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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Is my baby small because I drink?

32 replies

YellowFin · 10/02/2007 21:18

Done to death, I know - I've read the archives, read Kellymom, read Hale...

... but would you indulge me in a quick spot of WWYD ('what would you do')? Or SIFG - should I feel guilty, if you prefer.

I've a wee little chap, three months old. He gets comments on being small - been 9th centile for a long time, recently dropped to second centile. Exclusive bf.

I have the odd drink in the evenings. Some weeks I have a small beer every night of the week, some weeks a doiuble baileys or large glass of wine every other day. My absolute maximum consumption was half a bottle of wine. Also put away two coffees a day.

Has the drinking affected his growth?

Generally, I follow what I've read, and my dhs views, that i don't drink much, and it's not bad for baby. Other times i think I must be a potential alcoholic, or at least not able to cope with stress constructively, if I'm drinking anything with such a tiny baby. What would you do?

OP posts:

Fillyjonk · 10/02/2007 21:19

That doesn't sound excessive

do you think its a problem?

from what you're saying its not BUT whats more important is how you feel about it. Do you feel in control?

misdee · 10/02/2007 21:20

i dont know if drinking affects a breastfed babies growth, but why do you have an alocholic drink most nights?

i know its not a huge amount, am generally curious.

dinny · 10/02/2007 21:21

no way, please don't worry.

I've drunk at as much as you, if not more, bfing ds and he has always been 98th centile - please don't make yourself feel bad.

FioFio · 10/02/2007 21:21

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mummytosteven · 10/02/2007 21:23

As I understand it, it is possible that alcohol can affect milk supply, but you only sound to be drinking a unit a day, which doesn't sound that much as to have an effect. Also DS was very small as well, on 9th centile too at that age, but put on weight more once I started weaning. My instinct would be - if you are going to feel massively guilty over drinking and your baby's size, then try and cut it out. I really don't think the coffee has any effect at all.

Hillary · 10/02/2007 21:24

I dont drink at all and my babys a tiddler

mummytosteven · 10/02/2007 21:24

and just to add to my post, I mixed fed DS for the first few weeks, then formula fed him after that, so formula feeding doesn't always equal bigger babies!

lockets · 10/02/2007 21:25

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WideWebWitch · 10/02/2007 21:26

I think it's highly unlikely and that doesn't sound like excessive consumption to me, not at all. So don't feel guilty. If you're worried about your baby's weight though, see your GP.

magnolia1 · 10/02/2007 21:27

I have a drink 2 or 3 evenings a week (with 5 kids it's my one vice and so I have cut back rather than cut it out) ds1 is 10 weeks and piling on the pounds so the alcohol is not having an effect on the milk supply or his weight gain.

Don't over analize, he is obviously not meant to be a porker

BassMama · 10/02/2007 21:28

Goodness I dont know whether that would affect his growth, but that is not a lot of alcohol. Please don't worry.

Alcohol is a relaxant and a glass of wine, a beer or a double spirit will do nothing but relax you. It probably also helps you sleep.

I drink 2-3 pints every day, after work. I go out drinking between 2 and 5 nights every week, and on these nights i'll have what is considered excessive by some people!

I certainly dont think it is a problem and as long as you are not depepdant on it, i shouldnt worry at all. Some babies are just naturally smaller, and i assume that your GP or HV hasnt expressed any concern, so neither should you.

Maybe take him for a wee check up with HV or GP just to put your mind at rest.

jampot · 10/02/2007 21:28

i think your drinking is absolutely fine. Please dont worry about it.

Smoking and b/f is ok apparently so i cant imagine a drink is going to do much harm at all

Original poster

YellowFin · 10/02/2007 21:28

I'm definitely in control - not doing anything weird like hiding or over-consuming.

Misdee, the main thing is to mark out the begining of the evening, to trigger relaxation once the kids are in bed even though I'm in the same physical place as I've been all day. Helps mark out the day - something grown up to look forward to.

OP posts:

FioFio · 10/02/2007 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

magnolia1 · 10/02/2007 21:40

Eeeeeew but have you tasted stout, it's minging

misdee · 10/02/2007 21:48

ah right yellowfin. mine is finally getting to sit down and put my feet up and read mroe than one page if my book. or dh getting his stash of chocs out

moondog · 10/02/2007 21:51

Oh honestly,it's fine.
I drank half a bottle of wine every night for weeks after mine were born.It was the only thing that kept me sane.
My kids are great big strapping things.

Original poster

YellowFin · 10/02/2007 22:00

Thanks guys - appreciate you all posting. . Feel better about things!

You can't help but 'highly strung new mum' worry about things sometimes, can you? I didn't think it should be a problem - I'm quite chunky (takes a lot to get me drunk), and baby shows no change in behaviour whether i drink or not.

Misdee - chocolate is reserved for night feeds (that 'I swear I'll die of iI have to get out of bed... I really ahve to get up don;t I?') moment.

OP posts:

Tapster · 11/02/2007 05:54

I drink a glass of wine a night and my daughter is still on the 98th percentile at 3 months - its the highlight of my day. DH does bath I have drink. HV frowned when I told her and said thats why mt baby was windy - but didn't drink for 3 days and the wind was still there!

I would definitely stop BF soon if I couldn't have a glass or two of wine. Still think it must be better for her than giving her formula.

Lizx

nearlyfourbob · 11/02/2007 07:12

A HV can always be relied on to drum up a dark cloud over your one bit of pleasure.

I always used to have a glass of wine when I got home from work - while dh cooked tea.

All French babies would be small if alcohol stunted them wouldn't they?

moondog · 11/02/2007 09:37

I am far more worried about the processed crap that most people eat without a second thought than the occasional glass of white wine.
I told the obstetrician who frowned at my alcohol consumption so in very clear terms and in the end he said he agreed with me.

(In fact,he told me that he was taking his family back to his native Germany from the UK as they were so appalled at the quality of food in this country.)

jampot · 11/02/2007 09:39

Tapster - you would prefer to stop breastfeeding rather than stop drinking a couple of glasses of wine? and then you state that breast/alcohol cocktail is better than formula (which im usre it is) but you would obviously prefer formula to abstaining

moondog · 11/02/2007 09:42

Que???

bandstand · 11/02/2007 09:42

how about some guiness, that used to be adverstised as being good for breastfeeding..

edam · 11/02/2007 09:44

Yeah Moondog but he was probably like a rabbit in the headlights faced by you on full anti-processed food bandwagon...

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