Which is worse when BFing - alcohol or nicotine?

[SarahScot]

Am feeling annoyed at my up-herself SIL. I commented earlier that I was looking forward to a couple of glasses of wine this evening - start of the long weekend after all . She got all arsey saying that I shouldn't drink at all when BFing, very judgey pants. However, she smokes at least 5 cigarettes a day (although she pretends she doesn't!) and is currently breastfeeding a 3 month old. Surely nicotine must be a bad thing when BFing?

I thought a couple of units of alcohol were okay? Please tell me it's okay!!!

Its fine. It really is. Somebody has done the sums and worked out that you would need to drink enough to kill yourself before it would have any effect on the baby. FWIW, and NOT suggesting for a moment that 2 glasses of wine is in any way a problem, alcoholics are advised to breast feed because it is better for the child to be breast fed despite the booze.

I'm still bf and have definitely had a glass or three of wine over the last 18 months

definitely smoking it the worst. and i thought that before i read your OP, so not just saying it to make you feel better!!!

Agree, definitely smoking is worse - linked to cot death as well as health issues. My MW told me to stay within normal drinking guidline limits and that was fine.

Occasional alcoholic drinks (i.e. your 1 or 2 over the weekend) are fine (but not every day every week) - alcoholic drinking levels are not (though if you are an active alcoholic I'm not sure being in sole charge of a baby is a good thing regardless of feeding method ).

Smoking and ffing is less safe than smoking and bfing though neither are to be recommended if smoking can be ceased.

Bfing if you smoke mitigates risks brought in by having smoking parents but if you drink excessive amounts and then bf you are introducing risks to the baby that would not occur if bfing wasn't happening, esp. if the excessive drinking is habitual rather than a one off heavy night out.

If it is a one off binge/blow out then having someone wait with you while you bf then remove baby after a feed and baby sleep apart from you (no bed sharing) mitigates those risks and is preferable to ceasing bfing.

Does that mean I don't have to pump and dump if I have a big night out? Not that I've had one yet, still seems like a distant dream!

No, you don't have to pump'n'dump though depending on how long you are out for/frequency of feeds you may want to (hand) express whilst out for comfort. That milk might get dumped/expressed into paper towels if you don't happen to have a pump, bottles & cold pack in your hand bag though.

Baby might not take as much milk though as some babies can detect/dislike alcohol in bm so be aware.

Kellymom has lots of info on bfing & alcohol here if you want any further reading.

Definitely fags are the worst between the two. The average cigarette has at least 4000 different chemicals in them and a lot are carcinogenic. Compare the amount of carcinogenic chemicals in cigarettes to those in alcohol and you'll see what the healthier option would be.

Could you search and print out the pros and cons of smoking and/or drinking wrt BF and give it to your SIL to read?

Do either of you need to be judging each other? Just get on with it and let her do the same, neither of you are doing anything you shouldn't, you both are breastfeeding which is great. Drinkers and smokers are both advised to BF if possible as the pros outweigh the cons.

I drank a glass of wine or 2 (or even 3!!) when breastfeeding both my dds. They are now 10 and 7 and are both bright, intelligent girls.

I agree with loopy just ignore her and enjoy your glass of wine .