Cocaine use whilst breastfeeding

[twistypie]

I'm in a major panic. My son (22 months) has been exclusively breastfed from birth, and then from 6 months obviously solid food as well. I love our feeding relationship, even though I am still up several times every single night with him because he loves the boob.
He's never been an easy boy, and last night was my first ever night out since he was born - he stayed with Nanny and Grandad.
I went a bit crazy at all the freedom and ended up having a few lines of coke. The boy is due home in an hour and now I'm panicking. The first thing he'll want is boob but I can't give it to him as I know it's unsafe. I'll have to pump and dump for a while I guess, but the question is, how long for?
I feel like the worst mum ever, as I'll have to deny him the thing that gives him most comfort. Can't believe I was so stupid and selfish.

Wait, we're not allowed judge someone who does several lines of coke whilst breastfeeding now??

I fucking do. Jesus. There is zero zero zero excuse for it. I don't care how drunk you were, I don't care what friends you were with, how hard is it to do a fucking Zammo and say no?

Zammo didn't say no!

So where exactly does judging get us? (Other than a warm feeling of self- righteousness).

No-one was cheering UP on and suggesting she fire up her crack-pipe, just having some empathy for a fellow human being who did a silly thing.

It's not hard.

No need to pile on the OP, she's sorted out her problem now and both she and her ds will be fine. Mumsnetters are so twitchy about drugs but happy to chuck back far more gin or wine than is healthy, and encourage people that drinking while pregnant and breastfeeding is fine. Studies have shown cocaine is less harmful than alcohol in utero but people want to demonise scary illegal drugs while ignoring alcohol issues being a far bigger problem in our society. Put your biscuits away.

There's a bit of info on Bfn page about how long you might need to pump and dump for: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/drugs-faqs/

Hope they get back to you quickly for some specialist advice which might help with peace of mind. All best

It's a fuck ton more harmful than alcohol in breast milk though. Lasts much much longer, has a greater effect on the baby. This wasn't just a cheeky tipple.

And it's one of those threads where I don't understand the OP even posting. The information is at the end of a helpline and we could all Google it in 20 seconds. Posting for sympathy? Nope.

The thing with judgement though is that is can be very isolating for the person in question, sure, they know they've behaved in a less than perfect way but have reached out for help and advice.

To have people then piling on then discourages them and others for even asking for help because of the ire directed at them.

This isn't the case for OP, but when people are suffering from addiction issues, the stigma surrounding them can prevent them from seeking help, and just perpetuates a cycle, which is why addiction services are run on a basis of non-judgement.

And the judgement of others never stopped anyone from picking up their substance of choice.

And I don't believe in the concept of shaming people into making better choices, it just doesn't work.

I think there's a balance between being judgemental and minimising, though. The OP reads like an excuse letter - he was a difficult baby, it's her night of freedom etc.

None of those are excuses for doing lines of coke.

Bloody hell, the level of judgement on here is outstanding. Cocaine may be illegal but it's not the worse thing in the world. The OP went a bit crazy on a night out, which is perfectly understandable if she's not had a proper one for 20 months.

OP I guess there is minimal interaction with breast milk but you are very sensible to check.

Ah just seen I was completely wrong on the last point, it is harmful (I had no idea, i have very little experience of drugs, only done coke one and smoked 2 joints in my life), but I'm still not judging you op. You went a bit wild on a night out. People do. It will be ok

I'm surprised too, I thought bfn would say feed immediately.

op while what you did wasn't perfect, you took cocaine in the most responsible way possible and then followed offical advice. ignore all the haters xx

Took cocaine in the most responsible way possible?

That's a new one on me, tbh.

every days a school day 😉

Us commenting are not claiming to be perfect parents at all. Far from it. However what of earth did OP expect when posting a question like hers on here? It is not acceptable end of. Your asking for advice/ opinions etc so expect to get them. What i don't understand about alot of MN users is why they suddenly feel the need to analyse and comment /critique every other comment on the thread. Really ladies (majority)? The original query gets lost and it becomes a slanging match!

I totally agree and I think the fact that op is actually breastfeeding just makes it worse. It's almost as if people are normalising taking drugs as if it ok when it's not.

Idiotic.

What kind of fool would intentionally do something that has the potential to harm their child and to potentially leave that child without a mother?

Absolutely insanel

Under, thing is attitude to drugs is a matter of opinion. In my view it's not 'wrong'. I'm not saying it's 'right' either. It's part of humanity. It's illegal certainly, but why? In my view they should all be legalised but controlled

You do realise you can have a nasty batch of cocaine. Op is a mother and suppose to be a responsible adult and did something that could have potentially affected her child the oh it's only afew lines.

You wouldn't say that if you had to take care of a baby born addicted to methadone, like I have. Perfectly legal. That baby never stopped screaming.

omg elspeth now you have said that your posts make so much more sense. Thank you for looking after the baby and I hope my posts didn't upset you, I was hoping to make the op feel better xx

I think what's really disturbing about this thread is the way cocaine use is seen as benign behaviour by some posters.

No probs at all.

Well, given your DS survived last night without breastfeeding, while you were out of your tree, I'm sure he'll be fine for a few nights more.

What a monumentally fucking stupid thing to do.

I'm with those judging. I think this is eminently judgable behaviour, tbh. And I drink and bf (after having read the research and made a judgement about when/how/how much etc. And I may have a second glass after the first and get a bit tipsy, but NFW would I get falling down/vomiting drunk).

IMO, taking any illegal drugs is stupid and immature behaviour from a parent (or in fact anyone older than about 21, tbh), but when bf on top? Good grief.

Seriously? You think it's responsible behaviour to encourage a woman to breastfeed a child 8 hours after ingesting a powerful and unpredictable substance?