I agree with Morgan 's observation  that for many women in the UK, 
regular, daily drinking is normal, across the social spectrum.  Half 
a bottle of wine - about 3.5 units, I think - drunk before, during 
and after dinner  every night is normal for middle class mothers. 
They may well drink more at the weekends and on special occasions. I 
am not saying this is a good thing, just saying it happens.  My 
observations are that mothers of very young children  do not drink as 
much as this, but they will still tend to drink on most days of the 
week.  All this is highly volatile, culturally, as she says.

[This might well have serious public health implications, because of 
the easy acceptance of daily drinking which in some cases creeps up 
to larger and larger amounts as time goes on.  But that's not in my 
remit]

Generally speaking, drinking up to the current UK recommendations for 
women would not make someone incapable of caring for their child.  If 
they feel they cannot face the day or evening without alcohol, then 
happily, I am not in an HCP position which might mean I had to at 
least open a dialogue about it with her.

I deal with the alcohol question from bf mothers by sharing the 
information we have, usefully outlined in Hale, and I let them judge 
what their own 'self-made' recommendations are.

I am especially careful to point out that pumping and dumping to 
speed up alcohol disappearence is pointless, and that no, there is no 
evidence their baby is safer if they suspend bf (they are sometimes 
told to do this for days, literally, after drinking) or stop 
breastfeeding....but if they can do simple maths and can weigh things 
up, it is their choice what to do about whether to drink or not.

I'm aware that some HCPs  might be in a situation where they may be 
obliged to give more guidance than  this.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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