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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Alcohol and breastfeeding - surely I'm not alone in not mixing the two?

46 replies

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/09/2006 15:41

I don't believe it's right to drink alcohol whilst breastfeeding. I know that many women do, and that it's their choice to make, but I won't do it.

I mentioned on another very small forum that I would have been offended if people had bought me alcohol to celebrate the birth of my daughter, and I have been accused of being very OTT.

Can't really be bothered to get into a debate about it on the other forum, as depite being a long way from having true lentil weaver credentials by MN standards, I seem to be classed as extreme in many of views (trying to wait til 6 months to wean, not drinking whilst pg or bf, not smoking, giving up/cutting down on caffeine etc) on there, and most of the users only know how to hurl abuse anonymously. So thought I'd have a mature discussion about it over here.

So, surely I can't be alone in my beliefs?

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 30/09/2006 15:47

It's your choice not to drink while BF

Why were you offended by the alcoholic gifts? Do you intend to never drink again ever?

misdee · 30/09/2006 15:48

i have had one night of drunkeness whilst bf dd3. she was over a year 0old, and there was around 10hours between my last drink and her next b/f.

i dont know if i would be offeneded by someone buying me a bottle of drink to celebrate the birth, i would say, 'oh i'm breastfeeding so cant drink, but you can all share it if you want' and i'd have a stash of my favourite non-alcoholic drink somewhere.

WigWamBam · 30/09/2006 15:50

I didn't drink but have no truck with people who want to have the odd drink while they're breastfeeding. I wouldn't have been at all offended by a gift of alcohol either.

Highlander · 30/09/2006 15:51

lots of women choose not to drink when BF - it's not an extreme view by nay means. I personally don't 'feel' like drinking when PG or BF in the early months.

As for being offended that people bought you booze for your DD's birth - chill girl!! It's a natural gift.

belgo · 30/09/2006 15:53

Unfortuanately alcohol is considered a gift, meant well, but a reflection on how much alcohol is part of our scoiety. I would much prefer chocolate. Maybe you can keep it until you've stopped bf?

Original poster

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/09/2006 15:57

Can I just clarify - I wasn't bought alcohol by anyone. I would have been offended if I had been because it would have shown that my friends didn't know me at all, as my intention to breastfeed was made perfectly clear.

Another poster had asked for gift ideas for a friend, and a lot of people had suggested champagne. I was simply offering a different viewpoint, urging her to consider her friend's intentions, and explaining why.

OP posts:

2labs · 30/09/2006 15:58

I'd be more worried about caffeine tbh.

Original poster

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/09/2006 16:03

Ah 2labs - a woman after my own heart. Decaf coffee only for me, and no choc as DD is milk intolerant!

OP posts:

belgo · 30/09/2006 16:06

Poor you no chocolate

Original poster

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/09/2006 16:08

It's ok belgo - I could do with losing a few stone so it won't do me any harm!!

OP posts:

sorrell · 30/09/2006 16:09

It seems pretty extreme to say your friends don't 'understand you at all' if they very kindly and generously buy you a lovely present to celebrate the birth of your baby. It is perfectly possible to have a drink and breastfeed without even a smidgen of a fraction of a drop of alcohol getting to your baby. People who knew I was breastfeeding, but I'd be delighted to get any present at all, including champagne. And it does keep you know! For years and years and years. It is fine to choose not to drink alcohol while breastfeeding (or at any time or ever) but to get huffy because someone buys you a present is what people regard as extreme, I suspect. Blimey, recently I've read on Mumsnet that people complaining how offended they would be to a/be paid a kind compliment or b/be bought a present.

brimfull · 30/09/2006 16:13

god it's no wonder people give up breastfeeding if you can't drink alcohol and coffee.decaf coffee is gross

sorrell · 30/09/2006 16:14

But you can do both of course, if you want to.

Original poster

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/09/2006 16:15

sorrell - 'It is perfectly possible to have a drink and breastfeed without even a smidgen of a fraction of a drop of alcohol getting to your baby'. Please tell me how, seriously! DD won't drink from a bottle, is still up several times a night (at nearly 8 months), and doesn't go more than 3 hours between feeds. Surely alcohol would get to her whenever I had it?

