Blood alcohol and breastmilk

June 27, 2001

9 news has just had the report I mentioned earlier.

6 mothers were given a glass of wine and drank it. They were then

breath tested and readings were generally around the 0.02 mark (0.05

is the limit here). After taking the breath test they gave a

breastmilk sample.

Half an hour later after a second glass of wine they were tested

again. Readings were from 0.023 to 0.037 but one mother was found to

be over the limit at 0.054. They gave a second breastmilk sample.

They were then given food and non-alocholic drinks (coffee) and most

fed their babies about an hour later.

For the mother who was over the limit her readings were:

After one glass

Breath test: 0.027

Breastmilk: 0.031

After 2nd glass

Breath test: 0.054

Breastmilk: 0.060

One hour later:

Breath: 0.03

Bmilk: 0.04

There's an organisation here called Mothersafe which advises mums on

the taking of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding

(for BFCs - there was a copy of 'Medications and Mothers' Milk on the

desk). They recommend that mothers try to time feeds carefully if

they are going to drink.

The report ended saying there is no need for hysteria - 1 or 2 drinks

a day is not going to hurt.

I suppose the readings mean that the fluid the baby is drinking is 4%

alcohol - would that be right? Like drinking a beer?

Debbie feel free to correct any of this if I've misheard and you do

catch it later.

--

Sue

Melbourne Australia

June 27, 2001

A blood alcohol level of 0.04 means 0.04 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.

Beer concentration is 4g of alcohol in 100g of water

Joyce

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From: Sue and Grae Woollett [sMTP:woollett6@...]