Moms

FRIDAY MYTH BUSTER: “A mother should not drink alcohol while breastfeeding.”

Mamma Chard

“Not true! REASONABLE alcohol intake should not be discouraged at all. As is the case with most drugs, very little alcohol comes out in the milk. The mother can take some alcohol and continue breastfeeding as she normally does. Prohibiting alcohol is another way we make life unnecessarily restrictive for breastfeeding mothers.”      ~Dr. Jack Newman

Toasting during the holidays with occasional small amounts of alcohol does not create a need to pump & dump milk after drinking alcohol, other than for mom’s comfort — pumping & dumping does not speed the elimination of alcohol from the milk. Breastfeeding 2 or more hours after consumption is advised. The alcohol content in the breastmilk decreases at the same rate as it decreases in the blood level.

**Chronic, regular, heavy, or binge drinking of alcohol is NOT advised.

**Co-sleeping is NOT advised if the breastfeeding mom or partner are under the influence of alcohol.

**Mothers who have been drinking alcohol should never let themselves be in a situation where they might fall asleep with the baby; on a bed, chair or settee (this would also apply to other carers who have been drinking alcohol).

**Drinking alcohol reduces the ability of the mother to be aware of the baby’s needs, whether she is breastfeeding or not. It is safest to ask someone else to care for the baby. ~ The Breastfeeding Network

**Click on the link below for more facts for the breastfeeding parent to make informed decisions:

Current research says that occasional use of alcohol (1-2 drinks) does not appear to be harmful to the nursing baby.
Per Hale (2012), “mothers who ingest alcohol in moderate amounts can generally return to breastfeeding as soon as they feel neurologically normal.”                                  ~Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC @  www.Kellymom.com

Gay Dads Need Doulas, Too

Mamma Chard

Mamma’s Instincts is Postpartum Doula support that embraces your unique family~
“Whether you’re starting (or expanding) your family via birth, surrogacy, or adoption, the first few months of a baby’s life are both challenging and joyful for ALL parents. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer doesn’t magically improve one’s ability to cope with sleep deprivation, blowout diaper changes, an inconsolable infant, or postpartum depression. However, being prepared with the right support team in place…….”
That Doula Guy says it all clearly……..

That Doula Guy

rainbow-dadAs a postpartum doula supporting LGBTQ families, and a queer-identified man myself, I often feel that my community gets left out of the early parenting support world.

Labor support is usually tailored to the gestational or birthing parent, as it should be. But babies come into this world with all different types of parents ready to welcome them, including eager mommies/daddies/abbas/mamas/papas/babas/zazas/spunkles, etc. Why not make the support that’s offered just as diverse as the many different types of families out there?

Postpartum support needs to be culturally competent. Families who don’t fit the mold of your average two-parent heterosexual household deserve sensitive care that’s attuned to the whole family’s wellbeing. If you’ve just done the exhausting work of birthing a baby, the last thing you should have to worry about is whether your doula will need a primer on terminology or “trans 101” in order to effectively serve your family. If you’ve…

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