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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think doing coke and breastfeeding are incompatible?

263 replies

MrsBates · 18/09/2008 10:58

Well, I know I'm not being unreasonable really but what are your thoughts? Was at a party recently and two mothers who are breastfeeding were taking coke. One says she is a 'bit naughty' to be smoking spliffs in front of her children but at least she and her husband only do it in the garden. One mum did say she is breastfeeding mainly to lose weight. Nice.

I wasn't a saint back in the day but now I have children - no way - and while feeding?! Still I do have too much wine sometimes and think that is sort of OK. Where do your draw your lines (you know the kind) about recreation of the drug kind?

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casbie · 18/09/2008 11:27

reminds me too much of Trainspotting...

i nearly cried at that.

i only smoked weed and never while preggers or feeding.

i also did BF training and cocaine can kill baby (even small amounts, and yes, even to upper-class people).

absolutely shocking!

MrsBates · 18/09/2008 11:29

NotDoingtheHousework - I thought you were brilliantly honest and thought no-one who had done coke or similar at the same time as feeding would want to contribute so I applaud that with loud clapping. I think the fact you dealt with it is admirable. It seems no harm was done and maybe you will be in a particularly good position to help your children if they get into anything dangerous when they are older. OR are they older now?

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Oliveoil · 18/09/2008 11:31

doing coke AND BEING A PARENT is incompatible imo, never mind breastfeeding

each to their own etc

tell them to grow up

Mum2OliverJames · 18/09/2008 11:32

Im all for breastfeeding, i think that if you want to and you can then do it because the benifits are so big, my DS is 8 months and am still BF and dont drink/smoke/take drugs.

But i really think that if you cant control your drug/drink habits and cant stop taking ANY illegal drugs/drinking vast amounts then it is def better to bottle feed.

Feel so for poor child

StewiesMom · 18/09/2008 11:33

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MrsBates · 18/09/2008 11:34

Blimey they are not upper class and I am well aware that the risk doesn't change according to finances. I have talked to others re setting them straight including a doctor mate who is going to have a strong word. I just think that having friends approach it is a better way - at this stage and in this case - than calling social services. Where we live they are stretched beyond belief as it is and if they went to the homes involved would find nothing amiss at all.

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2beornot2be · 18/09/2008 11:35

MrsBates I have to agree with you I think its alot of people doing things like cocaine whilst BF don't realise what effects it can have on a baby. I do think more info and leaflets should be done about the effects of drugs whilst BF etc and people should stop ignoring the fact that more than a large group of people are doing drugs on a daily basis

zippitippitoes · 18/09/2008 11:38

the risk does not compare with nicotine alcohol cannabis etc

none of those stay in the blood stream long and in social amounts wont ahev anything like the high immediate and dangerous risk associated with cocaine use

Mum2OliverJames · 18/09/2008 11:40

I would have common sense would have said that it could be passed through breast milk into baby, admittedly not everyone has that so maybe there is a need for leaflets like that.

Notdoingthehousework - well done on getting yourself clean, its a hard thing to do, your children will be v. proud of you for not dragging them into it years down the line like i have seen (on jezza )

I only wish that Mrsbates friend (and my 'friend' could see that

FioFio · 18/09/2008 11:45

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2beornot2be · 18/09/2008 11:47

m2oj not everyone is a perfect mother like yourself and know all the risks

Zippitippitoes I think your right as well if your having a social Line so to say how much effect can it actually have comapared to the mothers that do drink and smoke, Hmmm its a hard one thou it depends on your morals but yes if your out getting wasted on drink then really a line of charlie can't be as harmful

CoteDAzur · 18/09/2008 11:48

I find doing drugs while breastfeeding quite shocking. Even drinking alcohol & smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding is incomprehensible imho. Why can't people give up these things for a couple of months, for the good of their baby?

Having said that, drugs/alcohol and parenthood are NOT incompatible at all. As long as you arrange for your child's safety and care (i.e. at grandparents, for example), there is nothing wrong with a bit of partying on a Saturday night.

