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Original poster

Just drank alcohol and breastfed

38 replies

Benandjerrysbonnoffeepie · 01/10/2023 18:53

I was at a family party this afternoon and was given a drink. Somehow they thought it was alcohol free but turns out there was some fruity rum in it or something and apparently quite a lot. I’m breastfeeding my 7 week old just now, have I done any damage to him? I fed him an hour after I drank it!

I think I may be overthinking but I can’t help thinking I have done something awful!

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 01/10/2023 19:39

You can drink in moderation and breastfeed. The amount of alcohol in your breastmilk is incredibly small. Really, the issue is that you are sober enough to care for your child which is true if you are breastfeeding or formula feeding.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 01/10/2023 19:41

Unless you are the designated driver I can't see the problem!?

LethalToddlerElbows · 01/10/2023 19:43

It's totally fine don't stress.

I remember my health visitor giving me some tips on positions for breastfeeding and saying for one position 'and then this hand is free to hold a nice glass of wine!'.

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Alpacasmum · 01/10/2023 19:48

My Mum (1950's) drank Guiness while feeding me as she thought it would do me good - she admits that I slept for the first three months of my life!😄

DappledOliveGroves · 01/10/2023 19:48

I think I had my first glass of wine when DD was 3 days’ old. I missed alcohol when pregnant! I drank from time to time whilst breastfeeding and never gave it a second thought. DD always slept in a next to me or cot, though (she has never wanted to cosleep) and so I didn’t have to worry about bed sharing which is likely the bigger risk with alcohol.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/10/2023 19:53

Absolutely fine. Hope you have a lovely time Wink

Darkmode2 · 01/10/2023 20:06

nocoolnamesleft · 01/10/2023 19:07

I've never understood how this could happen. Alcohol tastes horrifically bitter. I've previously been given a "mocktail", taken one sip, and known there was alcohol in it because of the bitterness. I've had people try to slip me alcoholic drinks to con me that they're nice, again, instantly recognisable as alcohol. Can people really not taste it?

More helpfully, not enough alcohol will get through to your baby to cause any harm.

Some alcohol tastes like juice to me lol not bitter at all

nocoolnamesleft · 01/10/2023 20:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Yep. Because, despite extensive attempts, I've never found a drink containing alcohol that didn't taste horrifically bitter. Always assumed drinkers just like the bitter taste.

threecupsofteaminimum · 01/10/2023 22:04

You & baby will be absolutely fine do not worry. Flowers

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 01/10/2023 22:06

Gemzee · 01/10/2023 18:57

As far as I'm aware you can't pass alcohol through breastfeeding, it's advised to avoid alcohol while having a baby due to safety (holding/carrying baby etc). This is what my midwife told me while pregnant, I'm no expert though as only have 1 non breastfed child.

That's not correct - some does pass through to baby

PinkRoses1245 · 01/10/2023 22:20

Completely fine, enjoy it. You’d have to actually get drunk in order for it to ruin your milk.

TrainspottingWelsh · 01/10/2023 22:24

Dd is 19, but I remember being told by the hv and other nutters that the alcohol passes straight into the milk, and that essentially don’t have anything you wouldn’t give them directly. This was very helpful because it was clearly bollocks, given I wouldn’t give a newborn coffee, a bacon sandwich, takeaway etc. I think the fear mongering is more subtle now though.

As well as the advice about you being too drunk to feed a baby long before your milk could do any harm, I was also told by other sensible people that if you do want to drink a fair bit, then just express before hand. Obviously assuming someone else can feed them. And then discard the post alcohol milk, not because of the alcohol risk but because it can change the taste they are used to. Same as if you normally eat bland food and suddenly eat an incredibly spicy curry, it wouldn’t be harmful but your baby might not like the sudden change.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/10/2023 07:05

TrainspottingWelsh · 01/10/2023 22:24

Dd is 19, but I remember being told by the hv and other nutters that the alcohol passes straight into the milk, and that essentially don’t have anything you wouldn’t give them directly. This was very helpful because it was clearly bollocks, given I wouldn’t give a newborn coffee, a bacon sandwich, takeaway etc. I think the fear mongering is more subtle now though.

As well as the advice about you being too drunk to feed a baby long before your milk could do any harm, I was also told by other sensible people that if you do want to drink a fair bit, then just express before hand. Obviously assuming someone else can feed them. And then discard the post alcohol milk, not because of the alcohol risk but because it can change the taste they are used to. Same as if you normally eat bland food and suddenly eat an incredibly spicy curry, it wouldn’t be harmful but your baby might not like the sudden change.

But if you ate a spicy curry you wouldn’t express and then discard the milk just in case the baby didn’t like it?!

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