how do people go out for a drink while breastfeeding

it’s been a year since i have just enjoyed having a drink with friends or family because of course being pregnant and then breastfeeding. I feel like the effort to just have one drink seems too much for it to be worth it so I just haven’t bothered. But I want to know how people do it, I am always seeing people at parties or family meals drinking only 2 months post birth. I know someone who went out properly drinking (clubbing and all) for their birthday a month after having their baby (nothing wrong with it just don’t understand how people do it). I would be terrified that I can’t breastfeed the next day and my baby decided to refuse a bottle. and if your baby does refuse a bottle you have to wait two hours after one drink, how do people time this right, my baby sometimes feeds after an hour! people make it look so easy and i feel like it seems so much work. would be nice to enjoy a drink on my birthday and my boyfriends birthday soon, but my baby will be 3 months and still it seems stressful. so yeah any advice on how people do it!😅 feel like a bad mum for even thinking about this but i’ve spent the past year worrying about everything i put in my body for my baby and tbh i can’t wait for when i get my body back for myself

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It's a myth that you can't drink while breastfeeding. You'd basically have to be paralytic for there to be enough alcohol in your milk to affect baby at all.

The main reason for not having too many is being safe with baby when you're under the influence - you could stumble holding them, or fall asleep with them on you which is very dangerous as you sleep more deeply after drinking, so you can't cosleep etc.

My other reason for not drinking much was sleep deprivation - it simply wasn't worth the reduced quality of sleep when I'm so tired already 😅 but it's alright once in a while!

Just breastfeed baby normally after drinking and enjoy yourself, it's honestly fine!

Hiya. My baby is almost 5 months and I've had a few drinks here and there. Luckily my baby has taken a bottle from day 1, so she is breastfed but also has 2 bottles of my milk in the evening (keeping her more full before bed).
If I'm just going for a meal, I personally don't bother having a drink. I'm someone who will either drink nothing or be tipsy/drunk before pregnancy.
I think the most I've had is 5 gins and 2 shots. I basically count 2 hours for every drink including the shots until I can feed her again the next day.
She has also had formula on odd occasions so for example we went for my SILs birthday for the whole day, so I took 3 bottles of breastmilk and then 3 cartons of formula as just incase backups. I also don't start drinking until she's had 1 more feed from me whilst out.
As I express I normally do the hole pump and dump or save it for baths to relieve any discomfort.
Sorry if that's all random, but saying what I do. ☺️

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Anyone else up feeding their Bebe?

As above. Trying so hard to keep my eyes open

Is this normal??

I’m 29 weeks pregnant and having really aching legs and they’re all lumpy and swollen. Above the knee and behind the knee . Should I be worried ? My legs have never looked like this up until a few days ago. ??

Induction experience

I just wanted to share my experience with being induced as I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought it may help others.

I opted for the foley balloon which was inserted at 8am Saturday morning, I had to stay in hospital due to hypertension and protein urine however usually you can just go home once this has been done. The insertion of the balloon was not painful, was slightly uncomfortable as there was slight pressure. I actually found having the cervix checked prior to be worse (again not painful at this point just uncomfortable) The balloon had little effect and after having it removed I was still only 1cm. Removal also was pain free and hardly even noticeable.

I then had my first dose of the gel and definitely noticed a difference, I started experiencing period like cramps almost immediately however they were light and manageable. After 6 hours I had another cervix check and although my cervix was soft it was still only 1cm and was only open at the front. I had another dose of the gel and felt an increase in pressure and more intense cramping where I now required pain relief (codeine). After another 6 hours I had another cervix check and I had now dilated to 2-3cm however was still quite difficult to get all the way through so a third gel was recommended which I agreed to.

Almost immediately I noticed the difference and was in considerable pain, I had paracetamol and codeine however the contractions had now become intense and a lot closer together (around 3 minutes apart). After a couple of hours I had my last cervix check and was 4cm and taken down to the Labour ward to have my waters broken and an epidural.

I had been in my room for approx 20minutes when my waters broke by themselves and I was now 10cm and actively pushing…. There was no time for the epidural and my beautiful girl arrived into the world within 2 minutes of pushing.

All in all I would say the cramps/contractions were manageable up until the third gel where it became pretty unbearable however it was for a very short time a gas and air helped take the edge off. The worst part about any of it was actually the later cervix checks where after stimulating the cervix my contractions were at their most painful.

If I had to be induced again I would skip the balloon and opt for the gels immediately as thy had a quicker effect and I would have been out a lot sooner if I had done this to begin with.

One more thing, I’ve never believed when people say “you forget the pain once they’re here” but I can honestly say this is true. It’s been 4 days and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Gave birth (vagina) 5 days ago and yesterday morning and this morning getting lot of pain in my right bottom side and lower back

It’s my birthday tomorrow.

Ok so I am going to be 35 years young. I can’t believe how much this life has thrown at me but it’s okay I’m a survivor. I am truly blessed to be alive. 🥳🧁🎂 The only downside is I won’t be celebrating my birthday because my man can’t take me out. So many emotions right now.

Would you bring 9 week old to a family party of 35+ people?

These are also people who will want to pass the baby around and get a turn to hold him. He just got his 2 month shots two days ago