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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Drinking alcohol when bfeeding. Whats the deal? Are you actually allowed to celebrate after all your hard work?

65 replies

Jellybabie3 · 25/09/2017 15:57

Just curious as yet again theres mixed info. DH wants to toast when baby gets here (40+2) but its fair to say if i can only sip i will end up more annoyed lol.

OP posts:
stargirl1701 · 27/09/2017 21:29

NHS advice. It's on the conservative side.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/breastfeeding-alcohol.aspx

Chocwocdoodah · 27/09/2017 23:54

Each to their own. I think that the odd drink will probably do no harm but I completely abstained from drink during pregnancy and BFing. I'll get flamed for being a pedant but I also didn't touch soft cooked eggs, underdone meat, blue cheese etc - i just decided that yes, the risk was tiny and maybe unproven but it was such a short period in my life, it was no hardship to go without.

I find it a bit strange that people will go to such lengths to reassure themselves it's ok to drink while BFing - i.e. researching it, working out what their blood alcohol levels might be after a couple of glasses etc. There are no sure fire rules so I just erred on the side of caution as it really wasn't worth it. Let's be honest, the fun of drinking is getting drunk but you can't really do that on a couple of glasses so what's the point?

What I do think is bollocks is pumping and dumping. You can't possibly predict how long it'll take for the alcohol to reach your milk!

ICJump · 28/09/2017 07:55

This is a clear article with a link to free app that helps work out when your breastmilk is alcohol free. www.breastfeeding.asn.au/system/files/ABA_Alchohol_BF%2520for%2520website.pdf

clarebear1983 · 28/09/2017 08:08

I agree pumping and dumping generally is pointless but if you have to maintain a supply (I was exclusively pumping so couldn't go longer than 5-6 hours without pumping or my supply would be affected) so if I had more than 1 drink I'd have to pump and dump.

Obviously if your able to just wait it out then this makes more sense!

It is quite easy to work out how long it takes for alcohol to reach your milk though, and similarly when it's left. It works on the same principles as alcohol in your blood. So if you did fancy the odd glass it's really handy to know when your completely alcohol free again.

BertieBotts · 28/09/2017 09:12

I'm not flaming you but while there are guidelines about those foods during pregnancy, there is not any risk from eating soft cheese and undercooked meat during breastfeeding. The risk of those during pregnancy is catching listeria. You can't pass listeria on through your milk and stomach cramps won't affect a baby who is already born.

It's not going to massive lengths, it's just looking critically at things and wanting to understand why so that you don't end up generalising something which doesn't make sense to generalise.

I agree with you about the fun being getting drunk so I don't really drink often anyway, but most people don't see it like that. (Then again, I drink so rarely a couple of glasses can get me totally pissed so there is that :o) Lots of people will have a drink or two just for the effects of that drink or two. And they shouldn't feel as though they have to abstain when there's no indication that they need to. I even heard a mum friend complain that she couldn't have coffee while breastfeeding! And she has twins! Dear lord does anyone deserve coffee more?? I'd like to smash all of these myths about breastfeeding which make people think that it's a hassle or a special thing which one needs to be totally dedicated to.

There are some substances which go into breastmilk and should be avoided/used with caution - some medications for example, THC (weed, often thought of as "harmless" but not when BF), even dairy protein - most people don't need to be careful of that one but if you have a baby who is sensitive, that can genuinely upset them.

Breastmilk is basically fat and blood without the red blood cells. Anything in the blood is going to transfer in tiny quantities, it's substances which are fat-soluble which go through in massive quantities. It's made as needed so if you feel tipsy then the alcohol is in your blood which means it's in your milk, but again, minute quantities, as we'd find in fruit and process quite easily.

BertieBotts · 28/09/2017 09:12

Yes pumping to maintain supply is different though, the whole idea of pumping and dumping is to "remove" contaminated milk which isn't how it works.

