Don't nurse if you might drop your baby

[jellyphish]

I went to a nursing moms meeting yesterday and the speaker was a very highly respected LC, has been for years, also an ob for 25 years. She said something really interesting things (like if breast milk is frozen, it's frozen and won't go bad).
Anyway, the most interesting things she said regard alcohol. She was talking about how quickly our bodies metabolize alcohol and there's no reason to pump and dump (which I already knew). But she said that our breasts are able filter out toxins and poisons, much like the liver, and only very little alcohol gets into our milk at all. She said the only reason you shouldn't nurse your baby due to alcohol consumption is if you think you might drop your baby.
I personally would not be comfortable nursing drunk, and will continue to offer pumped milk instead if I need to. But the idea that breasts filter alcohol makes a lot of sense to me.

Thoughts?


(She also said some really fascinating things about drinking and caffeine intake during pregnancy.)

[peaches_04]

I was told if youre sober enough to drive youre sober enough to bf

[peaches_04]

Babys r us sells test strips to test the alcohol content of your milk

[jellyphish]

Really? That'd be interesting to see!

Quoting peaches_04:

Babys r us sells test strips to test the alcohol content of your milk

[jellyphish]

I know this.
What are your thoughts on this particular concept though?

Quoting peaches_04:

I was told if youre sober enough to drive youre sober enough to bf

[cemcnair]

I've heard they give false results. Like positive even if you haven't had a drop to drink.
What did she say about pregnancy?

Quoting jellyphish:

Really? That'd be interesting to see!

Quoting peaches_04:

Babys r us sells test strips to test the alcohol content of your milk

[peaches_04]

I tend the er on the side of caution

Quoting jellyphish:

I know this.

What are your thoughts on this particular concept though?

Quoting peaches_04:

I was told if youre sober enough to drive youre sober enough to bf

[jellyphish]

She said things like alcohol and caffeine are really important to avoid because the baby gets them, pees them out, swallows amniotic fluid, repeat. She said because of this cycle babies actually consume them five times!

Quoting cemcnair:

I've heard they give false results. Like positive even if you haven't had a drop to drink.

What did she say about pregnancy?

Quoting jellyphish:

Really? That'd be interesting to see!

Quoting peaches_04:

Babys r us sells test strips to test the alcohol content of your milk

[cemcnair]

Wow! That is crazy. Well darn. I give up caffiene and alcohol when I'm pregnant, but I was really hoping she'd say I could have a glass of wine! Guess I'll just have to wait!

Quoting jellyphish:

She said things like alcohol and caffeine are really important to avoid because the baby gets them, pees them out, swallows amniotic fluid, repeat. She said because of this cycle babies actually consume them five times!

Quoting cemcnair:

I've heard they give false results. Like positive even if you haven't had a drop to drink.


What did she say about pregnancy?

Quoting jellyphish:

Really? That'd be interesting to see!

Quoting peaches_04:

Babys r us sells test strips to test the alcohol content of your milk

[Gingerella]

It totally makes sense to me. I have always thought that...with natural substances like alcohol. I worry about meds still though. I just worry about meds PERIOD. Not just for him but for myself. That's just me. As far as the alcohol, it makes sense BUT I don't usually have more than a drink max two anyways. I wouldn't nurse drunk.

I mean if our bm is suppose to adjust specifically to our babies needs at any given time then why can't it filter alcohol out because the baby doesnt need that...I don't think, lol.

[cemcnair]

Oh, and I have nursed DS (he's 2) while being on the verge of tipsy. I would not have driven with him in the car, but I might have still driven myself. He had no effects.
I give up alcohol when TTC and then don't drink until baby is at least 6 months just because I'm paranoid.