Do I have to throw away my breastmilk?
- Thread starter nikimom
- Start date
i know, feels terrible to have to throw away the milk, yet you cannot give it to your baby... you know what i used to do? i make hot chocolate with it & gave it to my hubby.... hee hee
but i've never had food poisoning, it was only alcohol. i am not sure, but with alcohol i waited 12 hours. so maybe for food poisoning wait 16 hours ?
but i've never had food poisoning, it was only alcohol. i am not sure, but with alcohol i waited 12 hours. so maybe for food poisoning wait 16 hours ?
Within hours of a mother coming into contact of an illness her milk has the specific antibodies for that illness in her milk. Thus the BEST way to help your baby not get any illness that you have is to continue breastfeeding your baby.
It is true that minute amounts of anything in your blood system can transfer to your milk system (if the molecules are small enough to fit though the breast wall ? or if those molecules haven?t bound to a protein, which will also make them too big to get through he breast wall.) However, the antibodies in the milk get to these and disable them before they can harm your baby.
The whole topic of immunobiology of human milk is very fasinating and, unfortunately, very complex. But if you are up to reading a book on the topic I recommend Immunobiology of Human Milk: How Breastfeeding Protects Babies by Lars Hanson, MD, PhD. After reading this book all I can say is ?Still confused but at a higher level.?
But the bottom line is please don?t worry your milk is fine to use.
Best wishes,
SARAH
La Leche League Leader and IBCLC
It is true that minute amounts of anything in your blood system can transfer to your milk system (if the molecules are small enough to fit though the breast wall ? or if those molecules haven?t bound to a protein, which will also make them too big to get through he breast wall.) However, the antibodies in the milk get to these and disable them before they can harm your baby.
The whole topic of immunobiology of human milk is very fasinating and, unfortunately, very complex. But if you are up to reading a book on the topic I recommend Immunobiology of Human Milk: How Breastfeeding Protects Babies by Lars Hanson, MD, PhD. After reading this book all I can say is ?Still confused but at a higher level.?
But the bottom line is please don?t worry your milk is fine to use.
Best wishes,
SARAH
La Leche League Leader and IBCLC
If you have a glass of wine with your dinner it will take about 90 minutes (1 ? hours) for the alcohol to enter your milk supply and leave it again. There is no need to express milk during this time the alcohol will leave your milk supply as soon as there is less alcohol in your blood than in your milk.
Drinking alcohol does, however, tend to reduce your let-down so a baby is likely to drink less milk at a feed if you?ve been drinking. Research shows that babies drink less milk in the four hours after you?ve had a drink but drink more in the next 12 hours ? thus after 16 hours the baby has had about the same amount.
Obviously this isn?t a problem if you are just having the occasional drink or even one a day with your dinner. There is, however, a potential problem if you are drink a lot or drinking often throughout the day. In these cases it is important to keep a check on the baby to make sure he is growing and developing well.
Best wishes,
SARAH
Drinking alcohol does, however, tend to reduce your let-down so a baby is likely to drink less milk at a feed if you?ve been drinking. Research shows that babies drink less milk in the four hours after you?ve had a drink but drink more in the next 12 hours ? thus after 16 hours the baby has had about the same amount.
Obviously this isn?t a problem if you are just having the occasional drink or even one a day with your dinner. There is, however, a potential problem if you are drink a lot or drinking often throughout the day. In these cases it is important to keep a check on the baby to make sure he is growing and developing well.
Best wishes,
SARAH
Joannek, I have to 100% diagree. I would take the "risk" because there is no risk. Babies who are BF have fewer gastrointestinal illnesses than babies who are bottle feed, and it is all because of the antiodies. Even if a mom is sick,t he child is much less likely to get that illness if BF, compared to bottle feeding. If they do get an illness, they will have it less severly and recover quicler because of the passive immunity they recieve.
If the baby did get the illness, a gastro illness is passed via oral route, those types of bacteria are not going to be passed via breastmillk, but baby will still get antibodies, for all virus', bacteria mom comes into contact with, even ones that mom isn't aware of. You are exposed to bacteria and virus all day long, but only a small percentage will make you sick.