FioFio · 18/09/2008 11:49

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MrsBates · 18/09/2008 11:51

These mums were staying over at a friends but had to be home to feed by lunchtime next day. Maybe they need to know how long it stays in your system and the exact risks to the baby's health. I don't know them well but think they might respond to a bit more info. WIl forward some stuff to them too.

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zippitippitoes · 18/09/2008 11:51

the problem is that cocaine is much more dangerous

even a single occasion can potentially kill the baby

that isnt a moral stance it is a factual one

nowirehangers · 18/09/2008 11:53

It does seem a bit weird to pump your body full of dangerous chemicals that can harm you and your child
While also thinking your dc shouldn't be tainted by formula milk
Though you did say the woman was only bfing to lose weight so I guess that figures ...
It's obviously a stupid and potentially dangerous thing to do. End of.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 18/09/2008 11:53

NDTH well done on managing to quit. i did coke while pg but did not breastfeed, so that wasnt an issue. though i have to say that if i was breastfeeding i dont think it would have stopped me

it was part of my lifestyle back then and i didnt know i was pg untill gone three months. i had been doing it roughly three to four times a week all the way through that time.

when i found out i was utterly terrified and the two friends i trusted most in my life turned their backs on me. which sparked a bout of depression. i was on my own, pg and scared. i started partying even more

i stopped at about 7.5 months when i moved back home with my parents as it wasnt accessable to me then.

after i gave birth i went back to my old job and back to coke. even when i knew i had to care for dd the next day.

i stopped when i quit my job while ttc dd2. and i havent done it since. dd2 is now 15 months old.

i dont know if it has affected dd1 as i have never admitted to any doctors that i did this. she was born with a v low birth weight and has always had trouble with eating and gaining weight. she is very hyper and i strongly suspect she has adhd but dont want her medicating so we try to deal with it in other ways. i do feel guilty when i think that her problems could have been caused by my behavior but i also feel lucky that she does not have more serious problems. she is very bright and loving and her eyesight and hearing is just fine.

though i cant say 100% i would never do coke again id never do it if i had to care for my dds that day or the next day. and never while pregnant.

obv doing coke while pg or breastfeeding is very bad and can cause very serious problems in the baby. i personally would tell the mothers this and hope that they are just silly and niave and they would stop once fully informed. if not then maybe SS should be involved.

bundle · 18/09/2008 11:54

dh took cocaine once and had a horrendous reaction to it, complete amnesia for 48hrs+

a GP friend of mine says he may have had a small stroke - which is I assume a risk for any baby exposed too. dh is fine now.

Oliveoil · 18/09/2008 11:55

why would you want to party on a Saturdady night when a parent?

ooh, can't wait for that comedown midweek when I can screech at my children and get depressed

fgs

do stuff when you are childfree and then GROW UP and move on

2beornot2be · 18/09/2008 11:59

I would like to point out that I do not do cocaine I think the risks of it to adults and children are not pointed out that much because people think its a rich man's drug which really is not the case

spicemonster · 18/09/2008 11:59

Well oliveoil, I guess that some people feel that they shouldn't totally change their lives when they have children and I can see why they might want to carry on as before.

I agree with MrsBates - there should be more info about the dangers of doing coke while bfing - I'm sure a lot of people just rely on their friends for information

zippitippitoes · 18/09/2008 12:00

to put it another way

the risk of drinking in moderation while breast feeding is low and it doesnt stay in the body that long so you can quite easily drink after a feed or pump and dump a feed

with cigarettes you can smoke after a feed as it doesnt stya in the body that long and if you dont smoke too much then not going to cause too much problem

cocaine completely different ball game incompatible completely with breastfeeding

absolutely contra indicated

and it stays in breast milk for up to 48 hours

it ahs immediate physiological effects on the baby and may lead to a blue baby who is at risk of death

Oliveoil · 18/09/2008 12:05

well

NEWSFLASH

children do change your life and anyone that pretends otherwise is in dreamland or denial imo

doing drugs after 30 always seems a bit sad and pathetic to me

casbie · 18/09/2008 12:08

we got told to report it to social services if we found out if a mother was BF and doing cocaine.

: (

ParCark · 18/09/2008 12:10

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