Fans Are Pissed That Jessie James Decker Is Drinking While Breastfeeding In Recent Instagram Post
Jessie James Decker's Instagram followers are used to seeing breastfeeding pictures on her feed. The third-time new mom is as open as they come: #freethenipple, #loveyourbody, all that good stuff. But the comment section of her most recent baby-on-the-boob post turned into an all-out war zone because - dun dun duuuun - Jessie's got a champagne flute in her hand.
In just 14 hours, nearly 8,500 people have commented with insults, clap backs, and words of encouragement - and close to 285,000 'grammers have liked the photo. To be completely fair, the picture doesn't show Jessie taking a sip - nor does it confirm that what's in the glass is actually booze - but that hasn't stopped fans from talking.
There are haters: "Drinking is never ok when you’re breastfeeding. Would you give your new baby a straw to share your glass cuz it’s no different. How selfish of you!"
There are supporters: "Why do people not understand how the human body works, there is not a straw from your mouth to your nipple! Enjoy your drink, @jessiejamesdecker! MAMAS- as long as it is safe to HOLD your baby, it is safe to NURSE your baby! Don't pump and dump that precious milk! Educate yourselves on the science of nursing! Happy Breastfeeding Week!! ????"
There are on-the-fence-ers: "To each their own. I’ve heard mixed reviews on everything since becoming a parent so I follow the AAP drinking guidelines. An occasional drink while halfway through nursing is what I do," someone else wrote."
And there are questioners: "You are allowed to drink while breastfeeding? I’m due in November! I thought you had to pump and dump! Please tell me I can! How much?"
So what do the women and men of medicine say?
According to the CDC, "Generally, moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother (up to one standard drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least two hours after a single drink before nursing."
The CDC writes that in the United States, a standard drink is equal to 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol. That's one 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor.
But the concern in Jessie's photo is that she's holding a baby and possibly drinking at the same time. There are two problems people have with that. One is the whole "your nipple is like a straw" argument, indicating that whatever Jessie puts in her mouth immediately travels through her body and straight out of her breast into the baby's mouth.
There's not much scientific research on that topic, though. Commenters on Instagram (who are, admittedly, the farthest thing from scientists) mention their doctors have said the safest time to drink is while physically nursing.
But official word from The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests "nursing should take place two hours or longer after the alcohol intake to minimize its concentration in the ingested milk." Some pediatricians even suggest two hours is a minimum, and that waiting three to four hours is best.
And pumping and dumping won't shorten that time frame. "Breast milk continues to contain alcohol as long as alcohol is still in the mother’s bloodstream," the CDC cautions - meaning the booze isn't all emptied in that first pump.
Some people use breast milk test strips - sort of like breathalyzers for your milk supply. UpSring and Miloo are two of Amazon's highest-rated brands.
The other issue people take is the danger of losing control of the baby while drinking. But as some of the fans who came to Jessie's defense said, if you can drive a car after one drink, you can certainly hold a baby.
No one knows exactly what transpired before, during, or after Jessie's photo was taken. Maybe someone handed Jessie a drink while she was breastfeeding, and she waited to take a sip until after her baby finished. Maybe she was slowly sipping on a glass of rosé while nursing because her doctor said she could. Maybe Jessie asked for someone to fill a flute with cranberry juice, so she could act like a pre-baby woman. Who knows - but it's almost like the singer was egging her friends on with the caption, "Cheers bitches."
Bottom line: If you're a new mother or a soon-to-be mama, ask your doctor his or her opinion on breastfeeding before you start drinking.
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