Do I need to “pump and dump” if I have a drink?

No! Alcohol does pass easily into breastmilk, but it’s also absorbed from milk much like it is from the bloodstream. Basically, if you are sober enough to drive, you’re likely sober enough to breastfeed. A rough average is about two to three hours after one drink. If you breastfeed a little early, it’s unlikely the baby will receive enough to be harmful. Only a very small percentage is actually passed on to the baby in breastmilk. Of course, if you had more than one or two drinks and will need to wait longer than usual between feeds, pumping and dumping may make you more comfortable! Also, bear in mind that current research suggests that “moderate” alcohol use (generally meaning less than one drink per day) is not considered harmful to babies. More than that and you could be putting baby at risk; there is no known “safe” amount of alcohol in breastmilk, and some research suggests frequent alcohol use during breastfeeding may put babies at risk for slowed development and poor weight gain.

How do I stop breastfeeding?

The best way to stop breastfeeding is to wean the baby and yourself from the process, rather than stopping suddenly. Stopping abruptly can cause your breasts to get painfully engorged or infected, and the baby may be fussy or not tolerate switching from the breast to bottle or solid food depending on their age. The best way to wean is to start either by shortening feed times, or substituting a feed per day with an alternative (bottle or food). 

If your breasts are painful during this time, you may want to relieve them by hand expressing a small amount. Pumping instead of feeding will still feedback to your brain to produce milk, so if you must express or pump, do so very minimally so things can wind down. Ibuprofen, cold compresses, and tight bras can all help you during this process.

Should I hand express/pump after 36 weeks to collect colostrum?

There’s no quality scientific evidence that suggests that this is beneficial. Some women who are anxious about breastfeeding may gain confidence by doing this, but just as many women suffer pain, frustration, and unnecessary anxiety by attempting to hand express before the baby is born. The highest quality studies have found no health benefits to baby from having colostrum or milk already available by birth.

Should I breastfeed?

Yes!

Breastfeeding is not the panacea that some people make it out to be, but it is the best thing for your baby if you are able to do it. Breastfeeding is associated with fewer newborn infections, better maternal-infant bonding, lower cost, and greater convenience. There are only a very few reasons why a mother should not attempt to breastfeed (HIV is the most common one), and the vast majority of women who attempt to breastfeed will be successful.

That being said, we acknowledge that sometimes it can be a difficult feat and some babies have a hard time with it. Talk to your doctor if you’re struggling, find a good lactation consultant, and be persistent. If at first you don’t succeed, try again! It can take babies and moms a while to get used to the process.

Also, the old saying “breast is best” may be true, but the rest of that saying is “but follow with the bottle.” If in the beginning you are not producing milk or only producing a small amount and baby is still visibly hungry after the breast, give them the bottle. But at the next feed start with the breast again! The truth is, fed is best and whatever is needed to help your baby grow is what you should do.

If you have tried breastfeeding, done the consultations, worked with the baby and tried the tips and tricks but it still isn’t working, that’s okay! Your baby and you will be okay and it is okay to turn to bottle feeding primarily. You tried your best and you should never feel bad about that. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.