Why alcoholic mom would drink freely

Territories for mental and substance use disorders. Ellos escuchan. They Hear You. Solr Mobile Search. Share Buttons. Breadcrumbs Breadcrumb Home Programs Talk. I didn't drink around the clock or hide my bottles in toilet tanks either. I didn't believe I would ever become like those people and I wanted nothing to do with them.

But I couldn't stop drinking on my own so I kept going to meetings. An atheist's way through AA. Day after day I convinced myself and re-convinced myself that going to meetings and staying sober was the right thing to do. Feeling unconnected to my alcoholic peers, I went to a bookstore to buy a memoir I could relate to but didn't find one. I figured there had to be thousands of people struggling like me, so I started keeping a journal and began blogging it.

People began writing to me, and Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife became a book. I still don't understand how he watched me do that, but that sounds like he is to blame for letting me be an idiot, and how I loved blaming him as I lurched down the road. Another wrote, "I want to quit. I want to feel normal. Providing lactating mothers with accurate information on the effects of alcohol consumption is crucial even though data in this area are limited.

The harmful effects of alcohol use during pregnancy are well-established. There seems, however, to be considerable variation in what is recommended for breastfeeding women. With regard to the consumption of alcohol by breastfeeding women, some health care providers urge abstinence, while others state that alcohol consumption by breastfeeding women carries little risk.

Although information regarding the effects of alcohol consumption on breastfeeding women and their infants is limited, it is essential that women receive accurate information regarding the potential risks of exposure to alcohol transferred to the infant as a result of breastfeeding.

Alcohol consumed by a mother passes freely into her breast milk; alcohol levels in breast milk are similar to those measured in maternal blood and peak 30 to 60 minutes after an alcoholic beverage is consumed. Alcohol can typically be detected in breast milk for about 2 to 3 hours after a single drink is consumed. However, it must be noted that the length of time alcohol can be detected in breast milk increases according to the amount of alcohol a mother consumes.

Alcohol from 1 drink can be detected in breast milk for about 2 to 3 hours but the time period extends to about 4 to 5 hours if a mother consumes 2 drinks and to about 6 to 8 hours if she consumes 3 drinks, and so forth.

Breastfeeding women are sometimes told they should drink alcohol to boost breast milk production and that the nutrients contained in dark stout beers, like Guinness, help to nourish the baby. The barley used to make beer contains a polysaccharide that increases prolactin production, which in turn stimulates breast milk production. Alcohol also is a potent inhibitor of oxytocin. Because of this effect, it was used clinically in the s to stop contractions and prevent preterm birth.

In a nursing mother, however, release of oxytocin associated with ingestion of alcohol stimulates milk ejection, which may also decrease the amount of milk available to the nursing infant. Although some have speculated that this reduction in infant milk consumption may be caused by changes in the taste of the milk, it is probably more related to decreased supply.

In fact, Mennella observed that infants actually consumed larger amounts of alcohol-enriched milk than plain breast milk, when provided to them in a bottle. However, this may be a particularly difficult area of research. In a study of infants, Little and colleagues investigated infant development at age 1 year in relation to maternal use of alcohol while breastfeeding.

However, indices of motor development, as measured using the Psychomotor Development Index PDI , were significantly lower in infants exposed regularly to alcohol in breast milk even after controlling for prenatal alcohol exposure. The researchers observed an inverse dose-response relationship between the frequency of maternal alcohol consumption and scores on the PDI.

Here are some important facts to share:. Alcohol is a powerful drug that slows down the body and mind. It impairs coordination; slows reaction time; and impairs vision, clear thinking, and judgment.

A ounce can of beer about 5 percent alcohol , a 5-ounce glass of wine about 12 percent alcohol , and 1. People tend to be very bad at judging how seriously alcohol has affected them.

That means many individuals who drive after drinking think they can control a car—but actually cannot. Good Reasons Not to Drink. In talking with your child about reasons to avoid alcohol, stay away from scare tactics. Most young teens are aware that many people drink without problems, so it is important to discuss the consequences of alcohol use without overstating the case. Some good reasons why teens should not drink:. You want your child to avoid alcohol.

Your values and attitudes count with your child, even though he or she may not always show it. To maintain self-respect. Teens say the best way to persuade them to avoid alcohol is to appeal to their self-respect—let them know that they are too smart and have too much going for them to need the crutch of alcohol.

Teens also are likely to pay attention to examples of how alcohol might lead to embarrassing situations or events—things that might damage their self-respect or alter important relationships.

Drinking is illegal. Because alcohol use under the age of 21 is illegal, getting caught may mean trouble with the authorities.

Drinking can be dangerous. One of the leading causes of teen deaths is motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol. Drinking also makes a young person more vulnerable to sexual assault and unprotected sex. You have a family history of alcoholism. If one or more members of your family has suffered from alcoholism, your child may be somewhat more vulnerable to developing a drinking problem. Alcohol affects young people differently than adults.

Drinking while the brain is still maturing may lead to long-lasting intellectual effects and may even increase the likelihood of developing alcohol dependence later in life. Research shows that teens who expect such positive effects are more likely to drink at early ages. However, you can help to combat these dangerous myths by watching TV shows and movies with your child and discussing how alcohol is portrayed in them. For example, television advertisements for beer often show young people having an uproariously good time, as though drinking always puts people in a terrific mood.

Watching such a commercial with your child can be an opportunity to discuss the many ways that alcohol can affect people—in some cases bringing on feelings of sadness or anger rather than carefree high spirits. How to Handle Peer Pressure. What can your daughter say when she goes to a party and a friend offers her a beer?

What should their response be if they are offered a ride home with an older friend who has been drinking? Brainstorm with your teen for ways that he or she might handle these and other difficult situations, and make clear how you are willing to support your child. This is the question many parents dread—yet it is highly likely to come up in any family discussion of alcohol. The reality is that many parents did drink before they were old enough to legally do so. This is a judgment call.

If you believe that your drinking or drug use history should not be part of the discussion, you can simply tell your child that you choose not to share it. Another approach is to admit that you did do some drinking as a teenager, but that it was a mistake—and give your teen an example of an embarrassing or painful moment that occurred because of your drinking. This approach may help your child better understand that youthful alcohol use does have negative consequences.

Encourage your teen to plan the party with a responsible friend so that he or she will have support if problems arise. Research strongly shows that active, supportive involvement by parents and guardians can help teens avoid underage drinking and prevent later alcohol misuse.

The message is clear: Young teens still need plenty of adult supervision. Some ways to provide it:. Monitor Alcohol Use in Your Home. If you keep alcohol in your home, keep track of the supply.

If possible, however, encourage him or her to invite friends over when you are at home. Connect With Other Parents. Getting to know other parents and guardians can help you keep closer tabs on your child. Friendly relations can make it easier for you to call the parent of a teen who is having a party to be sure that a responsible adult will be present and that alcohol will not be available. Generally, your child will be more open to your supervision if he or she feels you are keeping tabs because you care, not because you distrust him or her.