Congratulations on
your new baby and your smart decision to breastfeed!
Mothers around the world agree; breastfeeding is one of the
most rewarding, fulfilling experiences of motherhood. But it
is also full of challenges and mystery.
With so many question marks surrounding the touchy subject of
alcohol and with many mothers receiving varied
recommendations from different industry professionals,
Milkscreen simply aims to eliminate one mystery for nursing
mothers by providing peace of mind that the milk baby drinks
is alcohol free. |
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Alcohol in your breast milk can
have a number of negative impacts on you and your baby:
- Let-down and milk
production: Studies show that alcohol can inhibit your
let-down and milk production (one study showed a 23%
decrease in milk volume with one drink*).
- Calorie consumption by the
infant: Your baby may also drink less milk if your milk
contains alcohol, limiting the number of the extremely
valuable calories he or she may receive.
- Sleep: Studies also show
that babies do fall asleep sooner after ingesting alcohol in
breast milk, but they sleep less soundly and wake earlier.
- Development of motor-skills:
In more extreme cases, an infant's motor skill development
may be hampered.
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Why Mums want
it!
- Babies wake up unexpectedly
when Mums have had a glass of wine and are not sure if it is
safe to feed.
- Mum’s have a special
function (i.e. wedding, anniversary) where they may have
more than 1 glass and may not be sure if it is safe to feed
even a few hours after their last drink.
- Many mums are very stressed
in the early weeks of becoming a mum. Being able to relax
with a glass of wine (in moderation) on occasion confident
in the knowledge they are not harming their baby could
assist them to feel like they are getting back to their
pre-baby life life (if only for a moment!).
- Helps mums avoid the ‘pump
and dump’ scenario which is completely unnecessary. Alcohol
in breast milk is like alcohol in your blood - only time can
remove it. The ‘pump & dump’ method is not necessary or
effective at reducing alcohol concentration.
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Why not just give expressed milk
anyway?
If the test result is negative mums can avoid their infants
becoming agitated while waiting for frozen expressed milk to be
defrosted. A two minute test could save twenty minutes and mums
sanity!
Lifestyle Parenting does not endorse or recommend formula as any
type of alternative to breastmilk.
* 1 Mennella & Beauchamp 1991,
1993; Mennella 1997, 1999 |
