Can we talk about alcohol?

[North_Of_60]

How much alcohol do you drink? What are your thoughts on it? To my knowledge, the amount actually passed into breastmilk is very low. And on the rare occasion that I feel tipsy and nurse DD, I have NEVER seen her react to it.

Thoughts?

(ETA: Once a day, and everday are the same thing.)

[ellymay]

I don't drink any, although I have heard what others have said about it being ok or whatever but I just don't agree with it and I wouldn't do it.

[MommytoTwo]

I would say that when I was BFing I had probably 2-3 drinks a month. Not mixed drinks, just a beer or a glass of wine. Not in the very beginning when they nurse all the time, but a few months later when their schedule is abit more predictable.

[sadkitty]

I would say its more like 3 or 4 times a week. Mostly a glass of red wine with dinner. Very good for the heart!

Knowing that my European ancestors RARELY drank water and often drank ale, or weak beer, from an early age and throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, I feel just fine with the occasional glass of wine. I would not say it is good to get drunk very often, but even a splurge on your anniversary won't do irreparable harm to the babe.

[thismama]

I drink rarely just coz I'm not that into it. I think with even a small babe it's fine to drink smallish amounts of alcohol, and with an older nursling (like 2+ I think?) I feel comfortable going ahead and getting plastered.

eta - nak, meant to vote rarely, accidentally voted 'dont think its healthy'! doh!

[quirkylayne]

I just haven't really wanted any since I've been bfeeding. I did have a few drinks early on - man! Low tolerance after not drinking for 10 months! I have a sip of DH's beer every once in awhile but really it just doesn't appeal to me any more.

[SMoody]

Sorry but I dont drink while BF. I have taken one sip or so but I dont want the stuff to go to her. Same reason why I wont take certain medication. I rather then not BF at all then.

[flminivanmama]

I did whenever I wanted to which wasn't really one of the options. I guess it would be "occasionally"

[leafwood]

I voted very rarely. Since dd was born I have maybe had the equivalent of one entire drink (and it's been 2y 9m and counting ). Mainly a sip of champange at a toast or a sip of dh's beer if I really want it, but it doesn't happen often. I wasn't a big drinker before getting pregnant so it's not much of an issue here.

[Amris]

There are effects from alcohol that I don't think an infant needs to experience. The most important one, in my mind, is dehydration. Alcohol is highly diuretic.

So I choose not to drink, though I wasn't a real drinker before, either.

I wouldn't drink for my own self, either. Being dehydrated makes it arder to make milk, and is taxing on the body.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by SMoody

Sorry but I dont drink while BF. I have taken one sip or so but I dont want the stuff to go to her. Same reason why I wont take certain medication. I rather then not BF at all then.

See, this is a problem to me. We need to get more accurate, less hysterical information out about alcohol, marijuana, etc while nursing. Becoz it saddens me greatly to think of mamas choosing formula rather than breastfeeding becoz they are concerned about the effects of the occasional drink, or joint.

[Pynki]

Nak.

I have a drink or two 3-5 x's a week.

It's not a big deal for me or many of my friends. The amount of alchohol passed with responsible drinking is miniscule.

[Amris]

Originally Posted by thismama

Becoz it saddens me greatly to think of mamas choosing formula rather than breastfeeding becoz they are concerned about the effects of the occasional drink, or joint.

Then you've never dealt with the effects of an addict nor seen how horrifically miserable they are and they make everyone around them.

I envy you that ignorant bliss. May you keep it for your entire life.

And may my child keep it for hers, as well...

[CrunchyCate]

I drink every once in awhile. Sometimes, like during Christmas, I'll have a couple drinks a week, and then I will go months without (I voted for rarely.)

Really, it makes me too nervous, and I try to time it for when DD isn't going to nurse for hours. I would ideally drink after she falls asleep at night, but then we co-sleep, so I don't drink for that reason. :

[thismama]

Originally Posted by Amris

Then you've never dealt with the effects of an addict nor seen how horrifically miserable they are and they make everyone around them.

I envy you that ignorant bliss. May you keep it for your entire life.

And may my child keep it for hers, as well...

What? Where are you coming from with that? We're not talking about alcoholism here, we're talking about mamas nursing and enjoying some bevvies. :

[North_Of_60]

Originally Posted by Amris

Then you've never dealt with the effects of an addict nor seen how horrifically miserable they are and they make everyone around them.

I envy you that ignorant bliss. May you keep it for your entire life.

And may my child keep it for hers, as well...

How does having ONE drink every night while still breastfeeding (instead of giving up or using formula) fit in with your statements? Just curious.

I think Thismama's post was in response to Smody's comment; "I rather then not BF at all then."

I don't think not breastfeeding at all, and potentially using formula, is better then breastfeeding and having a glass of wine every night.

For the record, I have a glass of wine with dinner several times a week. Probably 4-5 nights a week. My daughter is not an addict, nor has she lost her innocence. I think she is better off with breastmilk, even after a glass of wine, then not receiving any breastmilk at all.

[mom2avasteph]

I haven't read the replies yet, but I don't drink because of medication that I take, not because I don't think it's healthy in small amounts.

[sunnysideup]

Moderate drinking while breastfeeding is fine.

Dr. Jack Newman, member of the LLLI Health Advisory Council, says this in his handout "More Breastfeeding Myths":

'Reasonable alcohol intake should not be discouraged at all. As is the case with most drugs, very little alcohol comes out in the milk. The mother can take some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does. Prohibiting alcohol is another way we make life unnecessarily restrictive for nursing mothers."

[*jeanine*]

"Light drinking" (defined as one drink or less per day) is *not* contraindicated while breastfeeding. The rule of thumb is basically, if you can feel it, so can babe. When I drink, I make sure i drink slowly, not on an empty stomach, and not more than one drink per day - after so many years of pregnancy and breastfeeding, my tolerance is low. Alcohol passes freely into and out of breastmilk. When it's no longer in your bloodstream, it's no longer in your milk. Also, babies under three months old have immature livers, and can't process alcohol as well, so common sense would say to take it easier if you're bfing a small babe.

[Amris]

Originally Posted by thismama

What? Where are you coming from with that? We're not talking about alcoholism here, we're talking about mamas nursing and enjoying some bevvies. :

There are a large number of studies that show that children who live in a home with parents who drink, who smoke, or who have other "habits" end up doing the same things, statistically speaking. Furthermore, many of those studies indicate that children from those homes tend to have a far higher likelihood of becoming alcohol addicts.

The person to whom I responded seemed to indicate that these scientific studies are just "fear tactics." Furthermore, the impression comes across that the person she quoted needs to "educate herself" on how harmless alcohol really is.

Anyone who has lived with an alcohol addict would not say such a thing. Anyone whose family member or friend has died or been injured by a drunk driver would not say that.

Alcohol, even notwithstanding its potential detrimental effects on the body (one of which I have already mentioned) is far from harmless if someone becomes addicted to it. In a home where it's readily available and an openly accepted "part of life," the likelihood of a child becoming an alcohol addict are increased.

A parent who feels extremely strongly about their child becoming an alcohol addict isn't ignorant. In fact, they're probably over-educated on the hard realities of what alcohol can do.