In fact your baby will also recieve antibodies via prenancy and Bf from some illnesses in the past. This is why youdo not develop long term immunity from live vaccines such as chickenpox and measles when give under 1 year of age, hence they are given after 1 year. By then the antibodies recieved via pregnancy have worn off. Prior to this the antibody will kill of the vaccine virus and you won't get the long term immunity. I do wonder what role BF has in this though, I wonder if it makes it less effetive. I wonder if there are studies on this? Where I live (Canada), still the majority of people do not BF up to a year, so my guess is that there is not a lot of research.
Here is link on illness and BF
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/sick.html
If the baby did get the illness, a gastro illness is passed via oral route, those types of bacteria are not going to be passed via breastmillk, but baby will still get antibodies, for all virus', bacteria mom comes into contact with, even ones that mom isn't aware of. You are exposed to bacteria and virus all day long, but only a small percentage will make you sick.
In fact your baby will also recieve antibodies via prenancy and Bf from some illnesses in the past. This is why youdo not develop long term immunity from live vaccines such as chickenpox and measles when give under 1 year of age, hence they are given after 1 year. By then the antibodies recieved via pregnancy have worn off. Prior to this the antibody will kill of the vaccine virus and you won't get the long term immunity. I do wonder what role BF has in this though, I wonder if it makes it less effetive. I wonder if there are studies on this? Where I live (Canada), still the majority of people do not BF up to a year, so my guess is that there is not a lot of research.
Here is link on illness and BF
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/sick.html
Breastfeeding actually helps vaccines that the babies have work better. This is a quote from a LLL information sheet entitled Breastfeeding: Baby’s First Immunization
Another significant finding in regard to immunization is that breastfeed babies showed a better response to vaccines with significantly higher antibody levels than formula fed babies (Zoppi 1983, Pabst 1989, Hahn-Zoric 1990)
You can view the whole of this bilingual information sheet on the LLL-HK web site, www.lllhk.org, under the Breastfeeding Information Section.
Unfortunately there is a problem with our server at the moment but they are working to fix this and the web site should be working again soon.
Best wishes,
SARAH
Another significant finding in regard to immunization is that breastfeed babies showed a better response to vaccines with significantly higher antibody levels than formula fed babies (Zoppi 1983, Pabst 1989, Hahn-Zoric 1990)
You can view the whole of this bilingual information sheet on the LLL-HK web site, www.lllhk.org, under the Breastfeeding Information Section.
Unfortunately there is a problem with our server at the moment but they are working to fix this and the web site should be working again soon.
Best wishes,
SARAH
so if one gets food poisoning like salmonella or e.coli, it doesn't go thru into the breastmilk?
re: alcohol, during the 16mths that i was breastfeeding, i had 2 episodes having too much alcohol, one time i had a bottle or 2 of champagne during 4hours, the other time, i had 1/3 bottle of whisky during 4-5 hours. how long was i supposed to wait for the alcohol to get out of my system? i waited 12 hours (i had a hang over for the next 3 days!!)
re: alcohol, during the 16mths that i was breastfeeding, i had 2 episodes having too much alcohol, one time i had a bottle or 2 of champagne during 4hours, the other time, i had 1/3 bottle of whisky during 4-5 hours. how long was i supposed to wait for the alcohol to get out of my system? i waited 12 hours (i had a hang over for the next 3 days!!)
So if one gets food poisoning like salmonella or e.coli, it doesn't go thru into the breast milk?
Correct.
Taken from Breastfeeding Answer Book, Third Revised Edition (2003) page 537
If a mother has food poisoning breastfeeding can continue.
When a mother eats a food that is contaminated with specific bacteria or toxins, she may develop “food poisoning” which can cause vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Food poisoning may be caused by botulism, listeriosis, salmonella, shigella, cigutera, e. coli or other bacteria.
In the vast majority of cases, food poisoning remits within a few days causing no further problems. It poses no danger to the breastfeeding baby, although the breastfeeding mother with diarrhoea and vomiting should be encouraged to drink enough liquids to maintain her fluid balance and avoid dehydration.
