Alcohol and BFing

Athena0809 · October 2012

Please don't laugh at my ignorance. Is it really OK to have a drink or two while BFing? And what is the "protocol" to follow? Pump and dump, wait a couple hours?

I'm asking because my SIL and I are still BFing and while at my other SIL's wedding she came over to the table all giddy with some fruity mixed drink and told me her LLL consultant told her one or two is fine. Then a friend told me she goes by the one hour per drink rule--one drink, wait one hour, two drinks, wait two hours- this way the alcohol has been metabolized and won't get to baby. Then another friend said she pumps and dumps or no drinking. The last friend interviewed said, "no way! no drinking at all!"

So I'm just really curious what's the consensus out there because I was always under the impression of "no alcohol whatsoever" DS still nurses many time during the day if that makes any difference. It's not that I really want to go out drinking, I actually don't miss it since it's been over two years but I wouldn't mind having one drink now! lol.

kelly321 · October 2012

Here's what kellymom says on the topic:

https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/

In short, this is the summary it gives at the end: "In general, if you are sober enough to drive, you are sober enough to breastfeed. Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother reaches her blood and milk. Alcohol peaks in mom?s blood and milk approximately 1/2-1 hour after drinking (but there is considerable variation from person to person, depending upon how much food was eaten in the same time period, mom?s body weight and percentage of body fat, etc.). Alcohol does not accumulate in breastmilk, but leaves the milk as it leaves the blood; so when your blood alcohol levels are back down, so are your milk alcohol levels."

My MW also said a glass of wine was ok, but if you wanted to make sure it was gone before the next feeding, you would essentially want to drink while nursing. It wouldn't get into your milk fast enough for that feeding and should be gone before the next. She admitted, though, that many women would feel uncomfortable with a baby on the breast and a glass of wine in hand :-)

Bonnesetter27 · October 2012

I also followed the rule if you are able to drive you are able to nurse. But I also only drank after he was asleep and wouldn't need to feed him until the morning.

calm_angel_2003 · October 2012

i used the same rule plus made sure i waited a couple hours before bf'ing

belladonna11307 · October 2012

I heard one hour per drink and if you're sober enough to drive you can BF. Something to keep in mind - one drink is a 12 oz beer, 4 oz wine or 1 ounce hard liquor. Most mixed drinks have more than one shot in them, so just be aware of what you're consuming. I'm paranoid, so I always wait two hours after every drink, which I only have once in a while (less than once a week, though there have been occasional weeks where I had two in the same week - gasp!

) Now that DD is sleeping through the night I wait until she's in bed for the night to have a drink and can be sure that I'll have more than 8 hours.

jg_girl1 · October 2012

On the rare occasions that DH and I go out I'm usually the DD so no drinking anyway. With DD #1 I would have a glass of wine while nursing on occasion. I did read somewhere that it is best to have little to no alcohol until baby is 3 months old. Something about their livers being able to better process small amounts after 3 months. I will probably wait until DD#2 is older before I start drinking at home again.

pinkflipflops44 · October 2012

I drank whenever I wanted to while nursing. If you can drive you can nurse. I pump and dumped after a girls night out for a friends bday and during the Jimmy Buffett concert.

prisschris · October 2012

I got those test strips at Babies R Us. Was ok to feed baby all except for one time. Very hard to pour that liquid gold down the drain!

kerrbear72 · November 2012

I can't even wrap my head around not having a drink in 2 years.

Raquellyo · November 2012

kerrbear72:
I can't even wrap my head around not having a drink in 2 years.

This! Lol, in the summer months I definitely missed having a nice cold home brew. I would drink it WHILE breastfeeding.

Athena0809 · November 2012

Raquellyo:

kerrbear72:
I can't even wrap my head around not having a drink in 2 years.

This! Lol, in the summer months I definitely missed having a nice cold home brew. I would drink it WHILE breastfeeding.

Lol. I know, I get the same response from some friends when they hear that.

I've never been much of a drinker, I'm more the type to have a glass here and there, as in a handful of holidays out of the whole year, and DH is a non drinker by choice so I guess I've never missed it.

However, I'm goin out tonight for much needed girls night, so I plan on having one *gasp* lol

JMU_Bride09 · November 2012

I always went by the KellyMom rule of "if you're sober enough to drive, you're sober enough to breastfeed." I think if you just have one or two, you're fine. As long as you aren't drunk! And no need to pump and dump. The alcohol leaves your milk the same way it leaves your bloodstream.

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