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Original poster

Can you drink alcohol while breast-feeding?

38 replies

wondering7777 · 01/12/2019 14:16

I've come across conflicting advice on this. I'm hoping to give breast-feeding a go when my baby is born, while also being prepared to switch to bottle feeding if it doesn't work out.

On average, how long do women normally breast-feed their babies for and can you drink any alcohol during that time, or does it transfer to the baby?

OP posts:
sqirrelfriends · 01/12/2019 14:24

You will hear conflicting arguments because the advice used to be that you couldn't drink and breastfeed.

However, research has been done since then it's perfectly safe to drink and breastfeed. Alcohol moves freely between the mothers blood and her milk, this means the concentration of alcohol in the milk will be the same in both. So even if you were absolutely smashed your milk would have less alcohol content than orange juice.

Obviously I wouldn't recommend getting drunk in charge of a child but a drink or two won't hurt.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 01/12/2019 14:27

Yes, it’s fine, as long as you’re not going to get rat arsed.

NHS advice

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 01/12/2019 14:29

On average, how long do women normally breast-feed their babies for and can you drink any alcohol during that time, or does it transfer to the baby How long is a piece of string? I’m not a big drinker anyway, I didn’t think twice about having a glass of wine while breastfeeding if I wanted one though or sharing a bottle of ale with DH.

KTCluck · 01/12/2019 14:30

You can drink when breastfeeding as the amount of alcohol that gets into the breast milk is minimal. The limiting factor in how much you can drink is still being able to look after the baby, not the alcohol content of your breast milk.

As for how long people breastfeed for there is huge variation. Some people do a few weeks, some a few years, some mix feed from the start, some never use formula. There’s no right length of time and it is very much down to the individual.

I was aiming for 6 months, but (after a difficult first 6-8weeks didn’t I tongue tie) I than found it so easy and convenient I continued into weaning and DD had no formula til she started nursery at 9 months. I still breastfed at home until she was 1, then night time only until nearly 2. In the early days I rarely had a drink and if I did it was during the day as we co-slept and wouldn’t have done so under the influence. First proper night out without limiting alcohol was when she was around 8 months. Would probably have been earlier if she had been a better sleeper.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 01/12/2019 14:31

Kelly Mom’s advice on alcohol while breastfeeding

KTCluck · 01/12/2019 14:31

*due to

firstimemamma · 01/12/2019 14:35

I personally don't drink at all while breastfeeding, however would never judge a mum who does (obviously unless getting blind drunk etc). It's your choice really.

Regarding how long women normally breastfeed for, the uk has the lowest breastfeeding rate in the world so 'the norm' in this country isn't really something to aim for. Breastfeeding is such a personal thing, just do what works for you, whether it's formula, expressing, mixed feeding or breastfeeding.

There is lots of info on drinking & breastfeeding on the NHS website.

Good luck Thanks

Kungfupanda67 · 01/12/2019 14:38

Yep, perfectly safe - you’d be dead of alcohol poisoning before your breastmilk had as much alcohol as a non-alcoholic lager.

winniesanderson · 01/12/2019 14:39

As pp's have said it's fine to have a few drinks. I only drink rarely now anyway and never tend to have more than 1 or 2 max.

As for how long people breastfeed that's entirely up to you. I think I read something like 1% are still breastfeeding at 6 months in the uk. But I don't know how accurate these figures are really because as my children have gotten older I haven't been asked if they're still breastfeeding. With my eldest I fed for 4 months and various factors made me decide to stop. My youngest is 18 months and still going. I know of quite a few people who are still breastfeeding at 2 years and beyond. I think they just don't tend to talk about it.

Kungfupanda67 · 01/12/2019 14:48

@winniesanderson I think that figure is only 1% are exclusively breastfed at 6 months, so no food or formula at all, which I think is why it’s so low. My daughter was breastfed until 10 months but because she’s always had one bottle of formula a day I don’t count in any statistics- I wish they’d ask at the 2 year check how long they were breastfed for and record that so we’ve got some half decent figures, as a lot of research suggests the benefits with length of time breastfeeding are regardless of exclusivity of breast milk.

RhymingRabbit3 · 01/12/2019 14:51

Short answer is yes.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 01/12/2019 14:51

Yes!

