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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To enjoy a glass of wine once a day whilst breastfeeding?

27 replies

bumpandkind · 01/07/2013 22:56

I am drinking one glass of wine every evening (125 mls measured) and I am exclusively breastfeeding my three week old son. Due to the nature of BFing at this age I try but not always successfully to avoid feeding for an hour afterwards. Thoughts please!

OP posts:

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 01/07/2013 23:02

I think it is fine. Enjoy!

Eilidhbelle · 01/07/2013 23:06

Hmm. I'm expecting DC1 just now and so haven't been drinking at all. I would think that a glass of wine every evening is quite a lot when you're BF, just like a glass every night while pregnant would be.

But that's just my opinion, and everyone has different ideas on what is/isn't ok.

OxfordBags · 01/07/2013 23:08

My thoughts are that I find it hard to comprehend why you would drink alcohol if you can't avoid feeding your son so relatively soon after drinking it. It is just not good for him and sorry, but I think you are being thoughtless, IMHO. Is a single, measured glass of wine really so essential? If it's your 'treat', there's a huge range of other things to treat yourself with that aren't negative for his health. He is so tiny and young, would it kill you to just not drink any alcohol at all for a while, at least until you can be more assured of there being a decent window of non-feeding time after you partake?

Am sure you will get loads of posters telling you it's fine, but I personally don't understand why people need alcohol or can't knock it on the head temporarily, esp. when BFing.

TooTabooToBoo · 01/07/2013 23:11

I am EBF my 13 week old son. I do have a glass of wine maybe twice a week max, most weeks none.

Personally, I did not feel the desire to drink with such a young baby to take care of, even 1 glass can leave me a little light headed after 9 months of very light drinking whilst pregnant.

It's up to you obviously but every night and baby so young, I think its not best practice (for want of another term which evades me at the moment)

Any drink I have is after the last feed at 8pm ish and before the first feed at 4am ish.

Threetofour · 01/07/2013 23:11

It is absolutely fine a miniscule amount of that wine is in your milk the danger of drinking would be getting drunk and dropping the baby or not looking after it properly....... One small glass of wine a day is doing no harm at all

Tweetinat · 01/07/2013 23:12

It's been a while since I was feeding my son, but I found a great amount of info on the KellyMom site which was really reassuring about how much alcohol actually gets through to breast milk: iirc it's minimal. YANBU - enjoy your wine!

maja00 · 01/07/2013 23:13

The amount of alcohol in your milk will be the same as in your bloodstream - almost none. There is more alcohol in alcohol free beer than in your milk after a glass of wine or two.

BuntyCollocks · 01/07/2013 23:14

It won't be harming your DS - btw congrats! - but that amount of drinking isn't healthy for you.

Kiwiinkits · 01/07/2013 23:15

One glass of wine is absolutely fine and absolutely not going to harm your baby. I wouldn't have more than that though.
FWIW I noticed the stuff that DID have an effect on my babies. One of the worst offenders is chocolate. Eating chocolate and then bf'ing just seemed to lead to her being a bit unsettled and wakeful. So I would be more cautious about chocolate than wine!

maja00 · 01/07/2013 23:16

Bunty - a small glass of wine (1.5ish units) is well within recommended limits per day.

IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou · 01/07/2013 23:17

Hardly any alcohol passes into breastmilk but it does peak at about an hour afterwards, or slightly longer if you drink with food.

ImagineJL · 01/07/2013 23:17

I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't want a 3 week old baby having any alcohol at all, not even a tiny amount.

Threetofour · 01/07/2013 23:18

Yes sorry but 1.5 units a day is fine for a woman to be drinking!

Cutitup · 01/07/2013 23:19

Chin chin, keep it up and relax. Baby will be fine. Enjoy your time. Before you know it, they'll be dressing up as a popstar. This time is precious and breastfeeding is boring and time consuming so do what you do to make it work for you.

Having said that, I did do a few milk dumps after a party and relied on formula. DD is tall, athletic and powerful. Nothing to worry about.

tulipflowers · 01/07/2013 23:22

There is nothing wrong with u being able to unwind with a glass of wine, if u did not have a way to unwind then u would be more stressed and that would not help u and the baby

IfNotNowThenWhen · 01/07/2013 23:24

I dont think its safe if you are co sleeping. Bfing made me really sleepy, and i would often fall asleep feeding ( on the bed). That sleepiness would be made dangerous with wine. And i remember having about half a glass of champagne to wet the babys head when he was a week old and feeling pissed, due to no tolerance after so long teetotal.just dont do it. You dont need it. Also, alchohol makes any stress worse, and can cause low mood .

honeytea · 01/07/2013 23:24

It wont be effecting you son at all. There is a huge difference between drinking whist pregnant and drinking whilst breastfeeding, your milk will be 0.03% alcohol or some tiny amount ( type in blood alcohol level to Google and you get charts that tell you what your blood alcohol level is bassed on how much you have had to drink and how heavy you are)

I would be concerned about co-sleeping and on nights when I have drunk alcohol I put ds in his cot till he wakes at 4ish ( by which time I think the alcohol is out of my system) I would also be concerned for you that the drinking alcohol everyday could be negatively effecting your quality of sleep but only you can gage that.

And congratulations!!

intheshed · 01/07/2013 23:26

It's absolutely fine! At least, if it's not, DD2's been drunk for the past 3 years...

Guitargirl · 01/07/2013 23:28

YANBU but even I (hardened wine drinker!) would suggest a few days every week not drinking at all just because it would probably be good for your liver to have some totally alcohol-free days.

McNewPants2013 · 01/07/2013 23:29

I would say not every night but no harm in a few nights a week.

auntmargaret · 01/07/2013 23:32

My midwife told me that moderate drinking was fine for BF. I've done it through 2 babies. Relax. Enjoy. And congratulations.

SirBoobAlot · 01/07/2013 23:38

Regular drinking like that is actually more dangerous for you than the odd binge. Is there a reason you feel the need to drink every night?

I'd be cautious. And the alcohol level peaks in your milk at around the hour mark.

Whatthefeck · 01/07/2013 23:38

I think a glass of wine every single day is too much. It's in excess of the department of health guidelines, which is 1-2 units once or twice a week and although the breastfeeding network advice isn't exceptionally clear, it does mention the DOH guidelines and it does suggest consumption should not be regular or chronic.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/dibm/Alcohol_and_Breastfeeding_Oct_2012.pdf

So, yes, I think YABU.

Original poster

bumpandkind · 01/07/2013 23:48

Very interesting responses and I am taking them all on board. After 9 months off the sauce I should be able to cut the glass of wine down to 2-3 times a week!

OP posts:

Ham69 · 02/07/2013 01:13

Congratulations on your DS and for giving him the best start in life. I found breastfeeding quite tricky the second time round, even though I'd been on a breastfeeding helper's course, and found a glass of wine a night really helped me relax. I co slept, breastfed exclusively for 6 months and carried on for 2 years. Good for you and enjoy!

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