Please enable JavaScript to view all features on this site. Estimated Time Until Zero Level of Alcohol in Breast Milk Women who are breast feeding and wish to drink socially may reduce exposure to their infants by storing milk before drinking and/or waiting for complete alcohol elimination from the breast milk.

The calculator below estimates the time it would take to eliminate alcohol in the breast milk after consuming a given number of alcoholic drinks. Weight in pounds Number of drinks 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 drink = 12oz 5% beer 5 oz 11% wine 1.5 oz 40% liquor Assumptions: Time is calculated from the beginning of drinking

Alcohol metabolism is constant 15 mg/dL

Height of the woman is 5 feet 4 inches REFERENCES

1. Ho E, Collantes A, Kapur BM, Moretti M, Koren G.Alcohol and breast feeding: calculation of time to zero level in milk. Biol Neonate. 2001;80(3):219-22. MEDLINE

2. Motherisk Update: Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding

http://www.cfpc.ca/cfp/2002/Jan/vol48-jan-clinical-1.asp

accessed 9/29/05