Please help! Upset and want to carry on breast feeding

[namechangeforobviousreasons24]

Hello I have an almost 12 week old. Breastfeeding going really well and milk in full flow.

My problem is this. I didn't set out to breastfeed this long and so had planned a night out way in advance for 18th October (next Friday) it's my friends birthday too so double celebrations really. Il be honest, I plan to drink as much as I want and stay out till very late ! I know it's selfish but I really really need this....

I also have a rave booked which my DP very kindly brought me for my birthday present for me and a friend, seeing one of my fave DJs in london in November .

Now my problem is , I know I will definitely drink, there may even be other things involved at the rave. Again I know it sounds selfish but I would never put my baby in danger hence why I'm wanting solid advice on how to go about continuing to breast feed .

Will my milk dry up if I don't pump at all or breastfeed for one evening whilst I let my hair down? Will I be ok to just pump the next day for 24 hours , dump it and then resume breastfeeding after 24 hours?

These are the only two events I have coming up and I want to ENJOY them. I also want my baby to be safe and I would love for this not to affect my breast feeding as I would ideally like to breast feed for six months. Please no judgment I have been as honest as I can!

Hi OP, can't condone your taking drugs to be honest, but your milk supply will be just fine.

Thank you x

Edit: sorry I missed it on first reading that you mention there may be drugs taken too.

Well done on getting to 12 weeks breastfeeding 👏👏 You don’t need to pump and dump unless you are drinking very heavily or taking drugs but you will need to pump for comfort and to keep your supply up. You’d get very sore very fast and risk blockages and mastitis if you didn’t pump or express for relief in 24 hours when you’re taking in a lot more fluids than normal too. But this can be done with a little travel pump or by hand.

You definitely don’t need to dump your milk the following day after the day/night out by the way even if you’re hungover, just feed as normal. For drugs the information would probably be different depending on how long the drug takes to leave your system.

Enjoy your nights out!

No judgment here.

You'll likely need to express a bit for your own comfort and to avoid mastitis. Hand expressing down the loo is an option if it comes to it. Your milk won't dry up overnight at this stage, it might take a bit of a dip but it will bounce back.

With alcohol there's no need to pump and dump. As soon as you're safe to hold your baby you're safe to feed. With anything else, I would consult the Breastfeeding Network fact sheets for evidence based advice. You can call them if the info you need isn't there.

Have a good time.

The tiny infant also has a father who can perfectly well take care of him.

OP, I don't know about the breastfeeding but you go have fun 😆

Nothing against a night out. But openly admitting you are planning on taking drugs and getting smashed? I’d never condone that in a other or a father.

Your judgment isn't welcome on this thread

Drinking is one thing but taking drugs is another. Don’t understand anyone with kids who does drugs people actually die from taking a dodgy pill etc it’s selfish to risk leaving your child motherless. May sound OTT but it happens!

Olivia Hinge on Instagram did a piece on this last month or month before I think.

You shouldn't need to jump for supply by this point but you will need to pump ( and dump if taking narcotics) to prevent mastitis. It can come on really quickly.

Thank you! X

good job she's not asking for your approval then

I will definitely pump and dump for at least 24 hours! X

Thank you all for your support, I'd actually press the thanks button but I cannot work out how on the app lol!!!

@GuestFeatu thanks lovely x

https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/can-i-breastfeed-if-im/taking-illegal-drugs/#:~:text=It's%20dangerous%20to%20take%20illegal,while%20breastfeeding%20are%20still%20unknown.

For information purposes. At least it's a reliable source.

No judgement for needing a night out but definite judgement for taking drugs whilst breastfeeding. Are you planning to continue taking drugs? Did you take drugs during your pregnancy? I don’t care that nobody is asking for my opinion, it is just WRONG.

can I ask if your baby will take a bottle - my Ds never would . In reality if baby won’t take a bottle it’s all irrelevant .

you can pump and build up and freeze milk in advance for baby

Woah . . . I'm not judging you, I promise, but I really think you should reconsider the drugs. Getting drunk is one thing - in a safe, controlled environment where you'll get home safely etc. - but drugs are another. Please carefully consider the risks before you do the rave thing - there are so many more risks than there are with alcohol. A dodgy pill; they're illegal, you could be arrested with all the consequences that would entail, bad decisions (although I get this is a risk with alcohol too).

I totally and completely get the yearning for a wild night out, I really do. And you deserve it! Just . . . think about whether it truly would be worth it. There's more at stake now that you have a baby - and priorities do have to change.

No judgement from me.
I loved a good rave and any experimental experiences back in the day. That was before having DC.

the thing I would be worried about with drug taking and breast feeding is not knowing what it is cut with and how long that unknown substance stays in the blood stream for.

also, obviously the risk of something going wrong and your baby left without their mum. You’ve spent 12 months off the spirits and white lines so things may hit differently especially if your main aim is to get back to the good old days and squeeze that in to 2 special occasions.

your choice, just wanted to add my thoughts for you

Hell no! I didn't take drugs or even drink a drop of alcohol whilst I was pregnant , I'd never put her in danger. That's why I will be pumping and Dumping and wondered if my milk supply would decrease , it probably will dip as someone said, but I will be able to fix that

She does take bottles yes! X

In all honesty I think it's quite irresponsible. The alcohol part yeah whatever there's plenty of research around breast feeding and alcohol as it's legalised and you know what's in it ect. Drugs though..you can't go without while you have a baby just to ensure 1000% that they'll be fine to have your milk after? I wouldn't risk it sorry my child comes before a night out with drugs

Isn’t your baby your priority OP? Putting the breastfeeding to one side, what would happen if the drugs killed you? You only had a baby 12 weeks ago, your body isn’t healed. How do you know how you’ll react. You should know if this ever got out then Social Services would take a very dim view of taking illegal drugs and having a baby.

Right I've actually taken on board your views and I'm listening to my inner critic too. I have decided not to do drugs at the rave in November, 100% due to the fact that I am breastfeeding and at least if I just drink , I can get back to breastfeeding the next evening.

As for drugs and leaving children motherless, many many many mums do drugs occasionally, it doesn't make it right , but it also doesn't mean that because we are a parent we can't dabble with class As now and again. And I am sure social services have a lot more to worry about than Erica who took a pill after 12 months of sobriety