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Everyone hits the point of the day when they think 'I would really like a drink.' Say this in a room when you are the only Mom breastfeeding and the declarations will begin. You will poison your baby! You need to pump and dump. You will turn your baby into an alcoholic! None of these things is true. So what is true about alcohol and breastfeeding? You gestated and are feeding another human being. That means your body chemistry has changed forever. Most Mom's find that this change effects everything. The way things taste, smell and digest are all slightly different. It's the same with alcohol. Whatever your tolerance was, it will most likely have dramatically decreased especially if you are under a year postpartum. Keep that in mind when you start that glass of wine. Drink slowly, eat something while drinking your beer. Savor the moment of having something you haven't had in a while. See how it affects you. Keep breastfeeding! The rule of thumb is that if you are able to hold your baby you are able to breastfeed. You will poison your baby! The amount of alcohol that processes into your breast milk from a glass of wine or a beer or a mixed drink is negligible, especially if you are sipping it over time. Your body is very good at protecting your baby from things that could cause possible harm. It is part of why your tolerance is low. Your body is protecting your baby. You had 3 glasses of wine over 8 hours, you will need to pump and dump! The phrase 'pump and dump' is my absolute all time LEAST favorite phrase thrown at breastfeeding Moms. I hear it for the silliest reasons. Go back and read the last paragraph again. [note on the dip strips to test 'alcohol in breast milk': isn't it awesome how much stuff the marketing folks push on Moms? These test strips have been shown to be wildly inaccurate. They frequently show high levels of alcohol in breast milk even when the milk being tested is from a Mom that has consumed NO alcohol. Save your money! If someone was 'nice enough' to buy them for you 'just in case', smile politely and then throw them out when they aren't looking] If you have a family that needs proof, I am posting a file in the comments with the best handouts I have ever seen collected. A shout out to Lisa Henslin for this compilation. Lisa, is an awesome Mom that got tired of all the confusion and rules put out for Moms about alcohol. The power of Moms supporting Moms is amazing. So what should you do when a family member tries to knock that glass out of your hand? Smile gently, thank them for their concern and slurp loudly. 😜 Tomorrow: You can't eat that! And a wrap up. 
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