna a week. Also, nursing mothers may need to take iron supplements if blood test reveals that iron level is low. Certain number of breastfed babies, allergic (consistent spitting up or vomiting, bloody and or mucousy stools, and belly pain (lots of gas and/or pulling up the knees in pain)) or have a sensitive reaction after breastfeeding, related to certain foods (such as eggs, nuts, and peanuts, etc.) the mother consumed. Caution or limiting alcohol drinking prior to breastfeeding (or wait at least two hours after drinking), affect the infant’s nursing and sleep patterns. Effect of alcohol on breastfed babies is directly related to the amount the mother consumes. Fact more alcohol consumed, ideally the woman should take longer time to wait until breastfeeding. Statically, alcohol passes freely into mother’s milk and found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, and 60 to 90 minutes when taken with food. Researchers discovered takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine. However, women who are chronic or heavy consumers of alcohol should not breastfeed.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs possible side effects, infant consume large amounts of alcohol in breast milk includes: Drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness, and abnormal weight gain, and possibility of decreased milk ejection reflex in the mother. Alcohol in breast milk may stimulate sucking initially, but decrease the total milk intake during a feeding. Motor development skills are found to be significantly lower in infants regularly exposed to alcohol through breast milk, compared to infants not exposed A newborn with an immature liver will be more easily affected than older baby, consumes alcohol breast milk. Infants can develop Pseudo – Cushing Syndrome when exposed to breast milk that contains a high level of alcohol. The child’s facial appearance, describe as “balloon — shaped” and “moon -shaped” or appears obese. The syndrome is reversible, when alcohol is not longer present in the breast milk.

A Milkscreen test detects for alcohol in breast milk, preventing unnecessary health concerns to the infant, and prolong breastfeeding. Chief Executive Officer Julie Jumonville (Austin Texas resident and one of two people, developed this concept), said regarding the Milkscreen test: “It will do a color change at 1/25 milligrams per declitter in breast milk.” Effectively fast, highly sensitive, and noninvasive method positively identify the presence of alcohol in breast milk, takes only two minutes. One strip is placed into a small amount of breast milk (two drops). When the test strip turns green, detects alcohol in the milk. Mothers may want to seek an alternate source of food for their baby or wait another hour, and then retest the milk. When the strip stays white, safe breastfeed. Julie Jumonville said: “We want our Milkscreen moms to nurse as long as possible and make sure that our children are protected. No alcohol goes to baby and the same time, they can have that occasional glass of wine and extend the life of breastfeeding.” However, certain medications, including Nyquil contain alcohol identified by Milkscreen test, present a misguided evaluation, advising or preventing nursing mothers from continuing to take medication for their health while breastfeeding. This should be discussed with their physician or doctor.

The Milkscreen Alcohol in Breast milk Detection kit contains six strips, and cost approximately twenty dollars.