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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