Alcohol and bfing - how much?

[Pootles2010]

Sorry i know that sounds awful - I'm not planning on getting leathered, but off out tomorrow night, will be first time i've had any alcohol for 14 months! Was hoping to have one or two (probably quite strong) cocktails, so how long would i have to wait until I could feed him?

And is it how much alcohol you have, or how drunk you are iyswim? Obviously won't be swinging from the chandelier, but probably a bit more lightheaded than before ds because been so long iyswim... Hope this makes sense, sorry its a bit rambly!

I have a glass of wine about every other night, it helps me relax after (or during) a cluster feeding marathon! The most I have had since bfing is 2 drinks (wine or beer), I think this is fine as I don't feel at all drunk from it, and I need a bloody break sometimes!

Thanks plastic - know what you mean about needing it. I'm a bit disappointed - was planning to give him expressed milk (have a big stock in freezer!), but unfortunately he's chosen to start refusing bottle.

The advice varies from 1-2 units a day, to 1-3 a night depending on where you read as do the comments on when it is at its highest level in your blood.

Personally, I have no qualms with having a glass of wine or two. Its something like under 2% of what you drink goes into your milk, and is generally regarded to filter through at the same pace as it does your blood (1 unit per hour) so as long as you feel safe, enjoy the cocktails!

I have been trying to feed her ebm from a bottle and she won't have it, doesn't know what to do. Hope she gets used to it soon so I can have a night out!

If you are ok to drive, you are ok to bf. Metabolises out of bm at same rate as out of blood. Express some milk, leave dh with dc, have the cocktails, feed again in the mornig. No need to pump and dump.

I had a night out at the weekend. I left 18oz of milk...had 6 drinks, last one at 11.30pm and fed DD at the 6.30am feed. I wasnt sure if this was ok or not, but judging by what is being said above, I think it is ok.

just adding my own question here...
don't you have to pump and dump to keep your supply ok? I'm going out and when I get back would be time for a feed but might not be ok to offer one do thought I would need to pump and dump so.u.don't confuse my body.

sorry for typos, on my mobile.

No need to pump and dump, chilli :)

I took advice from a friend of mine who is a medical doctor who does toxicology research. He said breastfeeding women can drink as much as they like as so little goes into the milk - he said it was all hooey about the danger of passing alcohol through the milk.

So my rule of thumb when bfing has been as long as I can still hold the baby without dropping her then it's ok. Seeing as my alcohol tolerance post-pregnancy was through the floor that was anything up to a bottle of wine or 3-4 cocktails. I also couldn't cope with hangovers with a baby so that level of drinking only happened a few times when I was bfing.