Alcohol and breast feeding

[Xena]

We went to a christening this afternoon and I drank a bottle of beer and 2 small glasses of wine. I did a google search and some said wait 2-3hrs after that much to feed and some said wait 6hrs what is your advice? breasts feeling rather full atm.

Wait one hour per unit of alcohol. You have probably had about 3 - 5 units there. You can express to relieve fullness if you want, but don't feel baby that milk. After 4 hours or so the alcohol will have left your body, including the alcohol that was in the milk.

Sorry - don't feed baby the expressed milk

I would feed. Look up tiktok's advice about alcohol and bf

While I would never normally disagree with Tiktok, there is some debate on this issue. If there is no drawback to waiting, then wait.

Thanks guys its the first time I've drunk anything since hes been born and I didn't really think. As long as I can feed at 10 tonight (5 hrs since I left party) i'll be ok.

I'll admit to not bothering to wait at all. If boys thirsty he gets a drink. BUT I don't drink much at a time. at a wedding on friday 2 glasses of wine and plenty of juice and water as well.

I don't give advice - I share information

The information is clear: the amount of alcohol that reaches the milk is very small; it takes about 1 to one and a half hours for the body to process a unit of alcohol. If the very small amount of alcohol that reaches the milk bothers someone, then they can do the maths and work out when the milk is alcohol free. Clinical signs of alcohol intake are seen in babies only when the mother has drunk to a level where her blood-alcohol level is three times the UK drink driving limit.

There is no debate on that

My personal opinion is that waiting hours to feed is unnecessary - waiting hours to feed after a no more than a bottle of beer and 2 glasses of wine, to the extent of feeling uncomfortable and leaving the baby hungry/thirsty is simply not justified by the evidence.

Xena - I know you were not leaving your baby hungry or thirsty!

tiktok if your still around I have another q.
full breastfeeding

I fed quite happily for years having had ahem...quite a few drinks.

That makes me feel better - I read F&Z's post and thought I was being a terrible mother... i do likes the odd glass of wine

Oh I am sorry flamesparrow, that was not my intention at all

Some people think you should not drink and breastfeed full stop, but there is debate about it (there is, Tiktok, honest), and I interpreted Xena's question as how to be sure all the alcohol had gone from the milk, hence my advice.

I have never read anything anywhere that suggests that occasionally having the odd glass of wine and feeding your baby is going to do any harm.

Oh, no face - a jokey terrible mother ! I just like the me drinking side of the debate best

bloody old lushes

I'll have you know I prefer the term "soberly challenged"

I know there is debate on whether mothers should ever drink alcohol, F&Z. But there's no debate on the facts of how much alcohol gets in the milk and how quickly it goes. That's what I meant

So i'm not a wicked mother for having 1 and a half glasses of wine tonight? Will probably next feed baby at 1am? Am i evil ?

Yup, I've got you now tiktok.

Mandymoo there will be no alcohol whatsoever in your milk at 1 am.

my mum is of the opinion that when you give birth you give up alcohol ...full stop...i think she had her first post birth drink when my brother was about 14...and she still only has the odd one as she feels you should be totally responsible!!!! Scary huh!
And she bottle fed us!!

better add that I do NOT share her opinion!!!!

but hate nothing more than seeing kids running around whilst their parents get trollied (as witnessed sadly at a wedding this weekend)

Olipop only DH OR I drink never both together

Yup - it works in the same way as designated driver - you just have designated parent instead!

Olipop - I kind of agree with your mother. I haven't had a drop since I got my BFP in Feb 2005. TBH I much prefer being tea total and will probably remain this way for quite some time. BUT this is for me personally and I am not criticising those who do have a couple.