Planning for a party

[MummEE2]

My family and I have been invited to a New Years Eve party at a friend's house. My son is 8 weeks old and has been EBF. As I would like to be able to have a glass or two of champagne on a the night I have been thinking of offering formula as a one off.
I have expressed BM before and given to him in a bottle and he also occasionally has a dummy with no nipple confusion at all.
The reason why I plan to formula feed on this occasion is that I struggle with expressing enough BM for that night as I regularly express so I can go to the gym and even That makes my nipples sore.
However I feel like a bad mum for even considering formula for this night and don't want to ruin all the hard work I've done breastfeeding so far. But I feel I deserve a few hrs off and a glass of bubbly considering I've cut out caffeine, alcohol etc so far. Would I be making a mistake by giving formula on this night?

[dementedpixie]

How many drinks were you going to have? As long as you aren't having many you should be able to still feed without needing formula

[MummEE2]

I'd say I would plan to have 2-3 glasses of bubbly or wine max. I'm worried that as soon as I have alcohol my little one will decide he wants feeding as his feeding pattern is not regular/predictable in evenings. Am I being over cautious about thinking I can't feed him when I have some alcohol in my system in case it gets in the milk?

[Eatmycheese]

No it doesn't have those 2-3 glasses you will be fine

[AssassinatedBeauty]

You can feed after having had a glass or two of champagne. The amount of alcohol that will be in your milk minuscule and not an issue.

[MonkeyBrainsInPickle]

I decided to give expressed milk or formula after a drink until my baby was 3 months old. Now he is 3 months i’ll have one unit and still feed. My decision is based on the information on the Le Leche League website - I will find the link.

[MonkeyBrainsInPickle]

www.laleche.org.uk/alcohol-and-breastfeeding/

[bridezilla1]

I went to a wedding with my BF baby and was bridesmaid so wanted to have a glass or two of champagne. My HV said the alcohol level in the milk after one glass is totally minimal but if I was worried to have the drink either as I was feeding, or shortly after as then by the next feed (1-2 hrs ish) it would likely be out of my system anyway.

Are you talking about pumping before to give baby expressed milk or to "pump and dump"? If the latter that's false and there is no need as once the alcohol is out of your blood it is also out of the milk there's no need to pump out any milk.

[HarrietM87]

Of course you can have a couple of drinks and breastfeed! Breastfeeding is not the same as pregnancy- your baby is not sharing your blood and the amount of alcohol in your milk after a few drinks would be almost nothing. Of course give some formula if you want but there is absolutely no need.

Even the NHS says you can have 1-2 units once or twice a week, and that’s cautious advice: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/breastfeeding-alcohol/

[mindutopia]

Just feed him. I have 2-3 glasses of prosecco quite regularly and I’ve never offered a bottle because of it. Unless you’re so drunk you’re losing consciousness and dropping him, he’ll be fine.

[Megasaur5keeper]

As a side issue re sore nipples- do the breast shields on your pump fit correctly? If they don't this can cause nipple pain (the standard issue with my pump were too big, didn't realise how uncomfortable I'd been until I got the correct size).

[MummEE2]

Thank you for your replies, i feel slightly more relaxed about the situation and will see how it goes on the day. I might only end up having one glass or so and BF him as usual then. If he feeds non stop on the day I'll consider formula as a one off.

I didn't realise there were different sizes re breast pump. I'm using Avent manual one. It doesn't really hurt whilst I'm expressing but afterwards i am sore/sensitive