Drinking alcohol - while breast feeding - what are your thoughts?

[Flumpreviouslybutwhatdoiknow]

I used to drink loads.

Got pregnant - had the odd glass of wine but v. little.

Fully breast fed but now baby weaning just do morning and evening b feed as I work full time.

I also drink a bit at weekends and have a glass or two of wine in the week.

What do you think? Baby seems to be thriving but...............

is it bad?

Your DD was given very silly advice, a not uncommon occurence when it comes to breastfeeding. It is possible, but unlikely, that her baby reacted to the orange juice, but not even vaguely true that most or all babies do. I bet if we all listed all the things we'd been told not to eat/drink while breastfeeding, plain rice would be the only food left in the world. And there's hardly any evidence for even the most scientific bits!

Personally, I drink in extreme moderation (a unit a week or thereabouts) but as far as I can tell the study I cited still would lead one to believe that drinking and breastfeeding is better than not breastfeeding, and not much worse than not drinking. I was not trying to discourage people from having a nice glass of wine.

CG is right - people will tell people anything about diet and breastfeeding, and the 'no orange juice when bf' is especially evindence-less!

I've just stopped feeding my son after 14 months, he wasn't really interested anymore

If I'd listened to all the "advice" and "tips" on what I should or shouldn't eat and drink I'd have been paranoid and starved to death!

So my personal "advice" is moderation in all things. The odd glass of wine or my personal tipple, stout, does not seem to have affected him or me for that matter!

In my opinion...if in doubt; DON'T!

Just read that message back and realised it sounds REALLY condescending. Wasn't intended that way. but I was shattered and typing one handed!

Actually ... this thread got me thinking,

After my flippant glib reply that I was draining a glass of merlot just prior to feeding the baby, I stopped doing that for the past three nights and result ...... he as slept far better and doesn't get up after an hour for a grumble.

Coincidence or bad reaction to the alcohol I have been force feeding him? Another reason to feel like a bad mummy today