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'Tis the Season
The Nursing Mother's Guide to Surviving the Holidays By Teri Brown
Eat, Drink and Be MerryOne of the most wonderful things about the holidays is our chance to indulge in foods and drinks we don't normally eat. Spicy dips, pat豬 champagne, rich desserts and eggnog laced with alcohol are only a few of the offerings with which you might be tempted.
While most experts agree that avoiding certain foods because they will make your baby gassy is an old wives' tale, you do need to be aware that babies who may have food allergies will be susceptible to the food coming through your milk. For instance, if your baby is dairy sensitive, drinking large amounts of eggnog, alcoholic or not, is going to affect him.
Another thing to remember this holiday season is that alcohol passes freely into Mother's milk and peaks about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption or 60 to 90 minutes when consumed with food. "Fortunately, alcohol is eliminated fairly rapidly," says Dr. Brenner. "One serving of beer or wine would be eliminated in about two to three hours for a 120-pound female. Of course, the more that is consumed, the longer clearance of alcohol from the body would take. The effect of alcohol on the infant is directly proportional to how much is consumed. If the mother is feeling the effects of alcohol, she should probably pump and discard her breast milk for the next feeding."
Remember, too, that alcohol and caffeine consumed in large quantities can also slow milk letdown. Moderation is the key.
Lisy Peters, a board certified lactation consultant for Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital, offers the following tips to deal with criticism from family and friends: