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?

Oh the IRONY you’ve spouted nonsense about poison on here but call others ignorant.

So we all have to listen to you call women shit mums who’d be to blame if their children died, that women who have a drink don’t love their kids, but you’re oh so special that you don’t have to listen to people you are using YOUR estimations to demonstrate what a ‘shit mum’ you are? Because you are, aren’t you, by your estimation?

The arrogance is breathtaking.

A few points

1. the alcohol doesn't immediately go from mouth to bloodstream to milk

2. the amount of alcohol that gets into breast milk is minimal

3. there is no reason to not be able to enjoy a pint while breastfeeding. Would I do it? Probably not for fear of being judged by busybodies like you. But would I judge others for it? No.

4. it's none of your business

She needs to have a pint by the looks of it and unclench.

@MimiandFifi nothing to say about the fact that alcohol doesn’t affect breastmilk?

She really does. And get the stick out her arse whilst she's at it.

I’ve just advanced searched. Interesting. We shouldn’t be listening to someone who says vegans are unhealthy.

I think someone is jealous because other women know to have fun and meanwhile Perfect Mum (who actually doesn’t follow the significant guidelines she calls other people out in for not following) won’t even buy herself a coffee as a treat.

Agreed.

Such a shame that we have the wonder of the internet literally T our fingertips yet people choose not to research basic information about veganism and breastmilk.

It was @Emmamoo89 that said the comments about vegans being unhealthy. 🙄 Sounds like they’re both judgemental idiots. I’ll leave them to it.

It literally doesn’t. How can you argue with this? Several links have been posted - unless you want to prove otherwise? Go on, show us how a few pints is the equivalent to ‘poison’.

So everyone else is selfish and ignorant and you with your tiny car seat and over heated room are just fine?

The delusion and hysteria are Olympic-level astounding

You never treat yourself, you’ve admitted that, because you have bills to pay. So I do think it’s envy that other women are having a good time, whilst NOT poisoning their kids, and you just can’t stand it

Does your employer know you dr no at work? No better than sitting at a desk with a glass of wine!!

The only links that I can see that have been posted are the one that I posted, to the Australian health guidelines, and one posted by someone else for drinkaware, both of which advise avoided alcohol while breastfeeding.

The amount of alcohol in breastmilk is minimal, and any effects might not be clinically relevant if they are very small. But we don't know that yet for sure, and it is misleading to say that research shows that consuming as much alcohol as you can couldn't possibly affect your baby.

I'm not commenting in context of all the derailment above or even in judgement of woman in OP, I just find it concerning that this myth that science has proved any amount of alcohol won't harm infants, when it is more likely given biological mechanisms that it does have a dose dependent effect in the short and long term (which might be so small as to be negligible - but we just don't know.)

Meant to say this myth... is so prevalent on mumsnet

I'm not judgemental at all thank you. And you sound like an arsehole.

😂😂😂

But we don’t alter our behaviour based on ‘we just don’t know’! We don’t know if cauliflower, or chocolate, or tea or mint affect breastfeeding. We still consume those things and the recommendations arein line with those recommended to no -BF women (same as alcohol recommendations ie 14 units a week).

NCt and NHS don’t at all state that alcohol should be avoided when BFing. In fact it states risk is minimal and very little gets ‘into’ breastmilk. Certainly doesn’t ‘poison’ it after 4 pints www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/common-concerns/can-you-drink-alcohol-if-you-breastfeed

Not a myth. Read the link I posted. Recommendations for alcohol intake for breastfeeding women’s are the same as for other women.

@MimiandFifi

do you EVER treat yourself ?!

as in spend money and/or time on something that will only benefit you? Rather than stuff that will benefit your kids or your home or the family as a whole.

Do you ever go out for an afternoon drinking cocktails with your pals or whatever it is you enjoy? (Or used to enjoy before becoming a mum). Whilst leaving the kids at home with their other parent?

Do you?

She probably sits at home and knits at home with her 12 cats. (Got nothing against cats)

If baby likes alcohol, baby likes alcohol.

Didn't mean to repeat there lol

@TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl I know, I mentioned in my earlier reply that guidelines range from avoiding, to sticking to light-moderate drinking depending on where you live (eg Australia, UK etc.)

There is a reason for caution with unknowns when it comes to alcohol because it is known to be neurotoxic and teratogenic, and a newborn especially is in a very vulnerable window of neurodevelopment. As far as I know neither cauliflower nor mint are associated with neurotoxicity or other relevant adverse effects.

I agree there is a lot of hyperbole and drama on this thread, but the impression given from many posts on mumsnet is that even binge drinking definitely can't affect a breastfed baby in any way (unless the mother has almost died of alcohol poisoning) when there is no evidence that reassures of this, and in fact some limited evidence of dose dependent effects, which make sense given what we do know about development.

I think it is reasonable to say that light drinking is unlikely to have a relevantly detrimental effect, especially for older infants, but not to say that the most up to date research is that any level of drinking is definitely safe (I think it's more likely guidelines will actually be more restrictive in the future though).