It is important to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration while nursing. Contrary to popular belief however, drinking does not effect your milk production. You will naturally be thirstier while nursing and simply drinking when you’re thirsty will keep you hydrated. An easy way to do this is to enjoy a glass of water, herbal tea or natural fruit juice when you sit down to nurse. It is important to drink at least 8 cups of liquid a day.
It would be wise to avoid certain beverages that may negatively affect your baby or milk. Most herbal teas can be drunk while nursing, but peppermint tea has been shown to lower milk production and should be avoided. Coffee, tea, soda and hot cocoa should be drunk in moderation, due to caffeine. Drinking less than five cups a day should not affect a healthy full term infant. If you begin to notice that your baby is unusually wakeful or colicky you might lower your intake of caffeinated beverages.
A nursing mother can safely drink a serving or two of alcohol with food and continue nursing. Consuming alcohol to a degree where you are intoxicated will affect your baby’s development and growth and will make him sleepy. More importantly, excessive drinking will affect your ability to care for your baby. If you plan on drinking more than a couple drinks, pump some milk before hand and hire a babysitter for the evening.
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