Breastfeeding and alcohol - what do you do?

[LouiseD29]

It's Saturday night and I'm gagging for a couple of glasses of wine, but I'm still fairly new to this breastfeeding lark and nervous about the impact it might have on my milk.

Interested to hear other people's views on how much they drink while bf'ing. What do you do?

[5madthings]

its fine.to have a.drink.


look om kellymum for.info.

you.say you are.new.to.bfeeding? how.old.is.baby?

[prissyenglisharriviste]

One or two is fine, but don't overdo it.

[LouiseD29]

She's a month old.

[ToddleWaddle]

I have one or two occasionally restores my sanity. Dd2 3 months is sleeping through though without a dream feed.

[nancerama]

If you're sober enough to be able to hold the baby safely, then it's OK to drink

[fivepies]

Have a drink, it's fine. I'm breastfeeding and have a glass or two of wine at the weekend. As an earlier poster said, check out kellymom. Basically you can have roughly as much as if you were driving (although I have a bit more than that!). It's more that you shouldn't be drunk in charge of a baby rather than the alcohol transferring through your milk.

[adagio]

Yep one or two here on occasion, since about 4 weeks old. Baby now 9months and thriving (and still BF).

[InTheFace]

Depends on how much you drink and how long baby goes between feeds. Alcohol enters the bloodstream some time after it is drunk. A small amount will be totally metabolised pretty quickly - one or two hours. Ao, I used to drink a smallish glass of wine during the penultimate feed of the day. It was all gone by the night feed. Got some strange looks, though.

[Judybluey]

Yep it's ok..just to have a couple of drinks and alternate with water or soft drinks...and if you have someone else with you.

[aufaniae]

I agree alternating with water is a good idea.

DP has just poured me a glass of wine, DD (5 mo) is asleep on my lap. :)

I read somewhere that the amount of booze in your breastmilk is about the same as that in your blood. You'd have to drink a lot of blood to get drunk now wouldn't you?! So I reckon the small amount in breastmilk is fine. It's not like it turns your boobs into wine-on tap! Far from it.

I agree //www.kellymom.com is a great source on this kind of thing.

[hettienne]

It's fine, just don't get wasted! If you are sober enough to care for the baby you are sober enough to feed.

[LouiseD29]

Thank you. I've just enjoyed a delicious glass of chilled Sancerre. Amazing!

[rosiedays]

?Adding bottle of red to shopping list?:)

[beepoff]

I drink quite a bit but DS sleeps through... In theory. The three times I've had a few more drinks than usual he's woken up about 1am demanding a feed. Sod's law.

[PrincessChick]

I have a glass of wine or a very weak g&t about 3 nights a week. On holiday when DD was 7 weeks I had 2.5 glasses one night, enough to feel fluffy but not drunk. DD is 3 month and as far as I can tell ok! In my very non scientific opinion a glass here and there won't hurt as it will be very much diluted, if not gone by the time it's gone through. Enjoy :)