I really want to try BF this time...I have a few more questions :)

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

I really want to try BF this time (no3 due in July) but I have a few personal issues that I really cant talk to RL people about, (that is part of the issue) so I was hoping you could help me find some answers

Smoking...a couple a day after a long feed obviously outside well away from DC. I know its weak and pathetic that i can stop for whole pregnancy but i am weak and pathetic with serious MH issues so will end up back on a couple a day...Is BF a no go from the start?

Drinking...Not a big drinker, but looking forward to the odd glass of wine on a summer evening. would i have to pump and dump after a glass? How long would a glass of wine effect milk for?

Hiding...I was thinking about ways to be descrete and i mean from very newborn even in the house in case of visitors, (yes really am that crackers) i prefer the idea of sling feeding to the aprons to give me that barrier to the outside world, have looked at baba slings, really like the look of them but worried about being a larger chested lady, anyone any experience of not suffocating their baby in a sling when you have big boobs?

Really appreciate any info you could offer :)

Smoking - my gut instinct says breast milk plus smoking is better than formula plus smoking (thinking of some passive smoking) but I honestly don't know.

Drinking - yes! The best time to have a drink is just before / during / after a feed as it takes time for the alcohol to get into your system and it clears then like driving - 1 unit per hour. My midwife said to me that a rough rule of thumb is if you would drive you can feed.

Slings - I am huge chested (36H) and have a babasling. DS is still alive! If you google sling library and your area yOu'll find a group who will help!

I've heard breast milk & smoking is better than not breastfeeding. I admit I use to smoke & bf, only a couple but still did it. All I would say is try to smoke after a feed if u can rather than before as I heard the nicotine levels in your bm will be higher straight after.

I breastfed in a mei tai and also a ring sling. I wear a vest top underneath my normal top so I can pull my normall top up and vest top down so only expose a small amount of boob.

As for pumping & dumping I'm not sure of the times but if it's just one glass then I don't think you do need to. If its s couple then you will. Good luck

No idea on the smoking.

For drinking there is no need to pump and dump - once the alcohol has left your bloodstream it has left your milk. One glass shouldn't be a problem anyway - the amount of alcohol in your milk should be tiny. As pp said, try and time it for during or just after a feed to give it time to leave your system if you can.

I hate the babasling. I'd go with a ring sling for privacy. It is better to sit down and loosen it a bit rather than trying to feed on the go though (which has potential issues for choking by squashing the baby onto the boob).

Thankyou for the replies,

I was worried logging in that I would have a load of abuse for the smoking Q so thankyou for being kind :) I have in my head that if i just wait until the very end of the day after a group of cluster feeds/big feed than 1 then could do little harm and would preserve my sanity off my meds (bipoar and come off meds for pregnancy, want to stay off meds if possible but need a few cruches to help with that!)

It really is the odd glass, like 1 maybe twice a week so that really shouldnt be a problem then. Happy with that.

Good to hear of big boobs in a sling I will try a ring sling on for size and see how that feels, got a few months yet so no rush, (although it is flying by!) really trying to just plan ahead :)

Thanks

This is a good fact sheet on smoking and breastfeeding from The Breastfeeding Network.

As others have said, it comes to the conclusion that the benefits of smoking and breastfeeding are still greater than those of smoking and formula feeding. It does point out some of the possible effects of smoking though.

Never feel you can't ask anything on this forum, as you've seen already there are people who are in a similar boat to you or can offer you lots of help and support to do what you want to do. [busmile]