Alcohol

kristine618

Are you indulging in the occasional drink even though you're breastfeeding?  I didn't drink while pregnant but craved beer like crazy, especially during the summer months.  I recently bought my favorite beer to have around and have been unable to resist having one every night since I bought it.  I guess one drink/day while breast feeding isn't necessarily bad, right?  Anyone else finding it difficult to resist?

BeccaLandes

there is nothing wrong with having a drink while breastfeeding.  getting drunk- then yes, there will be alcohol in your breastmilk.

and especially beer- it is supposed to increase your supply. when i was trying to build up my supply to nurse my twins, i often had a beer at night. 

bgf1

I have had a glass of wine several times since giving birth.  Depending on you height and weight the time it takes alcohol to be cleared from your breast milk completely is 1.5 to 3 hours.  This probably errs on the side of too much caution, but just to be safe I will usually have a drink while nursing  so that it leaves the maximum amount of time for the alcohol to clear from my system before the next nursing session.  

jeanbean13

I actually bought an alcohol free beer to help with my milk supply.  It's called Kaliber and is made by Guinness.  It's pretty good.

If you do drink and are worried about it affecting your breast milk, you can always buy alcohol test strips.  I saw that they sell them at Target. 

Jacqui105

I have a small glass of wine once in awhile. I'd love a beer but I know from when I nursed DD1, beer will make my boobs leak like crazy. Not something I want when I have that happening without the beer! Anyway, I agree a drink isn't a big deal. Someone told me, if you can drive a car you can feed your baby. I'm cautious but a small drink is fine for me.

peacelove&mama

I have a small glass of wine or a beer with dinner a few nights a week.

NoeliaV

I haven't had a full drink but I have had sips of drinks here and there.

To be honest, I haven't had a taste for it. I didn't expect that.

dee12807

I was always told if you can drive, you can nurse. This means if you even feel slightly tipsy, either pump and dump or wait it out. I like light beer, so I don't think it helps my supply at all

SummerOH

Just fyi...ther's no need to pump and dump.  Alcohol clears breastmilk just like it clears your blood.  The only time you need to throw it out is if you pump soon after drinking to aleviate discomfort.

ObLaDi

Oh hell yeah. I've been having a glass of wine more nights than not. I plan on potentially breastfeeding into my next pregnancy; there's no way I'm going to abstain completely for several years.

kescalera

I enjoyed the occasional small glass of wine roughly once a month during my pregnancy and have no issues enjoying a glass 2 or 3 nights a week now. 

StefandTodd

I don't have much desire for alcohol.  Plus, I bedshare...so I don't feel comfortable with even one full glass of wine or a full beer.  I'm not opposed to sips occasionally, but I was okay with occasional sips even while pregnant.

NovRain27

i took a breastfeeding class before the baby was born and they told us if you have 1 glass of wine then you can breastfeed again in 2 hours because that's how long it takes to clear your system. i normally wait 2.5-3 hours just to be safe. but if you feel normal it's because it's probably out of your system.

StefandTodd

StefandTodd:

I don't have much desire for alcohol.  Plus, I bedshare...so I don't feel comfortable with even one full glass of wine or a full beer.  I'm not opposed to sips occasionally, but I was okay with occasional sips even while pregnant.

LOL...can't remember when I posted this, but I have to laugh b/c my toddler was especially unruly a couple weeks ago, and so I had a glass of wine at the end of the day and now I'm hooked and have one 3-5 nights a week.  It helps that the littlest guy sleeps really well in his own bed, which is so different than how it was with my first who always had to be in our bed. 

BrittanyDoesDerby

StefandTodd:

I don't have much desire for alcohol.  Plus, I bedshare...so I don't feel comfortable with even one full glass of wine or a full beer.  I'm not opposed to sips occasionally, but I was okay with occasional sips even while pregnant.

 

This. Except sometimes I really do want some.