Radhika Apte Having Champagne While Breast Pumping Leaves Netizens Divided; Experts Explain If It's Right For The Baby

Actress Radhika Apte, who welcomed her first child in December 2024, has become the talk of the town after she shared a photo of herself on Instagram. In the now-viral photo, she can be seen breast pumping and having champagne at the same time. The photo is from the behind the scenes of BAFTA awards.

Many people on Instagram called out the actress for having alcohol while she is still feeding her child. Her choices as a breastfeeding mother were also questioned by many.

"I am sorry to say Radhika but you are giving a wrong message through this pic. If you are expressing milk while drinking, there is a very high chance that the alcohol will be transferred to your baby. It is very unhealthy for the baby," wrote an Instagram user. Another person wrote, "Are you kidding…you cannot have alcohol and breastfeed at the same time."

Times Now Digital spoke to Dr. Mannan Gupta, Chairman & HOD- Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Elantis Healthcare, New Delhi, if it is safe to consume alcohol when you are breastfeeding.

He explained, "Moderate drinking is usually safe for lactating mothers if done cautiously. Specialists suggest limiting it to one drink a day and at least a two-hour wait before breastfeeding to make sure minimal transfer of alcohol into breast milk occurs."

He further said that frequent or excessive drinking can be dangerous to both mother and infant. Other mothers prefer to express and refrigerate milk prior to drinking to make sure no danger is present. If drinking is infrequent and in moderation, it is not likely to have much impact on the baby.

On asking if this has any consequences for the mother, he said, "Excessive drinking is unhealthy for the mother as it leads to dehydration and reduced milk flow. Alcohol may also slow down judgment, thereby making the process of looking after the baby unsafe. It leads to disrupted sleep, thus to fatigue, something that already is prevalent with new mothers."

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that moderation is the key.

A section of people on the internet also hailed the actress for normalizing the challenges that motherhood comes with.

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