Pumping and dumping?

Question

Hi I’m first time mom, my little one is 2 and a half weeks, i strictly breastfeed. I’m going to a wedding this Saturday, I wondered how drinking and breastfeeding worked? I’m not sure if I’m going to drink I just wondered if I was going too, what’s the safest way to breastfeed. I’ve heard of pumping and dumping but I’m still not quite sure exactly how it works. Thank you!

Answer

You can pump and dump to relieve yourself but pumping and dumping will not remove alcohol from your system. Good to drive equals good to breastfeed. If you have more than a few drinks you should wait until the next day to breastfeed even though studies show the amount of alcohol that actually gets into your milk is very minimal unless you’re drinking ALOT  I was told that nurses used to tell women that they can’t breastfeed after a drink to scare them into not holding their babies while drunk.

Answer

From what I understand, if you feel tipsy you should not breastfeed. If you have a drink, wait two hours to breastfeed. If you have more than that, you wait longer. I imagine that you would only pump and dump if you’ve had more than a few drinks. My friends have also used strips that test your breast milk for alcohol levels, so you know if it’s safe to let your baby breastfeed.

Answer

There is an app called Feedsafe - we use this in Australia. 
However, they also say barely anything goes into your milk, I would use the app for the first 8/12 weeks as your baby is so young or if my baby was unwell I wouldn’t drink.

Answer

You don't have to dump! The alcohol leaves your breast milk when it leaves your system. If you're engorged and have to pump sooner then save it and use for a milk bath for baby, so good for their skin!

Pumping and dumping?

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