Alcohol when breastfeeding

[FolkyFoxFace]

I'm going on holiday (UK) with a friend next week. She is insisting that because I'm breastfeeding, it's not safe for me to drink wine and one glass is the limit. I have read otherwise, but the NHS site is leaning more towards what she's saying (v. small amounts). Not that I'm planning on getting rat arsed, but I'm pretty sure I'm allowed a bottle of wine over the course of the evening!

Am I right? Can anyone post any links that I'm now missing or has the guidance changed again, and my friend is right?

I just want to stop this dead in its tracks as she's really belligerent with this kind of thing. She had her kids 10 years ago and is still convinced I shouldn't have eaten eggs and Stilton when pregnant. I love her but she is so, so, so annoying with this kind of thing when I've never met anyone else who behaves in the same way.

Or is she spot on and I'm barking up the wrong tree? I don't want to be pissed, I've got a baby to care for...but I don't want to be sat there cradling my one wine all night and defending it!

Links would be really great so I can show them to her! 😂

Kellymom would be my starting point kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/
Though I think a bottle might be pushing it - not judging, I was not exactly abstemious but that’s 10 or 11 units?

NCT taught us that as long as you’re physically able to hold a baby then it’s fine, though their website is much more cautious!

The NHS advice seems fair though, 14 units a week spread over 3 days minimum, so I think that works out to 3 ish glasses of wine in one sitting.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding-and-lifestyle/alcohol/

@ShockOche

Kellymom would be my starting point kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/ Though I think a bottle might be pushing it - not judging, I was not exactly abstemious but that’s 10 or 11 units?

Thank you! Yes I'm probably pushing it with a bottle - I highly doubt I'd manage to get near that anyway as I'm knackered! 😂 I think I got carried away in my ire, haha! I'd like more than a measly thimble full though!

Yes it absolutely fine. A lot of official guidance such as nhs airs in the side of caution. Just have as much as you're comfortable with. But if it would make you feel better you can always express.

[quote PinkPlantCase]NCT taught us that as long as you’re physically able to hold a baby then it’s fine, though their website is much more cautious!

The NHS advice seems fair though, 14 units a week spread over 3 days minimum, so I think that works out to 3 ish glasses of wine in one sitting.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding-and-lifestyle/alcohol/[/quote]
Thank you! I didn't get any NCT classes, so I booked into some online bf ones in advance...I think that's where I've heard the more relaxed rules, too. My midwives told me to crack open the bubbly, so their advice compared with the NHS site seemed highly confusing. 😂

I barely drink but had a few occasions such a Christmas whilst I was breastfeeding. I only had 2 glasses of champagne with lunch because I couldn't be sure that DD wouldn't cosleep later on in the night (that's obviously where the real danger lies). It seemed like alcohol levels in the milk due to a few glasses of wine was fine and the pumping and dumping was not necessary.

@miltonj

Yes it absolutely fine. A lot of official guidance such as nhs airs in the side of caution. Just have as much as you're comfortable with. But if it would make you feel better you can always express.

Thank you! In all honesty, I really won't have much anyway because I'm exhausted at the moment. It's more the argument I can see myself getting as soon as I settle down with my second glass or something. I hadn't thought of expressing, that's a good idea too!

Will your baby be with you or at home? I don't think I could be in charge of a baby after more than a couple of glasses. I couldn't stay awake when I needed to in the night, for example. But the impact on your milk would be negligible.

@groovychiick

I barely drink but had a few occasions such a Christmas whilst I was breastfeeding. I only had 2 glasses of champagne with lunch because I couldn't be sure that DD wouldn't cosleep later on in the night (that's obviously where the real danger lies). It seemed like alcohol levels in the milk due to a few glasses of wine was fine and the pumping and dumping was not necessary.