Some mothers may contract such a serve case of food poisoning that antibiotics are needed, most of which are considered compatible with breastfeeding. Depending upon which bacteria are involved, other precautions may be recommended to prevent airborne or direct-contact transition between mother and baby, such as careful hand-washing and wearing a mask while breastfeeding (Lawrence and Lawrence, pp 564-66)
I also read a research report about introducing the salmonella bacteria to newborn calves. It took the cows around two hours to start producing the antibodies to salmonella in their milk. (I’m sure you can understand why we can’t repeat this experiment with human newborns.)
Best wishes,
SARAH
Correct.
Taken from Breastfeeding Answer Book, Third Revised Edition (2003) page 537
If a mother has food poisoning breastfeeding can continue.
When a mother eats a food that is contaminated with specific bacteria or toxins, she may develop “food poisoning” which can cause vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Food poisoning may be caused by botulism, listeriosis, salmonella, shigella, cigutera, e. coli or other bacteria.
In the vast majority of cases, food poisoning remits within a few days causing no further problems. It poses no danger to the breastfeeding baby, although the breastfeeding mother with diarrhoea and vomiting should be encouraged to drink enough liquids to maintain her fluid balance and avoid dehydration.
Some mothers may contract such a serve case of food poisoning that antibiotics are needed, most of which are considered compatible with breastfeeding. Depending upon which bacteria are involved, other precautions may be recommended to prevent airborne or direct-contact transition between mother and baby, such as careful hand-washing and wearing a mask while breastfeeding (Lawrence and Lawrence, pp 564-66)
I also read a research report about introducing the salmonella bacteria to newborn calves. It took the cows around two hours to start producing the antibodies to salmonella in their milk. (I’m sure you can understand why we can’t repeat this experiment with human newborns.)
Best wishes,
SARAH
Alcohol
The question of how much alcohol your body can mange and how much actually gets through into the milk is very individual and depends on many things including the amount you drink, the space of time you drink it in, how much you weigh, how much muscle mass you have and if you drink it alone or with other foods.
As I said earlier small quantities of alcohol are compatible with breastfeeding, however, large quantities are not. But let us remember that large quantities of alcohol are not compatible with parenting a baby whether you are breastfeeding or not.
The following is taken from Medications in Mothers Milk (Twelfth Edition) 2006 by Thomas W. Hale, PhD, pages 322 & 323
Ethanol
Trade Name: Alcohol
Uses: Depressant
AAP: Maternal Medication Usually Compatible with Breastfeeding
Significant amounts of alcohol are secreted into breast milk although it is not considered harmful to the infant if the amount and duration are limited. The absolute amount of alcohol transferred into milk is generally low. Beer, but not ethanol, has been reported in a number of studies to stimulate prolactin levels and breast milk production. Thus it is presumed that the polysaccharide from barley may be the prolactin-stimulating component of beer. Non-alcohol beer is equally effective.
In a study of twelve breastfeeding mothers who ingested 0.3 g/kg of ethanol in orange juice (equivalent to 1 can of beer for the average woman), the mean maximum concentration of ethanol in milk was 320 mg/L. This report suggested a 23% reduction (156 to 120 mL) in breast milk production following ingestion of beer and an increase in milk odor as a function of ethanol content.
Excess levels may lead to drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness and decreased linear growth in infant. Maternal blood alcohol levels must attain 300 mg/dl before significant side effects are reported in the infant. Reduction of letdown is apparently dose-dependent and requires alcohol consumption of 1.5 to 1.9 g/Kg body weight. Other studies have suggested psychomotor delay in infants of moderate drinkers (2+ drinks daily). Avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking alcohol.
In an interesting study of the effect of alcohol on milk ingestion by infants, the rate of milk consumption by infants during the 4 hours immediately after exposure to alcohol (0.3 g/Kg) in 12 mothers was significantly less. Compensatory increases in intake were then observed during the 8-16 hours after exposure when mothers refrained from drinking.
Adult metabolism of alcohol is approximately 1 oz in 3 hours so mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return too breastfeeding as soon as they feel neurologically normal. Chronic or heavy consumers of alcohol should not breastfeed.
Pregnancy Risk = D
There is positive evidence of human fetal risk, but the benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk (e.g. if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation.)
Lactation Risk = L3 – MODERATELY SAFE
Controlled studies show only minimal non-threatening adverse effects. Drugs should only be given if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the infant.
