PALM WINE IS HARMFUL TO NEW MUM AND A BREASTFEEDING CHILD

My pastor‘s wife had sought for an advice from me concerning the choice of hospital for the delivery of her sister in-law.

Her Sister in-law who was based in another West African country had come back to Nigeria for the delivery of her baby.

She had her antenatal care in the West African country but came home to Nigeria for the delivery.

I had suggested hospitals to her based on locations, competence and convenience and expertise.

 The patient delivered safely, a baby girl with normal weight, mother and baby were fine.

I had gone to congratulate her and to see that the baby girl was doing fine. I met the mum she was happy, on a lighter mood baby was also happy as evidenced by the numerous spontaneous smiles from the baby.

I asked for my pastor’s wife, she was said to have gone out. I later met her at the reception and noticed she was worried. The following ensues between us:

Myself: Congrats Ma, where have you been?

Pastor’s wife: Doctor, I’ve been out all day in search of palm wine for the new mum.

Myself:  Palm wine! Palm what!

Pastor’s wife: The nurse requested i get the palm wine for the new mum so that the mother can lactate.

Myself: No ma, you need to hold on, you don’t need to get it, and the mum doesn’t need palm wine either.

Pastor’s wife: But the nurse asked us to go and get it, anyway thank God, thank you

I later approached the nurse, who requested for the palm wine to be brought and given to the new mum.

I asked her if she knows that palm wine contains on the average up to 6% alcohol, I also asked her whether she knows that alcohol passes through the breast milk and can affect the baby.

She replied that it is cultural practice that works but agreed that it was not a medical proven treatment and that it was not ordered by the doctor.

Medical Explanation

Naturally, palm wine is a low alcoholic drink. Its alcoholic content is as little three per cent, But fermented palm wine has the potential to breed as high 12 per cent alcoholic content.

When Palm wine a form of alcohol is taken by breastfeeding mum, it passes into the breast milk.

It is on record that there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption while breastfeeding.

Mums should avoid Palm wine/alcohol intake in the first month after a baby is born until breastfeeding is well established because it impedes the milk flow.

It takes about 2 hours for the average woman to clear 1 standard drink alcohol from her system,  therefore 4 hours for 2 drinks, 6 hours for 3 drinks and so on.

Effect of Palmwine/Alcohol on breastfeeding mum

Using alcohol may make the mum fall into a deep sleep which can be dangerous to the baby.

 Mums who are going to drink alcohol are strongly advised not to have their baby sleep with them on the bed .They are to always put babies in their cots.

They may not wake for the baby’s next feed, or if the baby becomes distressed. They are to make ‘safety plans’ – have a responsible adult to take care of the baby.

Palm wine is used by some mums as post natal beverage. This is dangerous to health; the levels of alcohol in breast milk remain close to those in the mother’s bloodstream.

Levels will be at their highest between 30 and 60 minutes after drinking, or 90 minutes if drinking with a meal.

It takes two hours for a unit of alcohol (a small glass of wine, or half a pint of ordinary-strength beer) to leave a mother’s blood.

Effect of Palmwine/ Alcohol on breastfed babies

While large amounts of alcohol in breast milk can have a sedative effect on the babies, it’s more likely to make the babies agitated and disrupt their sleep patterns.
When a nursing mother takes it, it gets into the breast milk and the baby sleeps and nobody is suckling anything. Soon, the mother starts complaining that she is not lactating enough.
Alcohol inhibits a mother’s let-down (the release of milk to the nipple). Studies have shown that babies take around 20% less milk if there’s alcohol present, so they’ll need to feed more often.
 Some infants have been known to go on ‘nursing strike’, probably because of the altered taste of alcohol in the milk.
In conclusion, drinking palm wine by breastfeeding mums is counterproductive because it is proven scientifically that palm wine does not make the breast flow. It reduces the flow contrary to perceived increase by traditions.
The act of palmwine drinking by new mum is a myth, with no scientific basis or benefit. Most importantly, it is a HARMFUL PRACTICE.