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September 2015 Moms
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Breastfeeding and mommy drinks

rachellegiaccorachellegiacco member
in September 2015 Moms
everyone I know went back to normal life having coffee and occasional alcoholic drink while breastfeeding. I know that's probably not ideal but is that ok? How long does that stay in your system? I'm just thinking holiday season is coming around and that comes with needing energy as well as wanting to participate in parties With friends and family.
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Re: Breastfeeding and mommy drinks

  • bnwillia3bnwillia3 member
    Everything in moderation seems to be the general rule. I know "pump and dump" used to be the norm, but that has recently started to decline (although it can be helpful to keep your milk supply steady if you won't be feeding for a while) - the current take is that if your blood alcohol content is high, then that can be passed to baby through your breastmilk. If you are sober, then alcohol is not passed through breastmilk. It takes about 2-3 hours for alcohol to pass through your system.

    So essentially, one drink occasionally is not a big deal, but if drinking a few to several, you would likely want to have a supply built up feed baby (or use formula) until you are sober. They also sell breastmilk checking strips that can be used to see if alcohol has made its way to your milk, but I have no experience with their accuracy.

    Here are a few helpful articles that can likely explain it much, much better than I can:

    https://www.llli.org/faq/alcohol.html

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/breast-feeding-and-alcohol/faq-20057985

    https://news.health.com/2014/03/31/3-things-you-need-to-know-about-alcohol-and-breastfeeding/
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  • bnwillia3bnwillia3 member
    One more thought - it seems to be "critical" to monitor alcohol intake for the first three months as baby's brain is still in a big stage of development. Not that it's not important later, but that is a period of most caution.
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  • rachellegiaccorachellegiacco member
    Thank you! I don't drink more then one glass of something anyway I was just curious how long it stays in the system so I can plan accordingly
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  • dmland17dmland17 member
    In my breastfeeding class we were told this: Give one drink two hours to pass out of your system before breast feeding. Give two drinks four hours to pass. Any more than that, pump and dump.
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  • Natasha238Natasha238 member
    I don't plan to drink a lot but had the same concern about holidays and it would be nice to have a drink here /there with hubby and company. I definetly don't want to risk passing the alcohol to baby so I have purchased the breast milk alcohol test trips to test the milk before feeding for peice of mind. I bought mine at babies r us!
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  • MufflerloveMufflerlove member
    I'm not reading the other responses but it's generally safe to go by if you're sober enough to drive you're sober enough to breastfeed. I don't drink coffee but went back to drinking tea and pop last time and it never bothered or effected my DD. I think caffeine depends on the baby.
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  • caityrosecaityrose member
    I also heard similar things. Like have your drink right after a feeding so it's out of your system by the next feeding. I guess if you want to drink more than one or two maybe pump ahead of time so you can use that instead of worrying about your current beast milk
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  • kmcshane0211kmcshane0211 member
    So, I'm comfortable drinking according to the guidelines while I'm in my own home or with open-minded friends. What about around family or in public? Anyone curious about judgement or comments? How will you sea with that?
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  • PreggersinParisPreggersinParis member
    @kmcshane0211 I'd say who cares. Everyone always seems to have an opinion, luckily their opinions of you and how you choose to breast feed is none of your business. Do what you feel is right and worry about baby not useless judgements of other people.
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  • callistosmilecallistosmile member
    Goooooo for it! Like pp said, others' opinions won't change the way you feel about it yourself, so you enjoy that drink. You've earned it! 
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  • cjstats87cjstats87 member
    Personally I don't drink alcohol until baby is around 3 months...then I have a longer span between feedings since I nurse on demand...and I still stick to 1 or 2 drinks.
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  • kheitic4kheitic4 member
    You may not even have to worry about it lol I'm so thirsty all the time while I'm nursing that I'm never in the mood for a drink at all. Not one. The idea totally turns me off and doesn't even sound good. Meanwhile my entire pregnancies I'm like I just want a glass of wine when will this be over? The the minute the babies out I'm like that doesn't even sound good now.
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