alcohol and breastfeeding

[molloy]

Does anyone know if it is ok to drink alcohol while breastfeeding, as I have read 2 opposite answers in magazines. One says it does not interfere with your milk at all so its ok, while the other says it can be harmful if you drink alot ?

Thanx

[louadams6]

small amounts of alcohol pass into breast milk, making it smell different to your baby and this may affect his/her feeding, sleeping or digestion. Its best to keep to well below the daily limit of 2/3 units and avoid drinking before feeding your baby, hope this helps

[molloy]

Thanks Louadams6, that helps alot,

Molloy

[woofgang]

allegedly and according to the Jeremy Vines show it is illegal to give a child under the age of five, alcohol. I wonder if via breastfeeding counts??

[Kateb369]

You can pass the alcohol onto your baby through your milk, so i used to expess milk freeze it and when i had enough saved up i would have a nice guilt free night out, express the contaminated stuff and chuck it.

[twopennorth]

During my first pregnancy I was under the care of a doctor who was of the opinion that the occassional drink was nothing to get excited at and would cause the baby no harm at all.

We are talking the odd glass of wine or equivalent.

If you are eating a normal balanced diet whilst breastfeeding I doubt the occassional tipple will do much harm, but every day and substantial is unlikely to do the child much good.

As for a glass of champagne getting the baby drunk - ha, ha, nice joke.

The breastfeeding mafiosa can be annoying with their propaganda. I hated every minute of breastfeeding and I lasted 8 months with the elder and 10 months with the younger. It looks like it - and I ain't talking about their health.

Well done for making the effort, and don't worry about the odd night out, if you don't go mad you are unlikely to be "poisoning" your child. Going on the Atkins diet or some such would be more likely to cause harm IMO.

[funnywebsite]

I would not take a chance. Milk is made from the nutrients from your body and if you are taking in alcohol it will affect the milk.

[Dreaming]

When you are pregnant, you cant drink! and when you have the baby and breast feed, you still cant drink! I have breastfed 4 babies. I remember with my last child, who is now a lovely, briight intelligent 7 year old, having the odd glass of wine or guinness. I used to have a glass after her last feed. For me, it had no ill effects on my baby. And it did relax me. And boy, did I look forward to it.