TiramisuQueenoftheFaeries · 28/09/2017 09:20

Let's be honest, the fun of drinking is getting drunk but you can't really do that on a couple of glasses so what's the point?

Um, speak for yourself. I haven't been drunk in a decade because I fucking hate it. And I wouldn't really call researching the actual science behind recommendations "going to such lengths". It's a bloody good idea, no, to actually understand why you're doing what you're doing? A lot of health and safety recommendations have backfires rather spectacularly because people didn't understand what they were based on. I find it interesting to see how thin the science is that many are based on.

I'd like to smash all of these myths about breastfeeding which make people think that it's a hassle or a special thing which one needs to be totally dedicated to.

^this. Breastfeeding is a completely normal state for women, one which many women remain in for years or even a decade+. Other than a very, very few medications or if your child has an allergy or sensitivity, you don't need to restrict things and can lead a perfectly normal life.

TisapityshesaGeordie · 28/09/2017 10:17

Yes, I would struggle to remember the last time I drank enough to get drunk, but I love a nice glass of wine. I like to try different grapes, from different places, and try them with different foods. I can't imagine having a delicious steak without a glass of red, or seafood pasta without a chilled white.

It's one of the great pleasures in my life. If I'd thought I couldn't drink, I'd have breastfed for a while, yes, because it was hugely important to me to do so. But we'd be talking weeks or months, not years. And I think that natural term breastfeeding has had huge benefits for my children.

stargirl1701 · 28/09/2017 10:59

But, breastfeeding isn't a short duration though. DD2 is 3.2 years and breastfeeding regularly. I hope it tails off after she turns 4. For one child. Two children would be a decade.

I enjoy a glass of wine or a G&T a couple of times a week. I am not concerned. There will be more alcohol in the fresh OJ may child drinks at breakfast than in my breastmilk.

PinkHeart5913 · 28/09/2017 11:06

Our very own NHS recommends no alcohol is safest Umm no actually it doesn't from the nhs website today ^There's some evidence that regularly drinking more than two units of alcohol a day while breastfeeding may affect your baby's development. But an occasional drink is unlikely to harm your breastfed baby.
It's recommended that breastfeeding mothers have no more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week.
One unit of alcohol is approximately a single (25ml) measure of spirits, half a pint of beer, or 125ml (small) glass of wine, although this depends on the strength of the drink^

I've breast feed 2 dc and I've had a glass or two of wine or fizz on the weekends with dh. I was told by my midwife the best time to drink was when actually breastfeeding the baby

PinkHeart5913 · 28/09/2017 11:07

Let's be honest, the fun of drinking is getting drunk but you can't really do that on a couple of glasses so what's the point?

Maybe for you by some of us a glass of decent red is nice and we are perfectly able to stop after 1

LBOCS2 · 28/09/2017 11:13

My MW told a whole group of us doing an antenatal class that as long as you were sober enough to hold the baby, you were sober enough to breastfeed them.

I think the relevant point here is the equivalent risk - orange juice, ripe bananas, etc can have more alcohol in than breast milk does even after you've drunk enough to get actually drunk - and you would still feed them to your weaning baby. There are no guidelines against them so by extrapolation I can only assume that there is no risk to it, or at least, extremely low risk.

So far I have been pregnant or breastfeeding for more than five years. I like wine. I am comfortable with the decisions I've made.

BertieBotts · 28/09/2017 13:57

Most people don't even think of fruit as containing alcohol because of course it occurs in such low amounts that our bodies metabolise it immediately and it does us no harm. Babies included.

stargirl1701 · 28/09/2017 17:30

I agree. I am delighted with one glass of a really good wine. If I drink more, it means I can't drive the next morning (Scotland) so it's a PITA to have more than 1.

Oysterbabe · 28/09/2017 18:23

I certainly haven't drank to get drunk in a lot of years. A delicious glass of red or a fresh crisp gin and tonic or 2 will do me.
God I can't wait for this baby to be born!!

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