Drinking alcohol when breastfeeding?

[Newmummytobe79]

Must be because it's Friday and a few of us are thinking about our pre-pregnancy weekends but there seems to be quite a few alcohol posts.

I've got 9 weeks to go and to be honest I've not missed drinking that much! I've had the odd glass or two on special occasions - but that's it really.

But ... I am looking forward to a vino or two when baby is here but would also like to bf. How much is ok when breastfeeding?

[RuthChan]

I've never been much of a heavy drinker and I abstained almost entirely while pregnant.
While breastfeeding I indulged in a half a glass/a glass maybe once or twice a month. I'm sure more is ok, but I never felt the need.

[PrincessScrumpy]

My GP told me to have a glass of wine before I bf dd1 as she was not a good sleeper and it said it might help her, but it would also help me relax. He advised a max of 2 glasses. tbh I was woozy after one so stopped there. 3 years on dh still says I'm a cheap date as I really can't drink much now.

[suzikettles]

Alcohol leaves breast milk at the same rate as it leaves your bloodstream (not that much gets in there anyway). So if you're personally uncomfortable at bf and drinking then you could always time it for just after a feed and it should be out of your system by the next one (depending on the baby!).

Absolutely no need to ever pump and dump as it doesn't work that way.

I probably drank at about the same level as before pregnancy, eg the odd glass of fizzy to celebrate ds's arrival, wine with Sunday dinner/special occasions, possibly the odd glass in the evening. I wasn't counting, but maybe 10 units a week?

Anyway, the only time I felt guilty about it was when ds was 7 month old and I went out for my first "big night" since he had been born and drank quite a bit - plus it was a very late night. Dh ff him while I was out and he was sleeping through by then so had his first bf around 7 that morning. There must have been a fair amount of alcohol there as he then slept until 11.30am which was utter bliss with a hangover, but made me feel like worlds worst mum .

Tbh, you absolutely don't want a hangover when you've got a baby anyway..

[Ragwort]

I had a (large) glass of wine most evenings when breast feeding. No obvious side effects - perhaps that's why DS was such a good sleeper .