drinking while BFing

gallerygirl · October 2009

We had some people over for football yesterday and my one friend brought her 2 month old along. She drank wine all afternoon, followed by beer. She BFed around 5 PM, after drinking for about 4 hours.

Is it just me or is that a big no-no for BFing? I mean, her baby was totally calm and sedated the entire time, I'm thinking she may have been buzzed. Thoughts? I'm off to google.

vera1127 · October 2009

I'm thinking that's a big fat no-no.

Grayhouse · October 2009

I'm pretty sure that's a big no-no. My friends that BF will pump their alcoholic milk and throw it away to make sure baby doesn't get any of it and they don't get engorged. They'll pre-pump some alcohol-free milk and bring it with and give it to baby in a bottle so they can enjoy their drink.

I don't think they'd go through that hassle if it was ok.

wisher · October 2009

I agree with pp. Only thing I've heard is to pump before you drink for feeding, pump after and discard, and then BF when your system is alc free.

PurpleK26 · October 2009

from every mom I've talked to, their dr.s tell them that 2 drinks over the course of 2+ hours won't affect the milk in any way. Beyond that, yes, you're baby might get a bit droopy, but not to the tune of being drunk unless you're doing tequilla shots all night!

I'm going the whole pg with no alchohol, and we have 5 bottles of wine waiting for me in our fridge, I totally plan on having a glass or two after LO is born! I wouldn't ever have more than 2 in a 3-4 day period, but I see no harm in a little!

gallerygirl · October 2009

PurpleK26:
from every mom I've talked to, their dr.s tell them that 2 drinks over the course of 2+ hours won't affect the milk in any way. Beyond that, yes, you're baby might get a bit droopy, but not to the tune of being drunk unless you're doing tequilla shots all night!

I'm going the whole pg with no alchohol, and we have 5 bottles of wine waiting for me in our fridge, I totally plan on having a glass or two after LO is born! I wouldn't ever have more than 2 in a 3-4 day period, but I see no harm in a little!

Oh, I plan on drinking, too! I haven't had a drop since O. I did think people are advised to pump & dump. These were some large glasses of wine she had and it was more than 2 in 2 hours. I guess I was just surprised and hope she doesn't do that all the time!

ibis · October 2009

That's a lot of drinking for a BFing mom. What I've heard is that you can BF (without pumping & dumping) as long as the alcohol is out pretty much out of your system by the time you nurse. So say you nurse the baby, have a glass of wine with dinner, and an hour after your glass of wine baby needs to nurse again - that should be fine. But 4 straight hours of drinking is a lot, especially with a young infant that needs to nurse often.

HisKathy · October 2009

I got some of those breast milk alcohol test strips for this very purpose. When I drink I plan on feeding the baby first and if I'm going to a party or something I'll definitely bottle feed some pre-pumped milk. Other than that if the milk doesn't pass the test I'll probably have to pump and dump. I figure those tests should be a good way to take the guess-work out of it.

AngelLuver_02 · October 2009

When I was BFing I would nurse, have a max of one-two drinks, then would be okay to nurse one-two hours later. You actually don't have to pump and dump. Kellymom.com says if you are too drunk/buzzed to drive, you are too drink to BF. But you have to do what you are comfortable with.

PurpleK26 · October 2009

Yeah, I really think this mom sounds like she's crossing the line as far as what dr.'s would say is ok. I do know that a few 'older moms' like my MIL, say that if you have a super stressed baby, it can be good for them if you have a glass of wine WHILE you BF. I don't think I could go that far!

However, if it's ok to have A glass of wine while pg, can it really be that harmful to have ONE while BFing? I don't know the answer to this one.

gallerygirl · October 2009

I've heard that drinking a glass of wine or having a beer WHILE BFing is the safest time, it won't make it to the milk in time for the LO to get any alcohol from it. My BFing class is next week... can't wait to look like the Alchy in the class with all the questions about when I can drink!

HisKathy · October 2009

gallerygirl:
I've heard that drinking a glass of wine or having a beer WHILE BFing is the safest time, it won't make it to the milk in time for the LO to get any alcohol from it. My BFing class is next week... can't wait to look like the Alchy in the class with all the questions about when I can drink!

hehe, a friend of mine asked this question in her class and she was totally treated like a wino! The teacher was like "it's not a good idea to get drunk or anything because you could drop the baby or pass out or something" and whenever she made any reference to drinking at all she would give my friend sideways glances. I thought it was hilarious but I guess she was kind of embarrassed. I'm sure you wouldn't be the only one wondering though and it's a good question to ask.

MrsPatterson · October 2009

gallerygirl:
I've heard that drinking a glass of wine or having a beer WHILE BFing is the safest time, it won't make it to the milk in time for the LO to get any alcohol from it. My BFing class is next week... can't wait to look like the Alchy in the class with all the questions about when I can drink!

Definitely come back and share what you've learned, I'd love to know the guidelines for this!

