Perth mum ‘debunks breastfeeding myths’ after viral photo

A Perth doula and self-confessed “badass breastfeeder” has divided the internet by sharing her thoughts on what she believes are common misconceptions about consuming alcohol while breastfeeding.

Mother-of-two Lauren McLeod, who has a swathe of loyal followers on Instagram, recently posted a snap of herself breastfeeding her two-year-old daughter Tigerlily while drinking a glass of wine.

“A good rule of thumb for drinking alcohol and breastfeeding is: if you can drive, you can breastfeed!,” McLeod captioned the post.

National guidelines in Australia recommend women who are breastfeeding should not drink alcohol, however, McLeod has shared her research on ways to drink and breastfeed, safely, in a bid to break the stigma and stop mum-shaming.

“The only thing that will reduce the amount of alcohol in your breastmilk is time,” she said.

“Don’t ‘pump and dump’ — it does literally nothing. Alcohol is not stored in your breastmilk, as it is not stored in your blood.

“It takes the average person 2 hours to completely rid their body of the alcohol in one standard drink.

“The main concern with drinking alcohol as a parent is your ability to care for your child safely.”

McLeod recommends planning ahead by expressing before you start drinking, logging your drinks and organising a “designated caregiver” or babysitter for your baby.

Her frank and relatable advice hit the right note with her followers, with many praising the 29-year-old.

“Love all these facts. Let’s break down some of the breastfeeding myths that negatively impact a potential breastfeeding journey x,” one person commented.

Speaking to news.com.au McLeod said much of the misinformation comes from “a lack of education” around the topic.

“I have definitely seen quite a few comments in parent-related groups on Facebook saying negative things about drinking while breastfeeding, which all have quite clearly come from a lack of education,” she told the outlet.