I drink and breastfeed - Page 3

[MichelleZB]

Originally Posted by susanghappymom 

I'm not disagreeing that it's okay to drink in moderation while nursing, but wanted to share my experience, and why I quit drinking (for the most part) during nursing.

I planned to nurse until my daughter self-weaned (which she did at a quite advanced age).  I'd drink in moderation, but one evening as I was cracking open a beer after confirming we'd go out on the porch and nurse in our rocking chair, my 1 year old, who was just learning to speak, said Nooooooooo! with an anguished voice.  I said What???  She said "Yuckyyyyy!" After a few exchanges, it became clear that not only could she taste the alcohol in my breastmilk, but that she found it distasteful.  I set that beer aside in deference to her.  I always wanted nursing to be a comforting experience for her, of course! and it clearly was not after even one beer!  I consider it one small and temporary sacrifice of parenting.  Again, am certainly not telling others what to do.

My mom insisted that I hated the taste of her breastmilk when she ate broccoli, so she stopped eating it while she was nursing me. This seems like the same sort of thing. They do say that your breastmilk can change taste depending on the food you eat, so that makes sense.

My son hasn't objected to the scotchy taste of my breastmilk, so I guess it's all about what you like!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

[lanamommyphd07]

LOL! I used to say I only had a little Baileys when the teeth were coming in. Well, I guess I can't use that one anymore. I'm guessing the Bailey's did not do jack anyway. I can't have that guilt anymore? Sheesh. I even passed up a cocktail at our high school reunion and drank coffee instead. Lame!

What's with all the pumpndump talk still then? (sorry--it's been a couple of years)

[tillymonster]

Originally Posted by Jennyanydots 

Awesome thread! I thought I was the only one!
I'm pg now and in the throes of morning sickness, so even the thought of alcohol turns my stomach, but after this passes I'll still enjoy the occasional beer or glass of wine... And I totally agree that moderate drinking is fine while bf

I'm pregnant too and annoyingly would love a beer right now! I think I'm craving the crisp hop-ie flavor and that it would settle my tummy which is still a but touchy. But I'd just rather abstain and maybe have that beer in my 3rd trimester.

Before I got pregnant I was drinking a bit more often then I should have been-- a few times a week. I am still nursing (barely) my 3yo and it would usually be at night to go to sleep. I started to notice at about 2-2.5yo that she wasn't really swallowing much and my boobs didn't feel as full. I do know she was getting a small amount because she complained there was no milk a few times now, I'm 14wks.

I'm a huge lover of wine and usually would stay away from most other types of alcohol, except for some yummy microbrews. Sadly, my family and I know my DH probably gossip about how I'm getting my toddler (at the time) drunk because I'd have one glass in front of them (sometimes more depending on the occasion) and shortly thereafter-- put DD to bed. DD would even ask to nurse around my sister and I'd be embarrassed to do so because I had 2-3 glasses of wine while hanging out the entire evening. It was so frustrating because I tried to explain that the alcohol doesn't metabolize 1 to 1 like people assume.

I decided that once DD hit 2-2.5yo I wouldn't stop breastfeeding. I also decided to live my life and pumping wasn't convenient with a toddler who drinks from a cup. I'm glad to see I'm not alone and can't wait for that glass of Pinot noir!

Oh and furthermore... I always found it strange that my formula-feeding mom friends/family all seem to think that drinking was just fine. That alway made me angry. I even talked with a mom who would babywear her baby (who was like 6mo) and get "hammered" yet I'm sure they gossiped about me and my extended breastfeeding. O_o
Edited by tillymonster - 4/3/13 at 12:34am

[mamazee]

I am not currently nursing, and I can't drink because alcohol gives me migraine headaches, but I am happy to see this thread. I think it's a huge myth that causes a lot of women to either not nurse or wean early.

And breastmilk does pick up flavors from what you eat/drink, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's picking up the taste of alcohol. Beer has a distinct flavor, and some beers have particularly strong flavors. I would expect breastmilk to pick up that flavor just like it picks up the flavor of garlic. (I recall pumping due to oversupply after eating something garlicky and smelling the garlic in my pumped milk.)