So, what is the rule about alcohol and BFing?

smilelari

My 30th birthday is Nov 2nd and I'm having a drink.

So, how does the whole pump and dump thing work?

mandaphilly

Dont quote me on it, but I believe your not suppose to have a drink and BF right after. You should wait like 2 hours I think it is.

But don't quote me on that

MattsWifey<3

dump? never!

kellymom.com

have a great bday and enjoy your drink

 

BinksMomma3016

I cant remember exact amounts for how many hours. I was told that you should pump and dump for that night and also if you drank wayyyy to much, like you actually feel hungover or other effects of alcohol you should wait until you DONT feel them anymore before keeping the milk. I usually dumped until later the next day because I was always worried. Im sure a lactation consultant would know or your OB

userdeleted

This website is pretty helpful in general:

https://kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html

SarahSmile907

BRU and certainly other stores, have alcohol test strips.  I've never tried them but am planning to have occasional drinks.  Kellymom.com has some info I think.  Also, ask the LC at the hospital for her opinion.

PizzaBride

https://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html

There's no need to pump and dump.

ladyalmalthea

If you feel the affects of the alcohol still, don't nurse. Same thing with a hangover- don't nurse till hangover is over.

OkieDokie88

i'm just lurking, but you can get the Milk Screens at walgreens around here. They are super cheap, and all you do is put a drop of BM on them and they tell you if there is alcohol in the BM. so you can pump, test, and then know for sure if it is safe or not.

If you don't want to mess with that, what we were taought in nursing school is that you should not use any milk expressed while you can still feel the effects of the alcohol. But once it is out of your system it is supposed to be out of your milk as well.

BinksMomma3016

The reason you pump and dump is like if you went out and had wayyy to much ( which my friends got me to do to "celebrate " DS, bad idea) or like it says on kellymom, it takes about 2-3 hours for it to leave your system. So okay if you are out for a couple hours having a couple drinks and then you leave and have to wait even an additional hr to 3 hours you will need to pump. Your breasts will be killing! Especially in the begining. Your ducts can actually get blocked from not having flow and that frickin hurts. So if I went out for a drink, when I got home I would pump and dump because my boobs needed me to and then went to bed. If you ARE out having a fantastic time with your college friends and you drink too much, once again you will want to free your milk. It does matter the amont you drink and how many hours after. The strips may help. Im just saying, my boobs were killing, I had to pump and so I dumped it. If you feel the alcohol still dont serve it

smilelari

Thanks for the link to Kellymom.  Looks very helpful

And thanks for all the other advice

benifer224

If you are feeling the affects of the alcohol they say dump it or wait until you don't feel it anymore.

Ashmre5

At the bfing class I took the Lactation Consultant told us one drink was fine.

For 2 drinks: -Pump prior to drinking -Drink -Feed baby your pumped milk from earlier -Pump and dump milk

For 3 drinks: Same, except express enough milk to cover two feedings, and then pump and dump two feedings