New Breast Feeding Study

**Tisme** · 18-06-2006 22:37

Originally Posted by allyoo

As one of the mums that was shown on the t.v said " i wouldnt put alcohol in a bottle for her to drink so why would i drink it ??? " & i totally agree !!!!
Imagine if any of the bottle feeding mums did this !

Has that ad been released?? i only saw it in the news (haven't seen the whole thing) the other night.

**Goosie22** · 19-06-2006 08:00

The article says in the first paragraph that the study recommends its best to avoided alcohol in the first month then 2 standard drinks per day thereafter.

Which is what has been refered to previously about alcohol consumption and breastfeeding.

*added*There is also nothing about waiting 3 hours in this particular article. Its a matter of metabolism the intire alcohol load can not be transfered to the breastmilk directly as it will have to be Metabolised through your stomach and then your liver ect prior to going into the breasts blood supply.

**jessgray** · 19-06-2006 09:39

i already thought this study was common sense? dont drink while breast feeding for the health of bub.

**Tam-I-Am** · 19-06-2006 10:09

Originally Posted by jessgray

i already thought this study was common sense? dont drink while breast feeding for the health of bub.

Actually, if you do your research, it is okay to drink alchohol while breastfeeding.

The point is that breastfeeding mums are human too - and sometimes that means that they want the occassional glass of wine etc. I don't think any breastfeeding mum would delude herself into thinking that its okay to go out and get smashed, or even have more than 2 or 3 drinks in a night, and breastfeed her baby. Research like this is important to point such things out, but the reality is - if you know your limits, you wait a suitable time after each alcoholic drink before breastfeeding, and you drink occassionally and in moderation - you are not actually compromosing the baby's health or wellbeing AT ALL.

A common misconception is that when a b/f mum drinks, the alcohol is stored in her breastmilk until she either pumps it out or the baby drinks it - its not. Alcohol is metabolised in breastmilk the same way and at the same rate that it is metabolised in the bloodstream - that is, after a period of time, it re-enters the bloodstream (leaving the breastmilk) and is broken down by the liver. If your blood alcohol level is 0 - so is your breast milk's alcohol level. Therefore, if I use myself as an example, my DD goes to bed at 7pm and wakes for her first breastfeed between 4:30am and 5am (9.5 - 10 hours). If I have 1 - 2 STANDARD (ie100ml) glasses of wine and stop drinking at 10pm - I am waiting more than 3 hours per alcoholic drink - my blood alcohol level and breast milk alcohol level have returned to zero well before I feed my daughter - then this is FINE.

**Manxie** · 19-06-2006 10:17

Tami

Thank you for putting it so well, why do we decide to beat up B/f women for having the OCASSIONAL 1 or 2 glasses of wine? The facts are there as you stated so I dont understand why I keep reading about what a terrible thing it is for a breastfeeding woman to drink. (In moderation)

In the literature that comes from the child and youth health services they state that it is ok to drink in accordance with the facts as stated in your post.

A common misconception is that when a b/f mum drinks, the alcohol is stored in her breastmilk until she either pumps it out or the baby drinks it - its not.

I didnt touch a drop of alcohol or caffine or a million squillion other things when I was pregant didnt even have a panadol until I was in labour but if I now, after b.f for 10 months fancy the odd glass of wine and its going to be 3 to 4hours before the next feed I'll have it. As clarabelle states .

.. I am waiting more than 3 hours per alcoholic drink - my blood alcohol level and breast milk alcohol level have returned to zero well before I feed my daughter - then this is FINE.

Lets not give ourselves something uncessary to feel guilty about

**jessgray** · 19-06-2006 10:33

i can undersatnd the drinking in moderation but surely there is some research in to excessive drinking and breastfeeding.

a question about the 3 hours before feeding is this a general time limit or is it different for every person? as smaller people get drunk faster then bigger people so would a smaller person have to wait less or more?

**Tam-I-Am** · 19-06-2006 10:38

Jess - 3 hours is a very conservative estimate. Yes, different people get drunk at different rates. But it usually takes 2 hours for the average sized woman to metabolise one standard drink and for her BAL to be 0 again.

So, like I said - 3 hours is a very conservative estimate, taking into account much smaller body frames.

**Pixie** · 19-06-2006 11:09

3 hours dammit I wanted some champers this weekend at my DP's 40th party

**Tam-I-Am** · 19-06-2006 11:19

You could always express a feed to give her in the middle

**JATS** · 19-06-2006 11:23

Originally Posted by jessgray

i already thought this study was common sense? dont drink while breast feeding for the health of bub.

I think people who try to justify drinking while breastfeeding are only kidding themselves. Its selfish to expose a child to second hand cigarette smoke, and I don't believe drinking and breastfeeding is any different, and there is nothing anyone here can say that will make me think they have their child's best interests at heart if they choose to do it.