Is It Safe To Drink Eggnog While Breastfeeding?

Eggnog is like the candy corn of Christmas. Either you love it or you hate it. Even so, this sweet and savory beverage has become a Christmas tradition in many households. But, have you ever stopped to wonder if it's safe to drink eggnog while breastfeeding?

According to USA Today eggnog originated as a wintertime drink for British aristocracy. As the name implies, eggnog contains eggs that, traditionally, are raw eggs. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that eating raw eggs can expose you to a bacteria known as salmonella which can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps lasting four to seven days. And as pediatrician Dr. Jack Newman noted in The Bump, although it's rare, the salmonella bacteria can get into a mother's breast milk if she is exposed.

In order to prevent the risk of salmonella, breastfeeding moms should only drink store bought eggnog that has been clearly labeled as pasteurized.

There are recipes for cooked eggnog, but you still must make sure that the eggs you are using are pasteurized. Baby Center warned that the eggs and milk must be heated together to 160 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill the salmonella and make it safe to drink.

You should pass on any eggnog served at a party, as you can't be sure if the eggs that were used were pasteurized or if they were heated to the correct temperature.

Eggnog is also traditionally served with alcohol. According to Very Well, drinking in moderation while breastfeeding is OK, (one drink, one or two times per week.) But, unless you mixed it in yourself, you have no way of knowing exactly how much alcohol is in the glass you're drinking, since eggnog is usually m mixed in batches.

If you are sentimental for the taste of eggnog, but are lactose intolerant or vegan, you can try some recipes for soy nog, banana nog, coconut nog, chia nog, or cashew nog.