(If you want the references to this please contact me at [email protected])
From Breastfeeding Answer Book, Third Revised Edition (2003), page 598
Alcohol passes freely into the mother’s milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption (Lawton 1985). Alcohol also passes freely out of the mother’s milk and her system. It takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine (Schulte 1995).
However, the more alcohol that is consumed, the longer it takes for it to be eliminated. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate the alcohol from one high-alcohol drink. The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother consumes.
In your case it may be that stopping breastfeeding for 12 hours was a very sensible thing to do. Do remember that having a hangover doesn’t necessarily mean that you still have alcohol in your system it could mean that your body is dehydrated.
Best wishes,
SARAH
The question of how much alcohol your body can mange and how much actually gets through into the milk is very individual and depends on many things including the amount you drink, the space of time you drink it in, how much you weigh, how much muscle mass you have and if you drink it alone or with other foods.
As I said earlier small quantities of alcohol are compatible with breastfeeding, however, large quantities are not. But let us remember that large quantities of alcohol are not compatible with parenting a baby whether you are breastfeeding or not.
The following is taken from Medications in Mothers Milk (Twelfth Edition) 2006 by Thomas W. Hale, PhD, pages 322 & 323
Ethanol
Trade Name: Alcohol
Uses: Depressant
AAP: Maternal Medication Usually Compatible with Breastfeeding
Significant amounts of alcohol are secreted into breast milk although it is not considered harmful to the infant if the amount and duration are limited. The absolute amount of alcohol transferred into milk is generally low. Beer, but not ethanol, has been reported in a number of studies to stimulate prolactin levels and breast milk production. Thus it is presumed that the polysaccharide from barley may be the prolactin-stimulating component of beer. Non-alcohol beer is equally effective.
In a study of twelve breastfeeding mothers who ingested 0.3 g/kg of ethanol in orange juice (equivalent to 1 can of beer for the average woman), the mean maximum concentration of ethanol in milk was 320 mg/L. This report suggested a 23% reduction (156 to 120 mL) in breast milk production following ingestion of beer and an increase in milk odor as a function of ethanol content.
Excess levels may lead to drowsiness, deep sleep, weakness and decreased linear growth in infant. Maternal blood alcohol levels must attain 300 mg/dl before significant side effects are reported in the infant. Reduction of letdown is apparently dose-dependent and requires alcohol consumption of 1.5 to 1.9 g/Kg body weight. Other studies have suggested psychomotor delay in infants of moderate drinkers (2+ drinks daily). Avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking alcohol.
In an interesting study of the effect of alcohol on milk ingestion by infants, the rate of milk consumption by infants during the 4 hours immediately after exposure to alcohol (0.3 g/Kg) in 12 mothers was significantly less. Compensatory increases in intake were then observed during the 8-16 hours after exposure when mothers refrained from drinking.
Adult metabolism of alcohol is approximately 1 oz in 3 hours so mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return too breastfeeding as soon as they feel neurologically normal. Chronic or heavy consumers of alcohol should not breastfeed.
Pregnancy Risk = D
There is positive evidence of human fetal risk, but the benefits from use in pregnant women may be acceptable despite the risk (e.g. if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation.)
Lactation Risk = L3 – MODERATELY SAFE
Controlled studies show only minimal non-threatening adverse effects. Drugs should only be given if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the infant.
(If you want the references to this please contact me at [email protected])
From Breastfeeding Answer Book, Third Revised Edition (2003), page 598
Alcohol passes freely into the mother’s milk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption (Lawton 1985). Alcohol also passes freely out of the mother’s milk and her system. It takes a 120 pound woman about two to three hours to eliminate from her body the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine (Schulte 1995).
However, the more alcohol that is consumed, the longer it takes for it to be eliminated. It takes up to 13 hours for a 120 pound woman to eliminate the alcohol from one high-alcohol drink. The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the amount the mother consumes.
In your case it may be that stopping breastfeeding for 12 hours was a very sensible thing to do. Do remember that having a hangover doesn’t necessarily mean that you still have alcohol in your system it could mean that your body is dehydrated.
Best wishes,
SARAH
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and i'm also happy that i dont have to throw away my milk