In a message dated 96-05-24 00:06:30 EDT, you write:

>I know that we do not know if alcohol and bf are compatible and what, if
any,
>levels are safe long-term.  In a bf class,  I do not want to be the one to
>say alcohol is OK. Although, personally, I would be very comfortable having
a
>beer or another drink and bf my own.  But I do not want moms to think that
>they cannot bf if they do consume it occassionally and in moderation.  What
>do you say exactly in a prenatal bf class when this is discussed?  I am
>looking for appropriate statements to say in class.  Some moms ask should
>they pump and dump after consuming some alcohol.  do you all recommend this?
>
>

When this has come up, I try to stick to the "many mothers have found"
approach and provide basics.  I usually tell them that the level of alcohol
found in breastmilk is similar to a blood alcohol content level and so, it
might be good protocol to nurse the baby first and then have the beer/wine,
and by the time the baby needs to nurse again, the alcohol content would be
lower.  I also let them know that babies will nurse for a longer period of
time but get less after mom has been drinking.  And finally from The
Breastfeeding Answer Book:

"Alcohol has been found in mother's milk about 30 minutes after consumption.
 The effects of alcohol on the breastfeeding baby are directly related to the
amount the mother ingests.  When the breastfeeding mother drinks lightly to
moderately (2 or fewer drinks per day), the amount of alcohol her baby
receives has not been shown to be harmful.

An anxious, overtired mother may believe that an occasional glass of wine or
beer helps her to relax.

If relaxing is the mother's goal, there are other ways she might choose to do
it.  Breastfeeding itself is an excellent tranquilizer.  many mothers who
choose not to drink alcohol find that their tension drains away with a
non-alcoholic hot or cold drink.  Lying down and listening to music can also
be soothing, as well as a massage or a loving touch from a husband or another
companion.

Moderate-to heavy alcohol comsumption can interfere with the let-down...as
well as the mother's ability to care for her baby....."
 p.396, La Leche League International The Breastfeeding Answer Book, Nancy
Mohrbacher, IBCLC and Julie Stock, BA, IBCLC, Copywrite August 1991


Petra
Denver, CO