Regulation of Milk Intake After Exposure to Alcohol in Mothers' Milk

Abstract

These findings demonstrate that short-term exposure to small amounts of alcohol in mothers' milk produces distinctive changes in the infants' patterns of feeding.

Maternal Medication, Drug Use, and Breastfeeding

“…25 In an interesting study of the effect of alcohol on milk ingestion by infants, the rate of milk consumption by infants during the 4 hours immediately after exposure to alcohol (0.3 g/kg) in 12 mothers was significantly less. 26 Reduction of letdown is apparently dosedependent and requires alcohol consumption of 1.5 to 1.9 g/kg. 27 Other studies have suggested psychomotor delay in infants of moderate drinkers (>2 drinks daily).…”

Gestational ethanol exposure alters the behavioral response to ethanol odor and the expression of neurotransmission genes in the olfactory bulb of adolescent rats

“…There is an extensive animal and human literature that addresses the role that fetal and postnatal learning about ethanol’s chemosensory attributes plays in later perception, preference and intake of ethanol (Abate et al, 2000, 2001; Arias and Chotro, 2005; Chotro and Arias, 2003; Faas et al, 2000; Mennella, 1999, 2001; Mennella and Beauchamp, 1998; Molina et al, 1995, 1999; Spear and Molina, 2001, 2005). With specific respect to in utero exposure, when ethanol is present as a stimulus in the amniotic fluid of the developing fetus its presence can later lead to a memory of ethanol’s sensory-related cues as well as an association between both its sensory attributes and its unconditioned properties (Abate et al, 2000, 2001).…”

Nervous System Changes

“…This clinical box highlights some of the issues related to alcohol use from a developmental perspective. 164,165,[199][200][201][202][203][204][205][206][207][208][209] Prenatal • Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects are part of the fetal alcohol spectrum of disorders. • Prenatal exposure to alcohol puts the developing fetus at risk for developmental disabilities.…”