BF moms- Do you drink beer or wine?

catie333 · September 2011

Once or twice a week I'll nurse LO really well then have a beer with dinner. I don't pump so I don't pump and dump, LO will eat again 1-2 hours later.

Is this horrible? Does anyone else enjoy an alcoholic beverage on occasion and not "dump" it but just let it metabolize?

suzyqjmu · September 2011

I have had wine once and beer twice since giving birth. There is no reason to pump and dump. That's just old advice. Just let it metabolize out of your system. Pump and dump does nothing but waste milk. I am sure that you are okay to nurse her two hours after having one drink. Just don't drink more than that unless you have pumped milk already put aside to give your body more time to metabolize.

heather82hair · September 2011

I have had both, not in the same day! But yes I have enjoyed a drink here or there. My dr said it's fine as well. As long as you are not going crazy! One drink is fine!

aichandaich · September 2011

Me! Doc recommended it but like the PPs one drink max for me. I only have wine every few days and it is lovely.

Firefly9 · September 2011

Yes, I do. And no, it isn't horrible. I've heard from many different sources that if you are sober enough to drive, you are fine to nurse/pump and give the baby your milk. It metabolizes out of your milk like it does out of your bloodstream, so even if you have a couple, if you wait long enough (if you can stand waiting long enough), the milk will be fine and you don't have to pump and dump.

I've also heard the first drink is a freebie, and after that, wait one hour per drink before nursing/pumping.

If I'm drinking now, it's rare that I'll have more than one glass or wine or one beer per day. I might have a second if I've just finished my last pumping session of the night and know I'm not going to again until morning.

damabo80 · September 2011

I've never pumped and dumped, but I have drank on occasion. I go by the "if you're ok to drive, you're ok to feed". First drink is free, and if I have more than one, then I wait that many hours. So if I have 2 drinks, I wait 2 hours.

outlandartist · September 2011

I enjoy a drink or 2 pretty regularly, I just have it right after I feed her. The pump and dump is only if you become uncomfortable, it doesn't take it out of your system faster. I have pumped milk if I want to drink more. I heard if you are OK to drive you are OK to nurse.
ETA: sorry to be redundant, didn't see posts above.

GracieLou Freebush · September 2011

I have a glass of wine at least once per week. If you're sober enough to drive, you're sober enough to BF.

No need to pump and dump unless you get wasted and need to pump for comfort.

CactusGirl · September 2011

I haven't yet, too scared!

Nutrguru · September 2011

Yes. I just make sure it's at least one hour since i finish the last of my drink until I pump/feed again. I've only dumped once because I had 2 drinks to celebrate a friends birthday.

sammyR11 · September 2011

I have drank a couple different times but only one drink. I have felt a couple times like I am producing less milk, so I will have 1 beer a couple days in a row and then my milk feels back to normal. I think it has something to do with the yeast in the beer, or maybe its all in my head.

COMomma81 · September 2011

OP, it's perfectly fine. It metabolizes out of your system pretty quickly. The rule of of thumb is: Ok to drive = ok to nurse. To answer your question...yup! I am not a lush or anything, but I have definitely enjoyed a few beers and glasses of wine since baby was born. Just one with a meal here and there. No pumping and dumping necessary

simplyme06 · September 2011

Once or twice a week!! Keeps me sane. PLUS, like pp mentioned, a dark beer can boost your milk supply because of the brewer's yeast in it. All the more reason to have one

kmariec777 · September 2011

I enjoy a nice glass of wine once or twice a week - I just make sure that I nurse right before I drink and then I'll wait 1-2 hours after I'm finished to nurse again.

cburitz · September 2011

There's no reason to "pump & dump" if you're just having a glass of wine or a beer.

I'm not much of a beer drinker but I do enjoy an occasional glass of wine. I've never had more than 1 glass, though.

e+jfamily08 · September 2011

My doctor said that as long as you are sober enough to drive you are sober enough to feed your baby. If you are really concerned talk to your doctor. I was afraid to ask the pediatrician because I didn't want her to judge me lol! But pumping and dumping does no more than drinking water does. Your blood alcohol concentration matches the milk alcohol concentration. I guarantee in Europe and even when our parents had us this wasn't even a question! If you're going to have a few drinks then pump before you drink but one or two beers/glasses of wine shouldn't hurt. Unless of course you haven't eaten or can't handle alcohol very well.

californiaborn · September 2011

I do with dinner a few times a week. A few weeks ago DH and I went out on a date night while SIL watched our LO for us. I had a glass of champagne and a LARGE glass of Pino and was pretty much drunk Embarrassed

. Wasn't expecting that. It is crazy how low my tolerance has gotten, but I guess low tolerance is a good thing to have when BFing, keeps you in check. I did have to pump and dump that night. I was too paranoid and getting too full.

x0stephanie · September 2011

I dont drink beer or wine, I drink vodka coolers. LOL

I only usually have 1 or 2 on weekends, and I definitely don't pump and dump. I'm just not that worried.

MommySteph2009 · September 2011

I've done it too. I've read one is okay because it metabolizes in an hour.

meg211 · September 2011

simplyme06:
Once or twice a week!! Keeps me sane. PLUS, like pp mentioned, a dark beer can boost your milk supply because of the brewer's yeast in it. All the more reason to have one

This! Our pedi actually recommended I have a beer once a day to help with my supply. Maybe its coincidence, but I swear it worked. I have one a few times times a week. I end up sipping on it over an hour or so with dinner, so I've never had any concerns feeding LO even if it was only an hour or even a little less since I finished it.

I do love wine though, and when we make a nice dinner or go out and MH & I split a bottle (he drinks most of it), I give her a bottle the next feeding, but don't worry about it after that.

ShannonMacHappy · September 2011

I just let it metabolize. I follow the rule of thumb, if I'm safe to drive, I'm safe to nurse.

krissymac · September 2011

I drink both. And sometimes I even have two glasses of wine after I have nursed. The only time I pumped and dumped was after I got home from my first bender - I had 4 margaritas and a glass of wine. I dumped 10oz

morgs8384 · September 2011

I EP, and have been drinking beer at night. My ped. recommended it. He said wine was fine too, but I prefer beer. Indifferent

rose1883 · September 2011

I've only had beer- saving wine and champagne for when my bff comes this weekend

It takes 1 hr for your body to metabolize 1 drink. So I usually feed, have a drink and then I know I'm good until I have to feed her again bc she's usually 3-4 hrs between feedings. No sense in pump and dump- it doesn't do you any good.

jenni5675 · September 2011

I would seriously cry if I had to dump 10 oz. The first time I had more than one drink (only two drinks) I literally cried because I thought I couldn't nurse and would have to dump. I wasn't even buzzed and it was like five hours later. I ended up jumping on the internet, doing some quick research, and decided to go for it. My husband thought I was crazy and I felt really silly.