thread: Alcohol and Breastfeeding

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  1. #1

    May 2008
    Melbourne, Vic
    8,631

    Yeah I do, don't feel bad CW

    Once I was sure I would get a few hours from last feed to next, I would have a glass or two. Never more than two.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Aug 2007
    Sydney
    1,691

    Alcohol during pregnancy verses alcohol during breastfeeding – I think of it like this.

    We all know that alcohol passes freely though the placenta, so essentially your baby drinks what you drink. If you drink a glass of wine, your baby drinks a glass of wine, if your blood alcohol is 0.02 then so is your baby’s. (And I will freely admit that I did have the odd glass of wine during all of my pregnancies fully aware of the facts and risks).

    When you drink while breastfeeding the alcohol goes into your breastmilk just as it goes into your blood. Your baby then drinks your breastmilk.

    A pregnant woman drinking a glass of wine is like the baby drinking a drink that is 13% alcohol.
    A breastfeeding woman drinking a glass of wine is like the baby drinking a drink that is 0.02% alcohol, if that! Completely different.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    May 2008
    where the V8's roar
    1,855

    I did drink while bf, I would wait until he had had a feed and knew it would be a few hours before he would want another drink.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Doesn't every woman need a pint of guinness a night whilst breastfeeding? I was told that by my mother and she kept buying me stout. (I like my alcohol so am not going to complain.)

  5. #5

    Jun 2010
    District Twelve
    8,425

    Lol FB..my mum always drank stout while breastfeeding.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Melbourne
    6,745

    I did! I am sure stout brought my milk in and beer makes you really engorged, not sure why.

  7. #7

    Jun 2010
    District Twelve
    8,425

    Nai, I think it has something to do with the yeast... Or the vitamin B - or both!!!

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jan 2006
    11,633

    I read somewhere that the alcohol slows your flow or something, which leaves you feeling more engorged (but not actually with more milk)
    Maybe yeast is supposed to help supply...? think it's in those lactation cookies.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    I did! I am sure stout brought my milk in and beer makes you really engorged, not sure why.
    Brewers yeast in good quality unfiltered beer.

    DH is a keen all grain home brewer, so I drink his beer from time to time. At the moment it's only once a week, but that's more for weight loss purposes than because I'm breastfeeding.

    I went to a party a few weeks ago and had two West Coast coolers and a tequila shot. Oh yes, I'm wild! Got home at 2, fed DD at 4. Had a "hangover" the next day, but I think that was from lack of sleep, sugar, and too much exposure to smoke, rather than my three standard drinks.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Apr 2010
    1,118

    Having got happily sozzled on one strongbow last night (the side effect of rarely drinking and having lost a lot of weight) I think the worst problem would be having to carry the baby and falling over!

    Thankfully he slept through the night - absolutely loving the baby having his own room now so he doesn't wake us up 10 times a night to be fed