Thank you! Yes, that's the angle I seem to be getting when I read anything - co-sleeping or dropping baby, etc. I certainly don't want a wild night or anything, and DS isn't co-sleeping now (thankfully!)...I just can't stand it when my friend starts with the outdated research and makes me feel I'm doing something wrong. I'd like to relax! 😂

@groovychiick

I barely drink but had a few occasions such a Christmas whilst I was breastfeeding. I only had 2 glasses of champagne with lunch because I couldn't be sure that DD wouldn't cosleep later on in the night (that's obviously where the real danger lies). It seemed like alcohol levels in the milk due to a few glasses of wine was fine and the pumping and dumping was not necessary.

I did similar. DC2 was very little over Christmas and I boozed early in the day so there was less chance of accidentally falling asked whilst feeding during the night.

When I say boozed, I really mean nursing a couple of glasses over a few hours. But after 9 months off it felt amazing!

@Iggi999

Will your baby be with you or at home? I don't think I could be in charge of a baby after more than a couple of glasses. I couldn't stay awake when I needed to in the night, for example. But the impact on your milk would be negligible.

He'll be with me. If I'm honest, I'm tired as it is so I think my "bottle" is more like half... It's more that I'd like to enjoy what I have without her having a go at me. She totally spoiled a birthday meal when I was pregnant (and she wasn't even there!) that had both runny eggs and Stilton cheese with this attitude. I don't want the same thing to happen on holiday.

She sounds awful here but she's really not...it's just this one kind of topic!

It’s absolutely fine OP, crack on. The only danger present is if you get too tanked to look after your baby and that is negligible if you’re drinking one bottle during the course an entire evening.

Tell her mind her business!

Mine was a few years ago and was fully bf...
I'm sure what I did before 6 months (following advice on proper sites) was feed baby a good feed when arriving at the pub before a drink.

I'd have 2 pints maximum (once a fortnight) and baby's next feed was a bottle of expressed milk either when we got home or before leaving pub. I'm pretty sure it was something like 2 or 3 hours before it's out your system and you can feed again. Please check this though!

I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol for over a year before having my first 2 pints (shandy's) and I was tipsy, thankfully I wasn't alone with baby! So just be aware if this is your first drink before pregnancy.

@Strokethefurrywall

It’s absolutely fine OP, crack on. The only danger present is if you get too tanked to look after your baby and that is negligible if you’re drinking one bottle during the course an entire evening.

Tell her mind her business!

Thank you! I'd forgotten all about her attitude until she rang me today...then I got the fear. 😂 I love her to bits, but she's a nightmare on anything baby related!

@princessandthebaby

Mine was a few years ago and was fully bf... I'm sure what I did before 6 months (following advice on proper sites) was feed baby a good feed when arriving at the pub before a drink.

I'd have 2 pints maximum (once a fortnight) and baby's next feed was a bottle of expressed milk either when we got home or before leaving pub. I'm pretty sure it was something like 2 or 3 hours before it's out your system and you can feed again. Please check this though!

I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol for over a year before having my first 2 pints (shandy's) and I was tipsy, thankfully I wasn't alone with baby! So just be aware if this is your first drink before pregnancy.

Thank you! Gosh yes, I probably will certainly feel it more than usual. After all of this, I'll probably only manage one drink and be done. 😂 Thankfully DH will be there too so he can keep an eye out!

As long as you are fine, he’ll be fine. The only real risk is that you get too drunk and can’t take care of him. Even at that point, your breast milk is fine, just you’ll be a wreck! I never limited alcohol (just didn’t get falling down drunk, obviously). I took my then 8 month old to holiday in Spain and bf him in tapas bars in Barcelona while drinking wine. All absolutely fine, you just have to know your limits.

Yes, it's fine as long as you are sensible.
I had bits of alcohol when breastfeeding and (I don't say this IRL) in pregnancy I had odds and sods aswell. I know what a unit is and a small glass of wine or half a lightish beer is not pushing it. Probably not a bottle, in one night is a bit much in my opinion, but it's up to you.
I know some people have a zero alcohol policy on anything like this though which is tricky sometimes.

I hope you have a good time.