alcohol and BF

[LuckyC]

What are the rules? How much can I drink?

If I drink too much, then do I have to express and dump, even if next feed is only say 6 or 7 hours away?

Was preggers last christmas, have been BF and not really drinking for 9 months bloody well going to have a drink this Christmas!

Helpful Breastfeeding Network leaflet and factsheet .

How much are you planning to drink? Generally each unit of alcohol takes an hour to clear, so 6 units will be gone in 6 hours. To be honest though such a tiny amount gets into your breastmilk that I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're so drunk you can't see straight then you're a danger to the baby whether you're breastfeeding or not. If you can safely handle the baby then you can safely feed.

You don't have to pump and dump - alchol enters breastmilk the same way it enters your bloodstream, so as you sober up the alchol leaves the milk. Best time to drink is whilst breastfeeding because there is a short delay in alchol getting to milk, so generally you have a few hours until next feel for milk to leave system.
Enjoy your drink

I find atm, having been preggers or bfeeding for the last 3 years, I can't really drink much at all any more, one glass of wine and I'm a bit squiffy.

Thanks very much for very useful information.

Wonderstuff, I hear you: babies ruin drinking... ;)

So no massive nights out planned; can't handle myself around a glass of mulled wine at the moment.