S/O Beer

unaveragejane

Does beer really help your milk production? Is there a certain type to look for? What percentage is okay to drink without needing to pump and dump - if at all? And for a non-beer-lover, what would your recommend?

Rrrrrachel

It doesn't really. It can help you relax which can help let down. Generally you don't need to pump and dump ever. The rule is if you're sober enough to drive you're sober enough to breastfeed. I did the math once and even if you're drunk and feed four ounces baby is getting like fractions of a drop of alcohol. There's more alcohol in juice.

TJ1979

It seems like it helps to me, but it could be mental. I like beer though so I'll keep playing along. I always heard the darker the better, which is my preference anyhow.

KLXVI

My cousin swore by her daily lunch can of Guinness for milk production. A full can of Guinness would have made me feel wasted at that point, though.

candlequeen

This post is awesome I love it. So many people dump their precious milk and it's unnecessary most of the time. If you're drunk and skip a feeding and you're uncomfortably engorged then pump and dump makes sense.

unaveragejane

Rrrrrachel said:

It doesn't really. It can help you relax which can help let down. Generally you don't need to pump and dump ever. The rule is if you're sober enough to drive you're sober enough to breastfeed. I did the math once and even if you're drunk and feed four ounces baby is getting like fractions of a drop of alcohol. There's more alcohol in juice.

This is tricky for me b/c I get tipsy pretty easily, so I always wait several hours after drinking anything before I am comfortable to drive. But DH can drink a 32 oz draft and be fine to drive home.

In any case, if it's the relaxation part that is important, could I just have a hard lemonade and see the same effect?

Rrrrrachel

Honestly I wouldn't count on any impact on supply and just have one if you want one and would enjoy it.

TJ1979

Me too @Mapleme‌! Mine goes back Monday. In a way I'm happy to have the time to figure things out and get in a groove. But I'm also sad to lose my buddy and helper!

unaveragejane

Mapleme said:

I'm currently getting DH to make me oatmeal and bacon every morning for my milk supply And if M is really milking the milking session than he bring breakfast to us in bed. Damn, I'm going to be sad when DH goes back to work on Friday.

Does the bacon help with supply, or is it just something fun to go with the oatmeal?

TJ1979

@Mapleme‌ I will have 2 days of practice alone with P, then will have both of them alone on Wednesday. I realize SAHMs do this every day with 2 or more kids, but I'm pretty scared!

sarenu1

TJ1979 said:

@Mapleme‌ I will have 2 days of practice alone with P, then will have both of them alone on Wednesday. I realize SAHMs do this every day with 2 or more kids, but I'm pretty scared!

Think of a good amount of activities that will keep your toddler busy. I do a lot of coloring with her when my husband isn't around.

TJ1979

Great idea! Thanks @sarenu1‌. She's super into her blocks right now, and alphabet puzzle, stickers, and being outside. FX for good weather!

sarenu1

Mapleme said:

Me too @Mapleme‌! Mine goes back Monday. In a way I'm happy to have the time to figure things out and get in a groove. But I'm also sad to lose my buddy and helper!

Next week is going to be ridiculous for me. DH has a week long conference 45 minutes away from here and will be staying in a hotel. (If M had been born in her due date we would have had a couple weeks to be ready for this). So the plan is for me to spend the nights at the hotel with him and drive back home as needed. I have bakery things I need to do on Monday, but then I was planning on staying up there the rest of the week. But then I remembered that we do diaper laundry every day because of how small M is. And we have cats. And there's a babywearing meeting that I want to go to on Thursday. It's going to be interesting... Perhaps you and I can provide each other moral support.

I loved my time alone with both of them. I could cuddle in bed with him as long as I wanted and no one would know.

TugboatSheila

Mmmmmmm Hefeweizen.

ElleBeeDub

A friend of mine had her second child in Belgium, and they  brought her beer every day with her lunch to help her supply

Also, TJ, you'll do great! As long as you don't have any solid "schedule," I think you'll be fine. Your days will create their own structure, and you'll find what works for you. I bought a massive bag of the little craft pom pom balls for G. Anytime I need 5 minutes, I dig out a handful and give them to him along with an empty vinegar jug. I might end up with pom poms everywhere, but at least they don't hurt when I step on them

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Amores0121

@Mapleme @TJ1979  I envy you guys! DH has already told me he won't be taking any time off ( he has his own business and is super busy) and when I told him he would at least be staying in the hospital with me, he kind of made a face. Um, what? He's all like "someone has to be working" blah blah blah. I told him I think your clients would understand if you're a day late cutting their grass b/c you just had a son. I'm seriously worried that he'll miss my labor b/c it's very hard to get a hold of him during the day and sometimes he doesn't have a signal where he's working. Thankfully I have a doula. But I'm also worried about him having bonding time with the baby. Sigh. I guess it will all work itself out.

TJ1979

Yikes @Amores0121‌. Is this his first? Mh was kinda oblivious at first also. He's done much better this time around.

Amores0121

@TJ1979 Yes. He has no idea about babies and how demanding they are and the support needed. He thinks I am making too big of a deal out of everything. I understand that he really can't take time off, it just sucks. I barely see him at all, he leaves before I'm awake and gets home b/n 8-11 pm. So not sure how that's gonna work out with a newborn. But at least I have my DD who is a great helper and very excited to help out with her baby brother.

unaveragejane

@Amores0121 - DH was weird about taking time off, too. He was going stir-crazy at the house with DS and me, so he actually went back two days earlier than we had planned. It took him a little while to get really bonded with the little guy, mostly b/c he had no idea what to do with a tiny cry/eat/poop/pee machine at first. Now DS is his little buddy, and DS thinks DH hung the moon. DH has also learned a lot and is much more considerate this time around of the support that I will need based on last time's struggles.

Amores0121

unaveragejane said:

@Amores0121 - DH was weird about taking time off, too. He was going stir-crazy at the house with DS and me, so he actually went back two days earlier than we had planned. It took him a little while to get really bonded with the little guy, mostly b/c he had no idea what to do with a tiny cry/eat/poop/pee machine at first. Now DS is his little buddy, and DS thinks DH hung the moon. DH has also learned a lot and is much more considerate this time around of the support that I will need based on last time's struggles.

I am kind of thinking this is how things will go with DH and DS as well...I think he finds little children much more fun than babies. I don't think most men know what to do with babies or enjoy them much b/c they don't really do much. I'm sure that once the kid starts walking and being able to play there will be a stronger bonding.