Would you say something to a breastfeeding mother who you know drinks alcohol? A friend is doing this, a few beers every night and she is still BFing her toddler. It does not sound safe or healthy to me but should I tell her that? It's not like she asked.
by 
debsmooth
ANSWERS: 5
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Well how times have changed...I can remember being offered beer in the maternity section of a hospital to help and encourage and fortify my breastmilk (nearly 30 years ago). I know that, now, alcohol is not good for babies, but does it go through the breastmilk? Or is is filtered out by the liver processes? Perhaps you could ask her why she is drinking beer? She may have been told this is good for her milk. In anycase if you decide to talk to her about it be careful as new mums can be a little bit 'hormonal' with all the adjusting our bodies and emotional states have to do.
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ONE beer or ONE glass of wine is actually encouraged these days to help with the letdown reflex for the milk to flow. Some sources say moderate consumption is even ok. The keys are timing and moderation. Alcohol takes approximately six hours to clear through the bloodstream and breast milk. So, if she's having a couple of beers at 10pm and not nursing the kid again before 4am, it's probably fine. I would do some research to be sure your information is correct before you approach her. Here's a decent source of info, and it will lead you to others. http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/breastfeeding/f/bfalcohol.htm
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Alcohol is passed from nursing mother to innocent infant. I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut if I knew someone doing what your friend is. It's not worth risking the health and safety of a child's life.
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are you kidding...of course..or call cps..child protective services in your area
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I bet that sleeps through the night though, huh?!? kidding. Don't say something, YELL something. She might as well put a nipple on a beer bottle and give right to the baby! Baby is sucking down a budweiser every time she does.
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