Anonymous wrote:I have four kids. With each one, I’ve become more relaxed about drinking and breastfeeding based on the science. And that led me to nurse them all past two years. Relax, mama. Everything in moderation.

Hell yeah!

Anonymous wrote:Op here again. Baby woke up to nurse at 6. Seems fine, but she did sleep longer than usual. How would I know if she was affected by last night? What are the continued risks? Or is she probably ok?
We were at a neighborhood (outdoor) gathering, so driving wasn’t an issue. And it was so nice to be outside in good weather and see our neighbors. But I probably had 4 cocktails over 5 hours? Maybe even 5. And I nursed her throughout that time without a thought.
I am a basket case and so upset with myself. What was I thinking?!

That's a lot of drinks. To drink 4-5 cocktails in 4-5 hours is a lot. You must be a big boozer. Did you have any care or concern for your baby at the drink fest?

I have four kids. With each one, I’ve become more relaxed about drinking and breastfeeding based on the science. And that led me to nurse them all past two years. Relax, mama. Everything in moderation.

Anonymous wrote:Your baby will be fine OP. You are not a horrible mother/alcoholic as others are suggesting. However, I will say that I leaned on alcohol after giving birth to my first (I would have 1-2 drinks most nights of the week). I did not use alcohol that much prior to giving birth to my first. It wasn't a problem per se, but I felt like it could have become a problem. I am about to give birth to my second any day now and I would like to think that I am pretty clear headed about the fact that I used alcohol to cope with the stress of work/being a new parent with my first. It can be a slippery slope, so just be aware of that.

When I abstain during pregnancy I can get pretty smashed on 2-3 drinks after baby comes, so there is also that to consider.

Fetal alcohol syndrome usually occurs in alcoholics. i.e. LOTS of alcohol. The worst risk about the situation you're describing is falling asleep on the infant or something like that. Just don't do it again.

Anonymous wrote:"Breast-feeding and alcohol don't mix well. There's no level of alcohol in breast milk that's considered safe for a baby to drink.

When you drink alcohol, it passes into your breast milk at concentrations similar to those found in your bloodstream. Although a breast-fed baby is exposed to just a fraction of the alcohol his or her mother drinks, a newborn eliminates alcohol from his or her body at only half the rate of an adult."
---Mayo Clinic

Translation: we can't do experimental studies on alcohol and nursing women and there is no downside for us to say it is unsafe to drink even though there is no evidence that it causes long term harm to a nursing baby.

"Breast-feeding and alcohol don't mix well. There's no level of alcohol in breast milk that's considered safe for a baby to drink.

When you drink alcohol, it passes into your breast milk at concentrations similar to those found in your bloodstream. Although a breast-fed baby is exposed to just a fraction of the alcohol his or her mother drinks, a newborn eliminates alcohol from his or her body at only half the rate of an adult."
---Mayo Clinic

There’s nothing to worry about here as such a tiny amount of what you consume gets in your breast milk. However, you also can’t “accidentally” drink too much. You did something you felt was wrong but you did it intentionally so it wasn’t an accident. Just like when my kid hits my other kid on purpose and then says it was an accident when they realize they did something wrong.

Your baby will be fine OP. You are not a horrible mother/alcoholic as others are suggesting. However, I will say that I leaned on alcohol after giving birth to my first (I would have 1-2 drinks most nights of the week). I did not use alcohol that much prior to giving birth to my first. It wasn't a problem per se, but I felt like it could have become a problem. I am about to give birth to my second any day now and I would like to think that I am pretty clear headed about the fact that I used alcohol to cope with the stress of work/being a new parent with my first. It can be a slippery slope, so just be aware of that.

The issue with drinking and breastfeeding is that you might drop or fall asleep on the baby, not the negligible amount of alcohol that passes into breast milk. Since you didn't hurt the baby, no harm no foul. Either don't get drunk like that again or communicate with your husband so he can stay sober and do nighttime feedings. Having a hangover and a baby is no fun so I imagine you'll naturally learn your new limits.

You did it - its over and its not going to have any dire effect on the baby from one night. I did this a few times and tried not to nurse if I felt the effect of the alcohol - like delay it till later, but I think I did one time at about the same age when I came back from a wedding. Honestly I think I started drinking too much after my 2nd was born - not getting drunk but two every night - just depending on it too much so be aware of that.

The amount of alcohol that actually passes through breast milk would be miniscule. To be intoxicated to the point of death your BAC wouldn't reach more than half a percent of alcohol. Your breastmilk isn't passing a higher concentration than your BAC. Things like fruit juice can naturally have more alcohol than that.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/12/breast-feeding-and-alcohol-its-fine-to-drink-while-nursing.html

Now the risk from breastfeeding while intoxicated comes from the possibility of passing out or falling asleep on the baby. But if someone else is with you and not intoxicated that would mitigate it.

Is it a great idea, no. do you need to beat yourself up? No.

Breastmilk comes from your bloodstream and so has the same alcohol level as your blood. Youre considered intoxicated at .08 percent blood alcohol level. A beer is 5% alcohol. Juice is about. 5% alcohol. So there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about here.

(When pregnant, it is coming via placenta and the baby would have the same blood alcohol level as its mom so that is more exposure than through breastmilk, but many people still feel safe having a serving of alcohol while pregnant.)

The biggest risk to babies in this situation is being dropped or having a drunk caregiver fall asleep while holding them. It is good to make sure on parent or other responsible adult is "on" before you drink for that reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are fine. The baby is fine. Please stop reading replies and stop beating yourself up and explaining yourself to the unhelpful people responding to this thread.
- mom of 3 healthy kids who drank alcohol while breastfeeding.

She didn’t know how many cocktails she ended up having, and she nursed her baby all night. I’m
Sorry, but this isn’t good for the baby and you know it. I’m sure your kids are “fine” but promoting getting drunk while breastfeeding or parenting is not smart

+1 I thought OP was saying she drank too much last night and was worried about breastfeeding this morning, but then she clarified that she was feeding the baby the whole time while she was, self described, too drunk to drive. WTF.

5 drinks in a night at a BBQ is already too much. Then to nurse while drunk? Op please seek help.Please. I imagine this isn't the first time you've had a drinking incident and wont be the last.

fixed autocorrect

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are fine. The baby is fine. Please stop reading replies and stop beating yourself up and explaining yourself to the unhelpful people responding to this thread.
- mom of 3 healthy kids who drank alcohol while breastfeeding.

She didn’t know how many cocktails she ended up having, and she nursed her baby all night. I’m
Sorry, but this isn’t good for the baby and you know it. I’m sure your kids are “fine” but promoting getting drunk while breastfeeding or parenting is not smart

+1 I thought OP was saying she drank too much last night and was worried about breastfeeding this morning, but then she clarified that she was feeding the baby the whole time while she was, self described, too drunk to drink. WTF.

5 drinks in a night at a BBQ is already too much. Then to nurse while drunk? Op please seek help.Please. I imagine this isn't the first time you've had a drinking incident and wont be the last.