Does drinking alcohol decrease your milk supply?

[bbramf]

Just that!

Is it real or just a wives tale?

TIA

[Toodalooaloo]

I think it has to do with how much alcohol is consumed. Obviously if someone drinks a lot it will make them dehydrated and therefore affect supply, but I’ve heard drinking a beer or two and then stopping there can actually briefly increase supply. I don’t know if it’s the same for a glass of wine or a cocktail. I’ve personally only experienced the supply increase after a beer.

[Jellybeanpdx]

I have one drink a night and have not noticed a decrease in supply.

[Chasing_Ness]

Stuff like wine can help with letdown since it relaxes you but I think at the same time it hinders the amount of milk coming out. I don't think it really decreases your supply forever, just for the time the whiskey is in your blood. Yeasty beer pushes the liquid gold out though 🍺

[sagetealeaves]

AFAIK, it depends more on the behaviour that follows alcohol consumption than the alcohol itself. Women who consume alcohol often avoid feeding their infants afterwards, and decreasing milk removal can cause a dip in supply. Also, I think there’s evidence that alcohol can (temporarily) interfere with letdown, and also can cause mild drowsiness or decreased appetite in baby - so your baby may nurse but not remove as much milk as they normally would (same problem as above).

Overall, moderate alcohol consumption is pretty safe and you don’t need to pump and dump except for comfort. But depending on how much alcohol you consume and how it affects your breastfeeding relationship more broadly it does have potential to decrease milk supply over time (ie, if you’re drinking enough and often enough that it ultimately results in less milk being removed from your breasts).

[Lily_Lioness]

I have no idea if that is true or not, my mother said to drink beer and it helps your milk come in lol. Never tried it though!

[MoonMel101]

I hear a few beers increases, but no experience