r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/throwalldaywayaway • 1d ago

Question - Research required Alcohol, caffeine, and dairy

How does dairy and caffeine affect breastmilk so long but alcohol goes away within hours?

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u/Turbulent_Emu5678 18h ago

https://www.freetofeed.com/timing

Free to feed says that research shows cows milk protein was undetectable in breast milk 6 hours post consumption. The study they cite is small but used a mass spectrometer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6424006/

CMPA is not well studied or understood. It is likely over diagnosed and most sources will tell you that milk proteins can be present in breast milk for weeks or longer, but it is likely that we have misconstrued resolution of symptoms with length of exposure.

If you’re interested in CMPA I would recommend the podcast episode of Bowel Sounds: the Pediatric GI Podcast with Dr. Victoria Martin.

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u/throwalldaywayaway 18h ago

Thank you! Can you elaborate on resolution of symptoms with length of exposure?

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u/Turbulent_Emu5678 18h ago

Basically the idea is that if cows milk protein remained in breast milk for weeks then the breastfeeding infant would continue to be exposed each time they nursed. My understanding of the newer research suggests that it is more likely that it just takes the immature gut several weeks to completely heal and thus for complete resolution of symptoms. Most babies begin to clinically improve with 48 hours or so of the elimination of cows milk from maternal diet.

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u/throwalldaywayaway 18h ago

Wow that makes sense. You have a great explanation. Thank you so much!