Breastfeeding and alcohol on holiday

[Jobelly]

We're off on holiday in 2 weeks and DD2 will be 9 months. Now stupidly when I booked the villa in the depths of a miserable hyperemesis pregnancy I was imagining sitting on the veranda with a wonderful view sipping on a lovely chilled wine. How, when this was 3rd child, I forgot I would probably still be breastfeeding I don't know.
Anyways at the moment on a weekend I will have either a glass of wine or a couple of glass of this 4% spitzini stuff I found in asda on an evening and I was kind of thinking for holiday I would be ok with a glass of wine every evening when I have dinner. I can't remember what I did with the other two when they were young and we were on holiday but as far as alcohol and breastfeeding goes does this sound as though it is within limits of what is safe.

[PenguinsHatchedAnEgg]

It is fine. Nice glass of wine after he is in bed. Especially if he tends to do a decent'ish first stretch of sleep.

[Jeggie]

There's some info around that I've seem that says even if you were over the drive limit, the alcohol levels in BM would be comparable to apple juice. I don't have a good link handy but maybe someone else does? I saw this which is ok but not as clear as the article I saw. www.lalecheleague.org/faq/alcohol.html

There is a possible effect on let down (I've felt it myself too) so feeding can be a bit more drawn out or a top up might be needed after a couple of hours...

More important to worry about not cosleeping or falling asleep on sofa feeding when you've had a drink as that is a real risk. Or trying to cope next day with a hangover!!

Presumably different if you have a drink problem as daily tiny doses would add up for a little liver but a drink or two now and then is just not going to cause an issue.

From what I remember alcohol content in BM is similar to bloodstream, so where when your pregnant blood goes straight to baby's blood, when ur bf milk goes to stomach first then into blood so percentages in baby's blood are far lower. I'm no medic though, can you tell?!

[Jobelly]

Thanks both of you. As DD2 does tend to come in the bed for a middle of the night feed we are just talking about a single glass of wine a night for that reason as much as the breastfeeding.

[Surfsup1]

When your blood alcohol is at .05 your breast milk has the same alcohol content as orange juice (i.e bugger all). So have your wine and relax!!

[Jeggie]

Have a lovely holiday

[leedy]

What everyone else said! Have a great holiday and enjoy your wine!

[leedy]

Also for further reassurance:
babyandbump.momtastic.com/breastfeeding/2015181-alcohol-breastmilk-reposted-dr-jack-newmans-fb-page.html

Really, you would have to be absolutely hammered for a dangerous amount of wine to pass into your breastmilk. The biggest danger when drinking and breastfeeding is being too drunk to look after the baby, not your breastmilk.

[worldgonecrazy]

When I was really struggling, in the early days, the HV told me to have a glass of wine at night. It helped make me feel more human and it is advice that I share often. There is enough guilt involved in being a mother, without ill-informed people trying to make you feel guilty about something that will do no harm.

If you are cosleeping then you may need to make safer arrangements or just put a cot close to your bed.

Have a lovely holiday. We took DD abroad at a similar age and she really enjoyed trying different flavours too. There's nothing quite like a contented garlicky burp from a well-fed baby to know you're doing something right.

[Jobelly]

It makes me feel so much better, I feel guilty after even a glass of wine, much more than I did with my first 9 years ago. Might have to have a glass tonight to celebrate!
Thanks for all the replies.

[squizita]

My NCT breastfeeding lady said "by the time your BM was compromised, you/your DH would feel uneasy about you holding the baby as you'd be wobbling all about drunkenly!" - which I took to mean a light social drink is OK.

[weebairn]

Drinking when breastfeeding is absolutely fine as long as you're not wasted or dangerous to be looking after a baby. It's not like being pregnant.

I would definitely have two glasses of wine on a special occasion and not think anything of it. One glass with dinner was pretty standard in this house!

Not a good idea to drink and co-sleep, though, as other have said.

Have a lovely holiday :)