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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

EBF - can I have a glass of fizz after the birth?

66 replies

randomquestions87 · 22/02/2020 07:29

I gave up alcohol after discovering I was pregnant and have been tee-total ever since. Before getting pregnant I did enjoy a glass of wine with my evening meals towards the end of the week and a lunchtime glass at weekends. I’d say I drank about 12 units in total per week.

My first baby is due this summer and I want to EBF ideally, but the thought of giving up alcohol for another six months to a year is really putting me off!

I read another thread on MN recently asking people what they did the first night they arrived home from hospital with their newborns, and someone said that once the baby was asleep, they ordered a pizza with their DH and enjoyed a couple of glasses of fizz.

If I EBF is that something that will be completely off limits? I just want to enjoy the occasional glass of wine in moderation once the baby arrives basically, as I do miss it!

Also if I do EBF and don’t drink, then decide to try for another baby and get pregnant again, it could be years before I can enjoy a glass of wine!

Any thoughts welcome...

OP posts:
Chocolatedaim · 22/02/2020 07:31

Yes

Chocolatedaim · 22/02/2020 07:31

As in yes you can have a glass of fizz even if EBF. Just don’t get hammered.

ShowOfHands · 22/02/2020 07:33

Not sure what a "glass of fizz" is but assuming it's mere alcohol then yes, of course you can. It does mean you must not bed share but you can drink.

PotteringAlong · 22/02/2020 07:33

You can drink whilst breastfeeding. In fact, the ideal time to have a glass of wine is whilst physically breastfeeding because nothing has hit your system yet!

Alcohol goes into breastmilk at the same quantities as it does into your blood - if you could get someone drunk from drinking your blood / breastmilk you would be dead long before that happened.

If you can safely hold your baby you can safely breastfeed them. Enjoy your Wine

Hollyhead · 22/02/2020 07:34

Yes, light drinking is fine whilst BF, I’m fact I used to have a glass of wine while breastfeeding. Look up Jack Newman.

Freshnewus · 22/02/2020 07:34

Absolutely!
I packed champagne and plastic flutes in my hospital bag to drink post birth!
(As suggested by my NCT lady)

twosecs · 22/02/2020 07:34

You absolutely can!

The guidance now is that you need to be blind drunk before enough alcohol gets into your breast milk to have any effect on your lovely new baby - by which point you'll be too drunk to safely hold the baby anyway.

The alcohol content of your breast milk is the same as your blood stream, kellymom is a great resource kellymom.com/?cat=-1

I get really dehydrated v quickly so I'd just make sure you had plenty of other fluids, but otherwise enjoy yourself - you earned that glass!!

FlowerArranger · 22/02/2020 07:38

Didn't they use to recommend stout for breast feeding mothers... Grin

BadCatDirtyCat · 22/02/2020 07:38

I'm in your situation too OP and I CANNOT WAIT for my first post birth glass of wine.. it'll be summer so maybe a nice cold torrontes or a glass of fizz as you say...

I understand you can't bedshare afterwards but we're planning on using a next-to-me type crib anyway.

Peapod29 · 22/02/2020 07:43

You can drink whilst breastfeeding. If you are drunk to the point of being dead your breastmilk would contain about 0.5% alc (I’ve actually seen studies that suggest breastmilk alcohol content is even less than blood alcohol content, it hasn’t been very well researched at all). To give you context 0.5% alcohol is about the same as a glass of orange juice, non alcoholic beer and even a ripe banana! I understand why they tell b/feeding mothers not to drink because they are more likely to be co sleeping but it’s not the alcohol in breastmilk itself that’s of concern
Go ahead and enjoy.

littlemissalwaystired · 22/02/2020 07:46

The alcohol itself isn't the problem, as long as you're capable of looking after a newborn. Just don't co-sleep after and you should be fineSmile enjoy!

Original poster
randomquestions87 · 22/02/2020 07:53

I’m just confused because the advice is so variable. On the NHS website it says you can drink but it’s safest to consume up to 14 units per week maximum spread over at least three days (fine!) Then on the NCT page it says to only have one or two units per week. Who do you believe?

OP posts:
BadCatDirtyCat · 22/02/2020 08:22

NHS is pretty risk averse and their advice is - usually (not too sure about this) - based on actual research. I would always go with them.

McHelenz · 22/02/2020 08:25

The NHS.

HDready · 22/02/2020 08:26

NHS over NCT always! Enjoy your wine (and your baby)!

Hercwasonaroll · 22/02/2020 08:29

Yes but you may not feel like drinking!

saraclara · 22/02/2020 08:30

My doctor advised me to have a nice glass of red while I breastfed in the evening!

And yes, NHS over NCT

Bluewavescrashing · 22/02/2020 08:32

Absolutely! I packed champagne and plastic flutes in my hospital bag to drink post birth!
(As suggested by my NCT lady)

She is my hero 🥂

Surfer25 · 22/02/2020 08:33

What is fizz?
Champagne, prosecco, sparkling wine?!

You seem a bit preoccupied with alcohol tbh.

QuornQuiche · 22/02/2020 08:40

The NHS seem to be inconsistent. Here they are suggesting 1-2 units once or twice a week.

sqirrelfriends · 22/02/2020 08:41

@Surfer25 what a nasty thing to say. OP has given up alcohol for her pregnancy and is checking it's safe to have a celebratory glass to celebrate her new DC.

Someone that's really preoccupied with alcohol would go ahead and drink while still pregnant (as many people do)

katmarie · 22/02/2020 08:42

A glass of fizz is absolutely fine and well deserved after giving birth. As others have said, as long as you're not so drunk that you can't care for baby, then you're fine. And I dont think you're preoccupied with alcohol. After 9 months of sobriety it's a perfectly reasonable thing to wonder about! Enjoy your fizz :)

ClaraLane · 22/02/2020 08:44

Agree with others to go ahead and have a glass of something lovely! You’ll find you won’t be able to drink much after being teetotal for so long so you’ll be a bit of a lightweight and you also won’t want to deal with a hangover and a newborn. I BF my daughter for 17 months and no way did it stop me drinking or getting tipsy but I never got actually drunk. Just remember no co-sleeping - as long as you can hold the baby without dropping them then you’re safe to feed the baby.

QuornQuiche · 22/02/2020 08:44

This is worth a read.

MummyGoingItAlone · 22/02/2020 08:46

My midwife encouraged it for my sanity. Go for it, you bloody deserve it x