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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Having the odd glass of wine when breast feeding?

42 replies

YellowCanary1 · 12/07/2013 20:15

What are the recommendations if you want to have the odd glass of wine when breast feeding. Is it ok to have after a feed and then feed again a couple of hours later or are you recommended to pump and dump the next feed?

After a year and a half of abstaining completely (while trying and pregnant, and through miscarriages - dc now 6 weeks) and with a couple of big celebrations coming up I'd like to be able to have the odd glass - does that make me a bad mother?!

OP posts:

FattyMcChubster · 12/07/2013 20:17

No need to pump and dump. I'd have a glass soon after you feed then you've the longest gap for your body to break it down. As long as its a glass or two an you're not wasted there's no problem.

maja00 · 12/07/2013 20:24

Your milk will have to same volume of alcohol as your blood, so even if you were drunk it would still probably be less alcoholic than alcohol free beer.

So long as you are sober enough to care for the baby you'll be fine. Drinking during or just after a feed will give you the longest stretch - alcohol leaves your system at about 1 unit per hour, so a glass of wine should be gone within a couple of hours.

frogletpoglet · 12/07/2013 20:35

would you add alcohol directly to formula milk??or give it directly to your baby on a spoon?
if not, then why even consider doing this to your breast fed baby?if your have abstained for,so long a few more months wont make any difference to you.

PinkPepper · 12/07/2013 20:40

Froglet it's absolutely nothing like that. What an uniformed comment to make.

Hardly any goes into your milk - even if you are drunk. So a glass is absolutly fine. I used to drink while I fed the 8pmish feed early days! to give me longest time between feeds.

AmandaCooper · 12/07/2013 20:40

There are loads of things that I eat and drink myself that I wouldn't dream of putting in DS's bottle or feeding to him on a spoon.

PinkPepper · 12/07/2013 20:41

And plenty of people breast feed more than a couple more months.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/07/2013 20:47

Froglet don't be an arse, you clearly know nothing.

OP there is no need to pump and dump ever, the alcohol metabolises out of your milk.

You will be absolutely fine to have a glass or few and still feed as normal. The primary concern is to make sure you aren't going to drop the baby, and of course don't co-sleep that night.

Enjoy

jaggythistle · 12/07/2013 20:53

I'm actually having a glass while breastfeeding right now.

I don't get drunk, but have a few glasses.

DS2 is 1 now but still likes a big feed of an evening.

PinkPepper · 12/07/2013 20:53

Ooh yes was going to say don't cosleep if you've drank. Now, having finally got my son to sleep I'm going to crack open a beer myself :)

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/07/2013 20:54

Jaggy my DS2 is 2 and still likes a big feed at bedtime, or any other time he thinks he might be in luck!

SpooMoo · 12/07/2013 21:15

Froglet's comment is inflammatory and ill-informed, don't take it to heart, OP. As others have mentioned, milk is produced from your blood, so your blood alcohol content at the time of feeding is what matters. Try to time your wine well, so you have a couple of hours for it to get out of your system, but even if you didn't a negligible amount actually gets into the milk.

Original poster

YellowCanary1 · 12/07/2013 21:46

Thanks all.
Froglet I certainly plan on breast feeding for a lot longer than a few months. I do feel comments such as yours above where bf mothers are almost expected to be complete saints doesn't help encourage more mothers to bf.

OP posts:

FattyMcChubster · 12/07/2013 21:56

Froglet, what a stupid thing to say. Do some research before you try and make people feel guilty. It's attitudes like yours that make people unhappy.

mrsmartin1984 · 12/07/2013 22:17

I wouldn't get hammered. But the odd glass won't hurt your baby. I spritzer wine up so a glass of wine goes further.

Froglet get off your high horse and keep your ill informed judgements to yourself

mamabrownbear · 12/07/2013 22:18

I love my wine and I love breast feeding and as per the posts already mentioned I try to time a glass ie when DD is down for a sleep or when I'm ready to give her a bottle, which we do last thing to get her down at night (works like a dream!)
However I would also recommend you ensure you get plenty of water. We all know we need to stay hydrated when BF so drinking will rob you of some of that so stay topped up with water too! Enjoy and congrats on baby

phantomhairpuller · 12/07/2013 22:20

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5madthings · 12/07/2013 22:21

Its fine to drink whilst feeding, do t get plastered obviously but the odd drink or two is fine.

And frog you dotn just bfeed for a 'few months' I bfed for over nine years. Its recomended tof need for two years, of course you can drink and bfeed.

BrianTheMole · 12/07/2013 22:25

I used to have a glass whilst feeding, its actually quite safe to do that.

HotCrossPun · 12/07/2013 22:31

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ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 12/07/2013 22:31

How long did you bf for froglet? And in that time did you never let anything pass your lips that you wouldn't give to your baby? Wow you must have been hungry for those first six months.

OP - definitely not a bad mother. In the first few months I had the occasional glass of wine. Now (DS is almost two) I drink a glass or two most nights. You'll work out what works for you.

frogletpoglet · 13/07/2013 00:08

isn't it funny that on an open public forum where people are asking for opinions if someone gives an opinion that the original poster doesn't like or if people don't agree with the someone has to resort to swearing and bullying. are you not capable of discussion and perhaps backing up your arguments with scientific research....or even ask a health professional such as a midwife or health visitor , they will surely be more likely to give sound advice?? well I shall leave you all to enjoy your wine. good evening all!

5madthings · 13/07/2013 00:13

Or maybe you should educate yourself on the issue before spouting crap?

SpooMoo · 13/07/2013 00:14

Go on then froglet - can YOU back up your assertion with any evidence? You're claiming BFing mums should be tee-total and alcohol passes through unfiltered as far as I understand your first post?

SpooMoo · 13/07/2013 00:17

Useful for OP: www.lalecheleague.org/faq/alcohol.html

Cravingdairy · 13/07/2013 00:21

OP, I hope you enjoy a delicious glass of something very soon. I had a lovely glass of wine earlier and I'm an awesome mother

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