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Original poster

Pints & breastfeeding

256 replies

Bashinthecattick · 27/01/2023 20:09

Was in the pub and this mum walks in. Really cute tiny baby. Got chatting and she told she me had baby 4 days earlier.
Frankly I was astonished she was in the pub and not comatose but good for her if she's happy and can manage. It wasn't a mad rave, but middle of the day, family pub and she clearly felt able.
Sat down, mum on next table. She then went onto order about a pint (at this point I was just in earshot).
But over the next two hours she ordered three more (all alcohol - I was earwigging) and drank them all while breastfeeding.
Ok, yes, I judged. I said nothing, of course. She seemed pretty steady, not slurring etc. Was I an arsehole? Do people do this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bashinthecattick · 27/01/2023 20:11

And totally get none of my business, so this serves no purpose than my being shocked and it opening up a debate among my mates.

OP posts:
Paq · 27/01/2023 20:11

Yeah, I would judge and judge hard if that happened.

SavoirFlair · 27/01/2023 20:12

What did you say to her?

…

…

yep.

thought so.

ShirleyPhallus · 27/01/2023 20:12

Was I an arsehole?

Yes. It’s none of your business.

Research how much alcohol gets in to breastmilk but the answer is an absolutely tiny amount.

Ponoka7 · 27/01/2023 20:12

That's unusual, a lot of pubs will only allow two/three drinks if with children. Of course it isn't ok.

rubyslippers · 27/01/2023 20:13

The beer doesn’t go from mouth to boob you know

RegardingMary · 27/01/2023 20:13

The amount of alcohol that transfers into breastmilk i minimal.
If you're safe to hold the baby, you're safe to feed the baby.

ShirleyPhallus · 27/01/2023 20:13

Ponoka7 · 27/01/2023 20:12

That's unusual, a lot of pubs will only allow two/three drinks if with children. Of course it isn't ok.

What made up law is this?

northernlola · 27/01/2023 20:14

So four pints in total?

I breastfeed. I also drink. When my baby was a newborn I had a pint in a pub, but just the one. Personally I never have more than one.

Wonder who was watching me!

Original poster
Bashinthecattick · 27/01/2023 20:15

I'm not going to say anything! She was with her husband/partner and friends but I judged! I secretly judged. Also physically I think it's quite remarkable. I would be totally knackered and pissed.

OP posts:
nurseynursery · 27/01/2023 20:15

The breastfeeding wouldn't bother me at all. A few days post partum I would have been pissed on a half pint and far too knackered to drink any more that one.

CucumberCool · 27/01/2023 20:15

The research into this is much clearer now and you really have to drink alot for it to effect your breast milk.
Saying that, 4 pints in quick succession is quite a bit. What's more worrying for me would be her capability of dealing with such a tiny baby half cut. And so open about it when she must know she will be judged for it..
If she would cope fine cognitively after 4 pints I would (and it would be judgemental of me) wonder how much she was drinking while pregnant too..

Iunderstandit · 27/01/2023 20:16

I totally wouldn’t judge! It’s a TINY amount of alcohol that gets into your breast milk, like negligible. When I had my second I got back from hospital and had a glass of champers in one hand and the baby breastfeeding in the other. I would judge if they were pregnant, but not breastfeeding, no. Crazy that they are at the pub 4 days PP though, I didn’t leave the house for two weeks

Namechange567775 · 27/01/2023 20:16

@Ponoka7 erm…no they don’t.

four pints is a lot but as someone else said, it does take A LOT to impact breast milk.

either way - judge away, but none of your business.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 27/01/2023 20:17

I would judge, but not because she was breastfeeding. I think 4 is a lot with a 4 day old. Especially when they've no routine and you don't know how they're going to take the night.

Montague22 · 27/01/2023 20:18

I always drank. But that’s a lot. I’d be drunk, so more worried about actually putting the baby to bed properly, than the milk.

SovietKitsch · 27/01/2023 20:20

4 pints and she likely wasn’t in a fit state to look after a newborn baby, forget the breastfeeding

LozMuffin · 27/01/2023 20:22

My midwife told me the best time to drink is when breastfeeding. Obv not loads! It won’t go into that feed and be out of your system by the next feed. She was a much older midwife and actually told my husband I had to drink ale / anything with yeast in as it helps to neutralise the bacteria after childbirth! I had no idea - I still don’t, but trusted what she was saying… I think years ago they used to say to drink Guinness.

Krakenes · 27/01/2023 20:24

The NCT midwife told us you’d need to drink over 7 pints for it to have any effect on the baby. Effect on you is a different matter. How do you know it was alcoholic beer? I used to go to the pub heavily pregnant and have a pint of non-alcoholic beer and I remember getting funny looks of people!! Full disclosure, I went to the pub three days after I gave birth and had a pint and a half. Didn’t disrupt my sleep or feeding, I felt great - probably high on happy hormones!

Ponoka7 · 27/01/2023 20:25

ShirleyPhallus · 27/01/2023 20:13

What made up law is this?

Show quote history

It's the rule in my local wetherspoons if with children under 5. They do keep an eye on you as well. I've seen people asked to leave in other pubs. Even in local carvery places I've seen staff ask each other how much has been drank by parents. I didn't know that it was a thing.

tornadoinsideoutfig · 27/01/2023 20:28

I personally wouldn't drink more than a pint, or maybe two over a few hours as I wouldn't feel safe looking after a tiny baby intoxicated. I think the safety of the newborn in the care of a person drinking would be threatened long before the tiny amount of alcohol in breastmilk would affect them.

MrsMikeDrop · 27/01/2023 20:28

ShirleyPhallus · 27/01/2023 20:12

Was I an arsehole?

Yes. It’s none of your business.

Research how much alcohol gets in to breastmilk but the answer is an absolutely tiny amount.

This. I'm more judging that it was only 4 days old and at the pub/ out in general

Heyahun · 27/01/2023 20:29

I thought you meant she was on her own !

but she was there for an afternoon out!? No big deal at all I’d say!

i had my daughter in the pub at a week old regularly and I’d have food and drinks 🤷‍♀️

20viona · 27/01/2023 20:29

@Ponoka7 what completely made up crap you're spouting.

Bagsundermyeyestoday · 27/01/2023 20:30

LozMuffin · 27/01/2023 20:22

My midwife told me the best time to drink is when breastfeeding. Obv not loads! It won’t go into that feed and be out of your system by the next feed. She was a much older midwife and actually told my husband I had to drink ale / anything with yeast in as it helps to neutralise the bacteria after childbirth! I had no idea - I still don’t, but trusted what she was saying… I think years ago they used to say to drink Guinness.

Mine too, the best time is when you're actually feeding, midwife and lactation consultant. Do your research before you judge 🙊

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