Although I want to breastfeed my new baby, I don't want to give up having an occasional glass of wine. Any advice?

Timing and moderation are the answer, says Dr. Judy Hopkinson, a lactation physiologist with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Although alcohol does get into breast milk, if you nurse your infant before you drink, wait at least two hours after drinking to breastfeed again, and limit yourself to an occasional three-ounce glass of wine, you can feel confident that your baby will remain alcohol-free. But, if you drink more or nurse sooner, exposure to alcohol could become a problem for your infant.

Babies don't metabolize alcohol very well, so even a small amount can affect an infant's nursing and sleep patterns. Initially, alcohol reduces how long babies nurse by inducing sleep. But several hours later, it has the opposite affect and begins to interfere with sleep. Regular alcohol exposure can also affect a baby's behavior and coordination.

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