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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Alcohol and breastfeeding

17 replies

MissBax · 27/04/2018 19:10

Yes, IABU to post here for traffic!

Tomorrow evening I'm going out properly for the first time since having my daughter (8 months). I can't quite articulate just how excited I am - yippee!

It'll be for food mainly, but it'd be the cherry on the cake to have a few drinks too.

DD is only just taking a bottle, which is why I'm only now able to go out.

So DH will give a bottle and get DD to bed, but DD does use my breast for comfort alot through the night and so I'm cautious about what, if anything I can have realistically.

My tipple of choice would be wine.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

OP posts:
dannydyerismydad · 27/04/2018 19:14

So long as you're sober enough not to drop your baby, it's fine for your baby to feed from you. However, please be extra vigilant at night - bed sharing after alcohol is a no no.

After several months without a drink you may find yourself rather tipsy after a couple of sips, so go slowly.

Have a fun night.

TattyDevine · 27/04/2018 19:16

NCT breastfeeding person advised us (10 years ago) to crack on in moderation, so to speak. That alcohol leaves your breastmilk at the same rate as it does your blood, and that there's no need to pump and dump.

Not much help but sort of implies a few glasses occasionally won't hurt and that it's better to breastfeed and do that than forfeit it to have a "life" (not that you are considering that but you know what I mean) ...

MissClarke86 · 27/04/2018 19:16

What the person above said!
I did a LOT of reading and research into this and the amount of alcohol that passes brought breast milk is minute.

The only real risk is being safe enough to look after your child. Enjoy!

MotherofPearl · 27/04/2018 19:17

OP, I think a glass or two of wine would be absolutely fine, provided you don't co-sleep. I BF all 3 of my DC, and quite often had a drink.

I vividly remember attending NHS antenatal classes when I was pregnant with DC1. Someone put up their hand to ask about drinking and BF. The very jolly midwife running the class said, "I always say that if you're sober enough to sit up, you're sober enough to breastfeed!" Shock I guess the NHS are really desperate for people to BF!

icclemunchy · 27/04/2018 19:21

As others have said if your sober enough to physically nurse you're all good. Just no bed sharing. And make sure you get a lay in 😁

Have a fab night out!

Tryagaintomorrow · 27/04/2018 19:30

And chances are if She is feeeing for comfort, there’s more sucking motion than actual feeding going on so she’s not really taking much on board!

MyNameIsTotoro · 27/04/2018 20:08

Go for it and enjoy yourself! Just don't get so sloshed that you might drop her/sleep on her.

If she doesn't really need it though then I'd leave it for the evening

Original poster
MissBax · 27/04/2018 20:21

Ahhh thank you so much ladies (gents?) you have no idea how chuffed I am, and mega excited for tomorrow now!
I will have a few glasses of red and savour every sip GrinWine

OP posts:
Tartsamazeballs · 27/04/2018 21:39

Yeh you're fine to drink alcohol.

Even if you drink an absolute skinfull, your blood alcohol % is only going to be 0.5% before you completely crap out and die, and to be honest at that point you're not going to be worrying about breastfeeding.

You don't need to pump and dump, literally the only thing that acheives is to rehydrate you. alcohol in the blood stream and milk is constantly being metabolised and as soon as it's gone from your blood its gone from your blood. If you're planning a few wines, the best way to do it is feed baby as you're having drink #1, then by the time baby needs feed #2 try a bottle, then hopefully by feed #3 most of the alcohol will be metabolised.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 27/04/2018 21:44

If you're OK to drive then there is undetectable amounts of alcohol in your breastmilk. Alcohol gets metabolised on average about one unit an hour.

Bit late for tomorrow night but you can actually buy breast milk test strips from amazon that detect any alcohol left in your milk (dip test type thing) I found them quite useful after having to go to a few events where is was tricky keeping track of what I'd drank

Have a great time!

Vinorosso74 · 27/04/2018 21:53

One thing I would add. Drink a bit extra water before going out. Even if you only have two but on top of BF you could get a little dehydrated and have a bad head!

MyOtherUserNameIsAUnicorn · 27/04/2018 22:10

Thanks for asking this! I've been wanting to know too! I hope you have a good night xx

Happygummibear · 28/04/2018 09:11

I have been having the odd bacardi highly diluted since my lo was 3 months... doesn't seem to have affected her.

Enjoy!

lanbro · 28/04/2018 09:15

I drank throughout bf 2 babies for year each. Obviously wasn't drunk but a couple of glasses of wine a couple of times a week. My research found that the amount of ethanol going into the breast milk was no more than if you drank a lot of fresh Orange juice!

TotHappy · 28/04/2018 09:22

I worried about this so much when dd was small (more so as we coslept) but did do it anyway. I'm still bfing her now at nearly 2 and don't even think about it anymore! You dont HAVE to limit yourself to one or two, get drunk if you want to... She will be fine... Altho getting up in the night after drinking is a bitch. Plus one or two probably will get you drunk after the abstinence! But ohhhh hangovers are horrible with a baby/toddler.

Unforgiving2 · 28/04/2018 09:30

Midwife told me a bottle of wine in breast milk is the equivalent to a bottle of wine in a swimming pool.

Sassypants82 · 28/04/2018 09:33

I often fed my children while drinking a glass of wine. Like above posters have said, once you're OK to hold her, you're fine. But don't co sleep with drink on you.

Have a great night!

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