Paediatricians have urged breastfeeding mothers to avoid alcohol consumption, warning that excessive alcohol intake can interfere with breast milk production and the milk-ejection reflex, potentially reducing the amount of milk available to infants.
The warning was contained in comments by child-health experts cited by PUNCH Healthwise, following concerns about limited awareness among nursing mothers about the potential effects of alcohol on breastfeeding.
According to the experts, alcohol can pass from a mother’s bloodstream into breast milk. Repeated or heavy consumption may affect milk production, reduce milk let-down and expose infants to alcohol.
Dr Abdurrazzaq Alege, Head of Paediatrics at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, said the amount and frequency of alcohol consumed were important factors in determining the level of exposure.
He said alcohol could interfere with milk production, meaning an infant could suck actively but receive less milk than expected. He also said alcohol exposure could affect an infant’s appetite for breast milk.
Dr Muhammed-Jamiu Yusuf, a Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, similarly said alcohol could alter the quantity and composition of breast milk while allowing some alcohol to enter the infant’s system.
Yusuf said alcohol exposure could affect infant sleep and, with repeated exposure, potentially interfere with normal growth and neurological development.
What health guidance says
The warning is broadly consistent with guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers.
The CDC notes that alcohol levels in breast milk are broadly similar to those in a mother’s bloodstream and that excessive consumption can interfere with the milk-ejection reflex. Over time, excessive drinking may contribute to reduced milk production and shorter breastfeeding duration.
The CDC also says that moderate consumption of up to one standard drink per day is not known to be harmful to an infant, although mothers who drink can wait at least two hours after a single drink before breastfeeding to reduce the infant’s exposure.
The NHS similarly advises that alcohol can pass into breast milk and says regular drinking above recommended limits may reduce milk supply and affect an infant’s sleep, growth and development.
Nigeria’s breastfeeding challenge
The issue is particularly significant in Nigeria, where exclusive breastfeeding rates remain below recommended levels.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said in August that only 29 per cent of Nigerian infants are exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life, citing the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey.
The ministry has reaffirmed the recommendation for early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods up to two years and beyond.
The government has also launched a 1,000 Days of Life Social and Behaviour Change Campaign, aimed at improving nutrition practices from pregnancy through a child’s second birthday.
The ministry described the first 1,000 days as a critical period for physical growth, brain development and long-term health, while identifying inadequate counselling and harmful cultural beliefs among the barriers to optimal breastfeeding practices.
Experts urge caution
The paediatricians said breastfeeding mothers should be particularly cautious about alcohol because infants are dependent on breast milk for essential nutrients during early life.
However, medical guidance distinguishes between occasional moderate consumption and excessive or repeated drinking. The evidence does not support the claim that every instance of alcohol consumption automatically makes breastfeeding unsafe.
The CDC states that mothers who have consumed alcohol can wait at least two hours per standard drink before breastfeeding. It also advises mothers who expect to drink to plan ahead by expressing and storing milk beforehand when appropriate.
For Nigerian families, health professionals say greater awareness of breastfeeding recommendations, access to counselling and support for mothers remain important to improving infant nutrition and growth.
