alcohol and b'feeding. honest opinions please!

[sallycinamon]

Fully feeding my 11 week old dd2 and it's all going well. She is thriving - contented, sleeps fairly well etc. However occasionally I have a guilt attack because almost every night since her birth I have had a smallish glass of wine. hv wasn't concerned when I confessed this to her but don't have much faith in her really! Midwife friend didn't seem concerned either. One friend said she wouldn't do it.

Not sure what to think. Am I being a terrible, irresponsible mother?!

No you're not! I drink and BF, though try not to do it just before i feed.

It's all in the timing. I think i remember reading that 30 mins before was the worst time, but just after was fine as it was almost all out your system by the time the next feed comes along.

Just be careful it's because you want to and not because you have to!

It's all in the timing. I think i remember reading that 30 mins before was the worst time, but just after was fine as it was almost all out your system by the time the next feed comes along.

Just be careful it's because you want to and not because you have to!

oops sorry

Honestly?

I wouldn't have bf for as long as I did if I'd had to abstain from alcohol for the whole time. Enjoy your glass of wine, you're doing a fab job feeding your baby

I don't think you are a terrible, irresponsible mother. If you were, you wouldn't care about the drinking.

It isn't something I would do, and I would be concerned about drinking every day, but if you are still completely able to look after your baby and time the drink for the best time wrt breastfeeding, then it has to be your decision, your baby.

I was told that if it helps to relax you then it can only do the baby good . I liked that advice.

It's absolutely fine. One glass a night will not adversely affect your baby, and you shouldn't feel guilty

If you were still concerned, you could consider that the level of alcohol peaks in the milk around an hour after drinking and then adjust your feeding/drinking pattern accordingly. But really, it's nothing to worry about - enjoy it!

I was wondering the same.

I only breastfed DS for a week last time and was hoping to do it for longer this time round - I have no clue about alcohol and breastfeeding so any other info would be appreciated,

Thanks

Kellymom, always a good source of bf info

There are similar levels of alcohol in your breastmilk to your blood. One drink changes your blood alcohol level to between 0.02% to 0.05% and that will leave the system within an hour. Most people will be unconscious at around 0.2% and you will be over the limit at 0.08%. That is the same % as the % on the side of a bottle. Orange juice contains 0.03% alcohol.

Tiktok has some good information on this. I don't think similar levels of alcohol are in your milk as there are in your blood though, it's less as far as I know.

no need to be concerned. i had a largeish glass with DD2 at dinner every night.

mmmm.

Even if it's less someone who is drunk has less alcohol in their blood than is in OJ so it's not an unreasonable level.

aquababe I drink wine during a bf. I find it helps with let down!

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one continuing to have a tipple on almost a regular basis since beginning BF.
Theyve just announced on the news that white wine is almost as good for you as red!
I have a glass after DD's gone to bed 4/5 times a week and I dont feel bad about it.
I think its perfectly acceptable!

thanks for all the info everyone - nice to be informed and have some honest opinions.

I do. Probably before 6 months I was a bit more conscious of how much and timings, since 6 months I have relaxed a lot, although probably still wouldn't have more than about 2 medium glasses of wine.

the 'birth to 5' book basically says don't get drunk and champagne may make your baby burp...

the feeding advisor where i am who is excellent said it's not a problem, and even if you drink more you don't need to pump and dump. There's too much guilt assoviated with being a mum.

I think if more people realised it was ok to drink, more might bf

While DS was younger I've always limited myself to at most, 1 large glass, but more often a small/medium one (pub sizes)

Nowadays, DS sleeps 4-6 hours in the evening before his feed, so I will happily have 2 large glasses (although I rarely do because that much would make me sleepy!), knowing that it will be gone (or near as dammit) when he feeds next.

So does alcohol disappear from your breast milk the way it disappears from blood?

ie If I feed DD, then have a glass of wine, then feed three hours later, there will be no alcohol left in that breastmilk, even though there was alcohol in my system when that milk was being made by my body?

Milk is made to order, not stored inside your breasts. It does disappear at the same rate as in your blood, but as previously said, it's minute amounts anyway even if you are slaughtered.

The only reason to pump and dump would be if you were going to miss a feed, but you could equally pump and store.

Wow! Didn't know that... thanks. Common sense tells me it is not really the amount you drink but the time it takes, so you can drink a lot but better to drink slowly and drink lots of water at the same time.

Roll on my sister's wedding tomorrow!!