Pints & breastfeeding

[Bashinthecattick]

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?

Maybe it was non alcoholic. If it wasn’t, then she’s a dick and I’d judge too. She’s unlikely to be the sort of person that would care though. Grim.

Was there another parent or back up caregiver with the mother who could have been designated childminder (not drinking or just the one pint)?

Sat here feeding my 13 week old drinking a beer. I wouldn't drink 4 pints in one sitting at the mo - but not because of the breastfeeding! I also wouldn't judge...perhaps her partner is going to take the baby when she gets home? Who knows their arrangement but it's not your place to judge.

Did you judge her husband as well, who was presumably equally responsible for their baby?
No. Thought not.
the amount of alcohol that passes through to breast milk is minimal. Get off your high horse.

It was definitely booze and I did judge her partner.

Yes I was also advised to drink a glass of Guinness in the afternoon when breast feeding my second, The midwife said it would boost my milk supply!

My DM was told to drink Guinness in her third trimester and after her C-section in 1986! She hates Guinness, but apparently her consultant was quite pushy about it.

Also, both my consultant and my lactation consultant said it was actually best to have an alcoholic drink while breastfeeding because you can't metabolize the booze that quickly. It's not like there's a tube from mouth to nipple.

I think 4 pints is too much when you are looking after a newborn, breastfeeding or not

Don’t lie. You didn’t even mention a partner in your first post.

I can’t imagine going to the pub and then spending so much time earwigging on another table that you know the exact order and quantities of another table; and specific details of their lives.

Didnt you have anything else to talk about. I mean, get a life OP, seriously.

Its fine to drink whilst breastfeeding. Don't need to pump and dump. You literally have to have alcohol poisoning for it to reach baby

Hmm. They were all heavily drinking. When I say not drunk, she wasn't falling over or literally dropping the baby. That's what I mean.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/alcohol-fertility-and-pregnancy/alcohol-and-breastfeeding
according to drink aware ,the amount of alcohol in breast milk rises and falls with the amount of alcohol you have drunk. alcohol in breast milk can adversely affect a baby’s development.
another affect of our biology

You'd literally have to have alcohol poisoning tho for it to reach baby

No, she had a partner.

You would have to be careful you didn't end up falling asleep with the baby on the sofa or in your bed after that much to drink. Cosleeping is unsafe in those circumstances. I know the baby has two parents but if the mother is breastfeeding then the other parent needs to stay sober to take the baby after a feed. It's easy to fall asleep with a baby in those early days.

I wouldn’t judge, as long as she can look after the baby. The beer doesn’t go straight into her mouth and out in her milk.

Ive been in places with the kinds of rules that @Ponoka7 has, varying from 2 - 5 drinks if with kids. Often in seaside towns and the like.

Since when ?

Never heard this and I have an alcohol licence qualification. You are only required to not serve if someone is too drunk.

@Ponoka7 it’s illegal under the equalities act to refuse to serve alcohol to pregnant or breastfeeding mothers regardless of what your opinion on the matter might be.

The reality is that breastfeeding and pregnant women make a decision for themselves and most will choose to drink less or not at all. @Bashinthecattick If you are concerned about the welfare and safety of the child then you need to report to SS.

I drank when breastfeeding.

This is wildly outdated information. We know very clearly now that alcohol doesn’t go into breastmilk in any way that it would affect the baby. Even drinking a lot the amount of alcohol that gets into breastmilk is similar to the amount of alcohol in orange juice.

Drinking 4 pints while breastfeeding is fine, and if she felt up to being out in the pub and drinking with friends that’s up to her. I had a baby 2 weeks ago and would have felt fine to be in the pub at 4 days too. There’s nothing for you to judge here.

I was surprised. The baby was so tiny. They were in a group who weren't unpleasant but increasingly lively and I'm pretty certain that it was booze. I'm also pretty certain mum and dad were both drinking. It wasn't a big place at all and they were chatty! From my end I was stunned, not just re breastfeeding but that four days earlier she had literally given birth and was now downing pints in the pub. She was more on it than I was in my peak partying days! Other people I know are still dead 4 days post birth... I mean, part of my question is, how!?

@Ponoka7 isn't spouting crap. I don't know about other pubs but whetherspoons 100% do and have refused service to parents with babies - I know because it happened to me years ago! Very embarrassing at the time !

Some Wetherspoons have done it for a few years. It’s been in the news before. A couple of pubs in our town also say 2 drinks if you have kids with you at the landlords discretion.