Joy Anderson...
>... I think we need to be careful we don't make it sound so bad
>and/or complicated to have a drink while lactating that we drive mothers to
>wean to ABM so they can drink "normally".

I pretty much agree.  It seems that a very low and occasional alcohol
exposure would present a lower risk to the baby than feeding the baby
artificial milk, although of course no alcohol exposure at all would be
better.   I think we have to be clear as we can be about the potential
risks of alcohol so we give accurate information for mother's
decision-making.   We all make some compromises now and then; but mothers
should be given as much up-to-date information as possible so they know
when they are making a compromise, and how much of a risk they are running.
Certainly if withholding breastmilk after a binge subsequently led to
premature weaning, there would be a very high cost to the withholding.

If a mother made a choice between regular alcohol consumption and premature
weaning, there would also be some high costs involved; but the choice
itself carries an element of unreasonableness, since it precludes the
possibility of modifying maternal behavior with regard to alcohol
consumption.  The compromise I am willing to make is to consider that the
amount (small) and timing (infrequent) can be controlled to minimize
potential adverse effects on the child.

>I was just intrigued by Arly's comment above - other than getting a bit
>dried out or risking something dropping into the container, foods not
>wrapped in plastic are OK in my fridge unless there is something else very
>strong in there, like garlic-flavoured food, etc. Certainly butter is OK.

Now that intrigues me!  Is it perhaps because my fridge is "frost-free" and
yours isn't?  I suppose that with two degrees in foods and nutrition I
might be suspected of being more sensitive than average to off-flavors but
I don't believe it.  It isn't strong food smells that ruin the food, it's
what we call "refrigerator flavor," and it doesn't taste or smell like any
kind of food.  I think most, if not all, of my friends and neighbors would
know exactly what I was talking about if I used the term in conversation.

Arly Helm                                       [log in to unmask]
MS, Nutrition; CLE, IBCLC; Lactation Consultant