Alcohol and breastfeeding

[AnnaBanana]

Just wondering what everyone's opinion on the subject is... I know that doctors say that alcohol in moderation and on occasion is not harmful to the baby, but i'm wondering how people feel about it?

A glass of wine with dinner?

A beer with friends?

Does this make you feel guilty? Do you simply continue to avoid alcohol completely while breastfeeding?

[mrcantrell]

We asked our Dr about this and she said make sure that you finish your beverage at least 2 hours before you breastfeed and it won't harm the baby. That being said ours eats every 2 hours promptly.

[Drthorne]

why even risk your babies health:confused:

[nano]

only drinking in excess with effect your babies health, one drink wont harm the baby

[Phr3sh]

mmm... two of my favourite things in the world

[Gloaming]

Alcohol can sometimes help mothers who have a hard time breastfeeding. Everything in moderation of course.

[Xax]

mmm... two of my favourite things in the world
LOL ;)

[krobin]

I rarely drink but I am exclusively breastfeeding my son. I never have more than one drink I can't imagine being drunk and nursing.

[Alvito]

i wouldnt drink. then again i am not a woman. it must have sucked not being able to drink alcohol for so long. I suggest you limit yourself and try to get baby on a bottle sooner, so you can hit the bottle as well :D

[Initial_C]

I'd avoid it completely then.

It's only for a few months. Unless you plan to breast feed for a pretty long time. In any case, you were pregnant months before and I'd assume, most people stopped drinking already. An extra few months of no alcohol wouldn't hurt you but it might hurt the baby in which case, why take the risk?

[jcoltage]

BEER IS GOOD




Any MEDICAL ADVISE SHOULD BE CONSULTED WITH YOUR DOCTOR

[Bullseye]

There is no risk in having a glass of wine when you're breastfeeding. Our doctor has even told us a glass will help if you're having trouble breastfeeding, just to relax you, as anxiety and tenseness will inhibit milk letdown.

My wife has also pumped enough milk for a day before a company xmas party so she can have a few glasses of wine. Alcohol leaves your milk pretty quickly, so bottle feeding baby for a day before resuming nursing is fine. Parenting is hard enough as it is, if a glass of wine will allow you to relax a bit, why rob yourself of that for no good reason?

Flame on. :lol:

[Toronto]

Yeah a glass or two is not harmful to your baby. My wife had a C-Section and she was given tylenol 3's for the pain and was told it isn't harmful, so if that's ok then I don't see how a drink isn't.

[llbgal]

Yeah a glass or two is not harmful to your baby. My wife had a C-Section and she was given tylenol 3's for the pain and was told it isn't harmful, so if that's ok then I don't see how a drink isn't.

Wow. I think there is a really big difference between something being safe /not harmful and something being just "okay".

Obviously if your wife was going to be in extreme pain -- that is not good so making her comfortable was important AND it was only a short term use -- so when the risks were weighed -- taking the codeine was probably better -- but that does NOT mean that it is absolutely safe for infants. In fact, it is not 100% known what effects codeine can have on breastfeeding infants and for some moms codeine can actually be harmful (see the Globe and Mail article http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM. 20060510.wxcodeine10%2FBNStory%2FNational%2Fhome&ord=1173221653486&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true)

I bet that all those women that took Thalidomide were also told it was "okay" and look how that turned out!

I think the reality is that there is no doctor that can say with 100% certainty that there are 100% for sure no ill effects. Having said that -- I think each individual needs to gather their own facts and make their own decision. Obviously pumping ahead is the best choice... and then waiting for the alcohol to leave the system before resuming.

For me, even a small risk is too big for me so when I breastfeed I steer clear of medications and alcohol.

[Trooper8111]

When the kid had a hard time to settle down, a glass of wine before feeding would soothe the baby. Everything in moderation.

[trini]

Guiness or any stout is good when breast feeding apart from that stay away.