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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

how much can you safely drink whilst breastfeeding?

28 replies

LouYK · 28/08/2012 12:42

My son is 6 months old and I have not yet got round to moving him to bottles (although he does take the odd one). I have a friend's 40th on Saturday - I don't intent to get drunk but I would like a couple of glasses as I haven't been out in about a year! Would this be ok as just a one off occasion? Should I pump to get rid of any bad milk first thing in the morning - how long does it take to metabolise in your system? Or should I just not worry as I really won't drink too much ...
Sorry if I sound like a terrible boozy mother, I'm not, I promise!

OP posts:

Pootle78 · 28/08/2012 15:55

I'VE just bumped a post about wine drinking.

Since reading it I've had half a bottle of cava and a glass of champagne (2 different days) and no adverse effect on ds, didn't even make him sleep longer!!!

It's your decision how much but I wouldn't recommend getting blotto, can't imagine a hangover and a baby work well!!!

Have fun!

feekerry · 28/08/2012 16:49

Okay this is totally up to you but, i've done a fair bit of reading on this and i'm quite comfortable having a good few drinks. My dd is nearly 5 months and ebf. I dont pump either. I often have a few glasses of wine over the weekend. Maybe a bottle of wine in total over a couple of nights. I wouldn't drink to the point of being hammered or paraletic but i'm comfortable with what I drink. Up to you tho.

TheCountessOlenska · 28/08/2012 17:09

You can have quite a bit from what I've read.

I have to confess that I went to a party when DD was about 5 months intending to give her a bottle when I got home - well, she point blank refused the bottle and I ended up breastfeeding her. I was fairly drunk tbh (not falling around, I can remember the whole thing!), anyway I never noticed any effects on DD but I was mortified the next morning!

verlainechasedrimbauds · 28/08/2012 17:14

I'd try to make sure you have you wine in small glasses and alternate a glass of wine with soft drinks/water. If you are like me, you can intend to be very good and sensible and then forget this after the second glass... Enjoy yourself but be wary of getting carried away on your first trip out!

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 28/08/2012 17:15

Whatever you decide, there is no need to pump - any alcohol will leave your bm over a few hours in the same way it leaves your bloodstream. So don't worry about that.

For what it's worth, I would be totally comfortable having a couple of glasses of wine and bf'ing a 6 month old.

Rubirosa · 28/08/2012 17:22

If you're sober enough to look after a baby then you are sober enough to feed. A couple of glasses is fine, just don't get drunk.

FutureNannyOgg · 28/08/2012 17:23

The rule of thumb they usually quote is that if you are safe to drive you are safe to feed.
In reality though, for any significant amount of alcohol to get into your bm you have to be pretty far gone. If you are able to safely handle the baby you are fine, presuming that you are not half cut all the time

DystopianReality · 28/08/2012 17:32

Just don't co-sleep. There is more than sufficient evidence to support the fact that it is easy to smother your baby when you have ingested drugs or alcohol ( not so without these elements). It is surprisingly easy to do, so beware.

openerofjars · 28/08/2012 19:12

I love this thread!

feekerry · 28/08/2012 20:29

i literally have not altered my lifestyle one dot for breastfeeding. i eat and drink exactly what i did pre pregnancy (caffine, alcohol, spicy food) and have had zero problems with ebf dd. i've read a couple of threads where people have said they cant wait to stop bf so they can eat and drink what they like again. really??? i plan to feed for a long time so i aint restricting myself one bit!!!!!!

IvanaNap · 28/08/2012 20:44

I haven't touched a drop while BF but then I don't touch a drop if driving either. Everyone has their own comfort zone in regards to this I guess, mine is just set to "zero"

Original poster

LouYK · 28/08/2012 20:48

this is just what i wanted to hear - thanks all! I am not completely anal and I have had the odd glass or two of an evening and I had no problem with the occasional glass when pregnant.
It's just the small chance of getting carried away I was worried about BUT the thought of looking after two young children with a hangover is actually deterrent enough. Thanks for your support! might go grab myself a celebratory glass right now ...

OP posts:

MumOfTheMoos · 28/08/2012 21:09

I second feekerry - I've gone completely back to my pre pregnant drinking habits and not had any problem (have 5 mth old as well). I would not worry about it at all.

HappyCamel · 28/08/2012 21:13

Just remember that alcohol makes you wee and you need lots of liquids to bf otherwise you'll end up dehydrated with a monstrous headache. Drink a couple of pints of water when you get home and you'll be fine. Enjoy!

bruschetta · 28/08/2012 21:31

According to "Drinkwise" the alcohol from your drink reaches its peak in your milk (the same as in your bloodstream) between 30 - 60 minutes after you've had the drink. (aroud 90 mins if you've had the drink with a meal)

It takes two-to-three hours for a unit of alcohol to leave your milk.

Dr Wendy Jones, a pharmacist who is a Registered Breastfeeding Supporter with the UK based Breastfeeding Network says it?s safe for breastfeeding mothers to drink alcohol ?within reason? ? a position supported by La Leche League and the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs.

?An occasional glass of wine is fine but binge or regular drinking above the daily unit guidelines of two to three alcohol units is harmful to mum and baby,? says Wendy. ?It is better not to drink every day but to keep alcohol for social occasions.?

HTH

openerofjars · 28/08/2012 23:35

Does sitting on the sofa with DH count as social?

tazmo · 29/08/2012 14:33

To ease my guilt, I give dd bottles of formula if I plan to drink more than a couple of glasses of winebut I have made the decision to mix feed dd3 as found it hard to get dd2 off the breast and ended up feeding till 11 months. I would drink a glass of wine and bf tho. No effects and done that with all kids. Then I leave it at least 8 hours before feeding the next day if I have had a bottle of wine. I have a wedding on sun - cheers.
T

jaggythistle · 29/08/2012 15:12

same as feekerry, I'm always amazed how convinced people are about what you can and can't drink while bf.

i don't enjoy getting drunk these days, but will happily have a few glasses of wine.

my MIL especially was always wondering if i could eat spicy stuff etc. i didn't change my diet at all when pg or bf. she has got the idea now we're on DS2 and offers me when I'm round

he's only 4mo so i can't drink much without falling asleep on the couch. zzzzzz

HappyJoyful · 29/08/2012 15:25

I'm with feekerrry and all the other's that say relax and enjoy a few drinks.. I heard it from a very senior professional medical professor in paediatrics that as long as you are not necking neat vodka all day a bottle of wine wouldn't even touch or effect the milk supply.

bruschetta · 30/08/2012 21:33

openerofjars: I bloody hope so.

Cheekychops84 · 01/09/2012 19:31

I'm liking this thread

Cheekychops84 · 01/09/2012 19:32

Hi bruchetta think u were on my last thread think I deserve a glass of wine !

Cheekychops84 · 01/09/2012 19:33

Ooooh hello tazmo ! Seeing some familiar peoples in here

Rachog · 01/09/2012 19:42

I'm glad I saw this thread. I just assumed I can't drink whilst bfing at all and imagined another 6-12 months without so much as a night out.

I'm not much of a drinker anyway but it is nice to know I can have a glass it two if I want to.

Cheekychops84 · 01/09/2012 20:04

Have a feeling my mum drank quite a lot when she breastfed me back in the 80's she also smoked naughty mother I'm feeling really loved lol but I was fine. Not that I'm saying everyone should go get hammered but I think a few glasses won't mean it will b fatal.

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