Well I did at least and I have breast fed 3 dc.

I mean don’t get so drunk you can’t walk but 2-3 beers or glasses of wine it’s fine

DappledThings · 01/12/2019 15:27

To the OP, yes you can as others have said.

On the 1% question I always wondered where they got that from. My two were in that 1% but bar a random phone call I got when DC1 was about 3 months nobody ever asked me how they were fed.

4 out of 8 of my NCT group were EBF to 6 months which seems a large proportion if the 1% nationally is right.

Original poster
wondering7777 · 01/12/2019 16:19

I think that figure is only 1% are exclusively breastfed at 6 months, so no food or formula at all, which I think is why it’s so low.

I can’t believe how low it is! I was hoping to exclusively BF until 6 months but I doubt I’ll be able to if only 1% do!

OP posts:
thefluffysideofgrey · 01/12/2019 16:26

I doubt the 1% figure too. I know lots of people who made it to age two.

The first few weeks are hard but if you can get to three months you can probably make two years 🙂

BertrandRussell · 01/12/2019 16:27

“I can’t believe how low it is! I was hoping to exclusively BF until 6 months but I doubt I’ll be able to if only 1% do!“
I think that the figure is so low because a lot of babies have the occasional bottle so they won’t count even though they are mainly bf. And most babies in t he U.K. have solids before 6 months so they don’t count either. And a lot of women decide they don’t want to feed beyond a certain point for loads of reasons. So if you want to aim for exclusive to 6m then go for it! I did it with 2- but I only know one other women who made the same choice.

thefluffysideofgrey · 01/12/2019 16:30

Having solid food does not mean they're not exclusively breastfed. Exclusively breastfed just means no formula.

userabcname · 01/12/2019 16:34

Out of 7 in my NCT group, 4 of us ebf til 6 months (I continued until 18 months). I also have a few friends who breastfed over 6 months too. I don't know where the stats come from - as a pp said, no one ever asked me how DS was fed after the 6 week GP check. You can enjoy a drink absolutely and there are no restrictions on diet either, despite some rather peculiar advice online. I'm now breastfeeding DC2 - he is nearly 7 weeks old and I enjoyed a couple of glasses of prosecco in that time for my birthday and will definitely be having a drink or two over the festive period.

Selfsettling3 · 01/12/2019 16:35

I would take that 1% with a pinch of salt. I used a few sips of formula to give to new born DD to help take the edge of her ‘hangryness’ so she could calm down enough to latch properly and in the early days she had the occasional bottle of formula over night from DH when I was exhausted. She hasn’t had any formula for the last 3 months (she’s nearly 5 months) and now only feeds directly from the boob. According to those stats we are nolonger breast feeding which is ridiculous.

The occasional bottle of formula is not the end of the world.

The WHO suggests breast feeding until 2 years with food introduced at 6 months. With my first I lasted until 6 weeks, this time I’m planning on keeping going until she self weans.

firstimemamma · 01/12/2019 17:09

@thefluffysideofgrey exclusive breastfeeding means breast milk only, not just no formula. See the attached from WHO.

Can you drink alcohol while breast-feeding?
JumpiestBat · 01/12/2019 17:12

NCT lady told us it was more the fact that if you're tipsy you may drop the baby/fall asleep in bed with them etc and roll on them or they might roll off the bed or chair.

Original poster
wondering7777 · 01/12/2019 17:24

I enjoyed a couple of glasses of prosecco in that time for my birthday and will definitely be having a drink or two over the festive period.

I was thinking more like 10-12 units per week - would that be ok?

OP posts:
LLOE7 · 01/12/2019 17:40

Drinking alcohol is absolutely fine to do while breastfeeding- if you are sober enough to safely hold baby, you are safe enough to feed. The alcohol that goes into the milk is the equivalent of a shot glass in an Olympic swimming pool. I fed my first for almost three years, feeding my second at the moment at 14 months and no plans to stop. Once you get past the first six weeks it's usually quite easy from there :)

BertrandRussell · 01/12/2019 17:41

“The occasional bottle of formula is not the end of the world.”

Of course it’s not! But it’s not exclusive bf- hence the 1%..

BertrandRussell · 01/12/2019 17:42

I think the rule about alcohol is if you can legally drive a car you can bf.