Forum : Mums

If you can't get much, between now and then express what you can, freeze it all separately and then defrost it all and put it together to make up enough for a feed. Alcohol does affect your baby. I still feel guilty now, but the firat christmas we had our little girl she was six weeks old and I had a few drinks, not many. And I had expressed, sterilised and was all prepared. What I wasn't ready for was the fact she point blank refused the bottle, we tried everything. In the end, I fed her even though I had had a drink. She was fine, slept well! I wouldn't recommend it, but I was desperate and didn't know what else to do, couldn't let my baby go hungry. She is 2 and a half now, no harm done. But I have never done it again.
I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine, good luck. Hope it all goes ok xx

If u have a drink (not like its something u do al the time) and dont go over the top i wouldnt worry - it does pass thru but its not pure alchol going into the baby and carrying on feeding is better then stopping altogether so u can have a drink.

Im pretty sure when i used to go to my breast feeding group each drink u have (normal sized drink) takes around an hour to go thru system and not go thru milk but id check that on google 1st.

I always found expressing after a hot bath or when i was really relaxed helped, u do need to get used to it tho - i couldnt just pump, had to warm into it for a few days when i used to do it as ur brain isnt used to a pump stimulating u so u kinda need to trick it! Baby close by or a pic helps xx

heres some info i found hun

Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) is not harmful to the nursing baby

It is recommended that nursing moms avoid breastfeeding during and for 2-3 hours after drinking

There is no need to pump & dump milk after drinking alcohol, other than for mom's comfort -- pumping & dumping does not speed the elimination of alcohol from the milk

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.

Always keep in mind the baby's age when considering the effect of alcohol. A newborn has a very immature liver, so minute amounts of alcohol would be more of a burden. Up until around 3 months of age, infants detoxify alcohol at around half the rate of an adult. An older baby or toddler can metabolize the alcohol more quickly.

Mothers who are intoxicated should not breastfeed until they are completely sober

xxxxx

Hi...Thanks to both of you for your advice, i have two other boys but this is the first time i have breastfed and have been avoiding alcohol(although im not really a drinker lol) so its all new to me!!! Im not going to be drinking lots i dont think it will take much lol but i was just a bit worried. Thanks again x