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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

breasrfeeding and alcohol!

16 replies

ruthietoothie · 03/12/2011 23:12

I've just started bf my first.child. its going well but im a bit confused about if i can have one small drink on an evening. Thought it was ok just to have one drink on an evening but now i see that some guidance says not.

Just wondered what others do! I obviously want to do whatever is best for my baby but after a long day a little drink would be nice! !

OP posts:
Casmama · 03/12/2011 23:16

I didn't drink at all for the first couple of months but once the feeding pattern was a bit more predictable I would have a glass of wine after a feed knowing it would probably be 2-3 hrs till the next feed. I think only a very small amount of alcohol goes into the breast milk but I wouldn't get drunk.

fluffytowels · 03/12/2011 23:17

I always did Blush.

There are few pleasures when breastfeeding and a relaxing glass of wine can do wonders.

There have been studies about how much alcohol would have to be in your system to transfer to baby. Can't remember what it is but I did read it at the time and was not unduly worried.

Am no expert though and am prepared to be shot down in flames.

Casmama · 03/12/2011 23:18

This website is great for all matters breast feeding

naturalbaby · 03/12/2011 23:20

i have a small drink after the last feed of the day at bedtime, now my 10month old has finally dropped the dream feed i can have a slightly bigger drink! there have been a few times when i've had a bit more or baby has woken up sooner than expected and demanded a feed and i had no option.

the general advice i go by is if you're safe to drive, you're safe to feed. your blood alcohol level is the same as the alcohol level in your milk.

LoopyLoopsWoopDeWoops · 03/12/2011 23:21

I haven't given it a second thought. Have been drunk quite a few times, BFed 2 babies. Meh.

Original poster
ruthietoothie · 03/12/2011 23:25

Ta for the advice! Appreciate it. Casmama - what's rhetorically website you.recommend? It first seem to be coming up on the thread. I guess theres always the expressing option too though font want to start that for a while! X

OP posts:
Dalrymps · 03/12/2011 23:29

I know a lactation consultant. Her advice was to treat it like drinking and driving. So one unit will take roughly one hour to clear from your breast milk. Breastmilk is constantly refreshed in the breasts so no need to pump and dump. I always had one or two drinks once ds was a few months old. Usually after a feed, so chances were it would be out of my system for next feed though it didn't always work that way as babies are unpredictable! It's a very tiny amount that actually goes in to the breastmilk.Smile

MrsRhettButler · 03/12/2011 23:31

Same as loopy

COCKadoodledooo · 03/12/2011 23:34

I did occasionally with ds1 but he would bite me something chronic - turned out it delayed my let down and he was biting out of frustration. I stopped after that and then only started again when I knew he'd have a good long sleep after his last feed (so about 13 months then Xmas Hmm)

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 03/12/2011 23:34

Isn't it too late too ask, OP? Judging by the title you've already had a few. Wink Grin

zimm · 04/12/2011 09:04

It fine, enjoy!

AnaisB · 04/12/2011 09:08

Having a glass of wine is fine and the level of alcohol in your milk will be the same as your blood alcohol level. Alcohol can effect let down though, and some people are particularly sensitive to this.

MysteriousHamster · 04/12/2011 10:38

I happily have a glass or two when my DS has gone to bed and I know it'll be hours until I'm called upon again. Don't really think about it!

TruthSweet · 04/12/2011 11:43

This is probably the best information ever produced on bfing & alcohol (if you pardon the punWink).

It even has a chart that shows, based on mother's weight and amount of alcohol drunk, how long before all the alcohol is out of her system (not that you can't bf with a small amount of alcohol in your system but it's useful for seeing how long until you could safely co-sleep if you do co-sleep, or if you had a very prem baby you might wish to discard milk pumped while you still had alcohol in your milk whilst still keeping up supplies).

HTH

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 04/12/2011 12:48

yup - especially during a feed because it'll take longer to get out of your blood stream. Think it was one of my midwives who said you'd have to drink a lot in one go for enough of it to get to your baby through your breastmilk to affect the baby.

She said don't get drunk because it's dangerous to be in charge of a baby while drunk, as opposed to the alcohol in your breastmilk so I reckon the drink/drive rule is a good one.

DD is 8days old, I have had a large glass of wine or champagne every day since she was born!

Graciescotland · 04/12/2011 12:57

I didn't drink when DS was new, no alcohol or caffeine. He just seemed so tiny and delicate and I was a bit PFB! From around 4 month I drank wine (one glass) sometimes and a couple of cups of tea/ coffee a day.

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