OP posts:

belgo · 30/09/2006 16:16

I do drink coffee and alcohol (although not a lot ). The benefits of bf far outweigh the risks imo.

Original poster

CantSleepWontSleep · 30/09/2006 16:16

lol ggirl!! The 5065 instant stuff is quite nice actually, and Illy decaf filter too, if anyone's interested!

OP posts:

juuule · 30/09/2006 16:35

I can't see any harm in drinking alcohol and breastfeeding. In fact it wasn't that long ago that midwives advised a drink (stout, I think or guiness) to help relax you in the evening and help with the let-down. Also, said to help boost milk supply. My mil tried to force herself to have 'a glass' on m/w advice but stopped as she found it revolting. I have done and had a lovely glass of champagne and fresh orange to celebrate the birth of my dd the day she was born.

sorrell · 30/09/2006 16:39

If you drink a smallish glass of wine, all the alcohol it contains is gone entirely from your system after about two hours, depending on your build. And remember, less than 2% of the alcohol in your drink actually passes through to your breastmilk.

LittleSarah · 30/09/2006 16:48

Well we had champagne after my dd was born, I probably had a glass or so and I also had a couple a couple of times while breastfeeding (which I did for 9 months), I didn't think it was a big deal. I still don't.

MadamePlatypus · 30/09/2006 16:51

My BF counsellor said that while when pregnant there is a direct link between what you eat and what your baby eats via the placenta, the link between what you eat and what goes into your milk is not really the same. I don't drink alot ever (DH doesn't drink at all), and there is no way that I could cope with having even a couple of glasses and wine and getting up to feed a young baby and coping with a toddler. However, I think the amount of harm you are likely to do to your baby if you drink the occassional glass while breastfeeding (for me this would be one glass of champagne to toast arrival of baby, and possibly another glass at Xmas/new year) is really so minimal as to be non-existant.

Having said that, although I wouldn't be offended by being given a bottle of champagne, I think it is incredibly annoying (and I say this having a non-drinking DH) the way that people think you are odd when you choose for whatever reason to celebrate something without alcohol.

katierocket · 30/09/2006 17:01

I can't believe you'd be offended by someone giving you a bottle of champagne. Weird.

jabberwocky · 30/09/2006 17:07

I took champagne with me to the hospital Unfortunately, I'm really sensitive to anesthesia so after my emergency section I couldn't hold it down

belgo · 30/09/2006 17:18

I wouldn't be offended by any present. Except maybe a bottle of diet coke...

dollyp · 30/09/2006 17:49

As for the amount of alcohol which gets through to your BM, I think that if you are drinking in moderation, the amount which gets through to your baby is negligible. Tiktok has given lots of wise advice on this and agrees that BF mothers can safely enjoy some alcohol if they wish. Obviously getting plastered with a small baby isn't good for either of you, but light drinking whilst BF does no harm. (Tiktok, hope I am not misquoting you horribly here ).

As for the gift, I wouldn't personally be offended. I was brought 2 bottles of champagne in hospital and, whilst on little sleep and being new to the mothering game, I didn't want to drink more than a thimbleful, the visitors gathered round the bed and the MW seemed very appreciative. As I am pg at the moment, I am not drinking at all (don't feel like it) but would still offer drink to visitors and still take it round to friends' houses. If I didn't want to drink whilst pg / bf and was given booze, I would still be pleased and would offer it to others (unless it was a fabulous bottle in which case it would hide under the stairs until I got my drinking boots back on ).

tiktok · 30/09/2006 17:49

Cantsleep, there are some great answers to your post already, including the very sensible and evidence-based one that shows how you can time things, if you wish, so not even the tiniest drop of alcohol reaches your baby.

Yes, for what it's worth, I think it is going too far to be offended at well-meant gifts of alcohol. Friends are important, and they could be forgiven at feeling hurt if you expressed your offence. too.

But of course it's your choice to drink or not, just as you say

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