MrsGhappilyeverafter · October 2009

I've read about this on kellymom.com. It sounds like that woman was definitely crossing the line. I think one or two drinks are fine as long as you wait at least an hour or two to BF after having them.

If anyone is interested, this is helpful: https://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html

Rachel&Joe · October 2009

you should bf baby right befire drinking, then have just a couple of drinks, then feed your baby a couple hours later (or whenever she is hungry). If you no longer feel buzzed, then it's safe to say that the alcohol is out of your milk. your friend was definitely getting the baby buzzed & that is just wrong.

crysbena · October 2009

ditto on most people's posts.... my friends "pump and dump" all the time...but don't give baby alcoholic milk.

carolinachica · October 2009

gallerygirl:
I've heard that drinking a glass of wine or having a beer WHILE BFing is the safest time, it won't make it to the milk in time for the LO to get any alcohol from it. My BFing class is next week... can't wait to look like the Alchy in the class with all the questions about when I can drink!

This is true per my pediatrician. The way it works is, that whatever your blood alcohol level is (ie what you would blow on a breathalyzer) is the alcohol concentration of your breast milk. So, if you are legally drunk with a .08 level, your milk is 8% booze. Not good. If you have one beer/drink/wine when nursing and then feel nothing 2 hours later when it comes time to feed again, then you are fine to nurse.

Also, there is no point to "pump and dumping." Once your BA level drops your milk is fine even if you were drunk earlier and didn't pump and dump.

gypsywitch · October 2009

yea...no no. Alcohol gets into breastmilk easily. You're supposed to " pump and dump"...generally 5 hours after consuming your last alcoholic beverage is when its safe to BF again. I wouldn't drink until baby was in bed, have a few drinks then wait a few hours, pump and dump.

JessesGirl81 · October 2009

Pumping and Dumping is a myth, google it but I was told that this does not make a difference. If you get trashed, pump and dump and then feed your baby it will still have alcohol in the BM.

That being said- I breastfed my son for 18 months and I drank the whole 18 months. When he was a newborn/infant I was a lot stricter with it, maybe one or two drinks ( an by newborn I mean, I didn't drink at all for the first 6 weeks b/c I really had no urge). As time went on and he got older 1year- 1.5 years I was a lot less strict since he decreased his number of feeds.

mrshutch · October 2009

I never pumped and dumped. It's extra work and didn't really seem worth it. I was never worried about having a drink or two and then BFing. I do think the woman mentioned went overboard and I would never drink that much, but I really don't think a drink or two hurts.

GershiGirl · October 2009

carolinachica:

This is true per my pediatrician. The way it works is, that whatever your blood alcohol level is (ie what you would blow on a breathalyzer) is the alcohol concentration of your breast milk. So, if you are legally drunk with a .08 level, your milk is 8% booze. Not good. If you have one beer/drink/wine when nursing and then feel nothing 2 hours later when it comes time to feed again, then you are fine to nurse.

Also, there is no point to "pump and dumping." Once your BA level drops your milk is fine even if you were drunk earlier and didn't pump and dump.

This is true, but the math is a little off... if you have a .08 BAC that means that only 0.08% of your blood (or breast milk) is alcohol--not 8%. (keep in mind that a beer is usually only 5% alchohol--to get your blood up to 8% alcohol you'd have to drink enough beer to kill you)... so, if you do have a .08 level, then your milk is only 0.08% alcohol--less than a tenth of one percent. While you definitely don't want to give your baby alcohol, .08% is less than what typically comes in a "non-alcoholic" beer like O'Douls, which usually contains anywhere from .3% to .5% alcohol.

carolinachica · October 2009

GershiGirl:
carolinachica:

This is true per my pediatrician. The way it works is, that whatever your blood alcohol level is (ie what you would blow on a breathalyzer) is the alcohol concentration of your breast milk. So, if you are legally drunk with a .08 level, your milk is 8% booze. Not good. If you have one beer/drink/wine when nursing and then feel nothing 2 hours later when it comes time to feed again, then you are fine to nurse.
Also, there is no point to "pump and dumping." Once your BA level drops your milk is fine even if you were drunk earlier and didn't pump and dump.
This is true, but the math is a little off... if you have a .08 BAC that means that only 0.08% of your blood (or breast milk) is alcohol--not 8%. (keep in mind that a beer is usually only 5% alchohol--to get your blood up to 8% alcohol you'd have to drink enough beer to kill you)... so, if you do have a .08 level, then your milk is only 0.08% alcohol--less than a tenth of one percent. While you definitely don't want to give your baby alcohol, .08% is less than what typically comes in a "non-alcoholic" beer like O'Douls, which usually contains anywhere from .3% to .5% alcohol.

I am blaming my math on pregmentia. Thanks for clarifying!

Addicted2thenot · October 2009

Yeah that is a big No No

If you plan on drinking then you should pump some milk before the party so baby has alcohol free milk

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