⚠️CautionCurated
Red Wine
Red wine is fine in moderation while breastfeeding — you don't need to skip it entirely. The key is timing: wait at least 2 hours after drinking before nursing or pumping. This gives your body time to metabolize the alcohol so it clears from your milk.
1 standard drink (5oz wine at ~12% ABV); wait 2+ hours before nursing
Myth: You need to pump and dump after drinking alcohol. This is false — pumping and dumping does not speed the removal of alcohol from breast milk. Only time does.
Alcohol passes into breast milk at concentrations similar to your blood alcohol level, peaking about 30–60 minutes after drinking (faster on an empty stomach). Fortunately, it also leaves milk as it leaves your blood — your body processes it naturally over time. One standard drink (5oz of wine at 12% ABV) takes about 2 hours to clear from your system. You do NOT need to pump and dump — discarding milk doesn't speed alcohol clearance. Planning a glass of wine? Have it right after nursing and you'll have a comfortable window before the next feed.
Always confirm with your doctor or lactation consultant before making dietary changes while breastfeeding.
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