Do I need to replenish water while breastfeeding? When should I replenish water while breastfeeding?

We all know that breastfeeding is a popular way of feeding. Many mothers will breastfeed, which is good for both themselves and their babies. Breastfeeding is particular and requires a lot of attention to details. So is it necessary to replenish water during breastfeeding? Let's take a closer look!

Do I need to drink water while breastfeeding?

Additional water is generally not required.

If a baby under 6 months old only drinks milk, generally no additional water is needed, because more than 80% of breast milk or formula is water, which can fully meet the baby's daily water needs. Therefore, whether it is breastfeeding, formula feeding, or mixed feeding, sufficient feeding does not require additional water.

Signs of adequate feeding: If the baby can fill 6 diapers every day, it means that the feeding is sufficient. Generally, after each feeding, you can give the baby 1-3 teaspoons of water, just to clean the mouth to avoid too much milk stains in the baby's mouth.

Why breastfed babies don't need water

First, the baby's stomach capacity is small

Babies are very small and their stomachs are small, so they usually can't eat too much each time. For example, for a newborn, about 20 ml is enough at a time. When the baby is older, you can slowly increase the amount of milk according to the amount the baby eats.

That is to say, if the baby drinks extra water, the baby's stomach will not be able to hold milk.

Second, breast milk is mainly composed of water.

Breast milk is mostly water, accounting for 80%-90%. Babies will get hungry quickly and generally need to be fed every 2-3 hours. Therefore, if the baby is exclusively breastfed, there is no need for additional water. The water in breast milk is enough for the baby to absorb. If the baby is really thirsty, breastfeeding can also quench his thirst.

When does the baby need water?

1. Mixed feeding of breast milk and formula

Although breast milk is mostly water, and formula milk is also mostly water, formula milk is processed after all. If the baby is fed with formula milk, it is necessary to replenish water occasionally.

2. The baby has eye mucus

If the baby has eye mucus, it is usually due to "getting angry". At this time, the baby can drink water to relieve it. In addition, new mothers should also pay attention to their diet and not eat too much food that is easy to "get angry".

3. Baby's lips are dry

When the baby's lips become dry, it means that the baby is really dehydrated. At this time, you can feed the baby some water. Don't give too much at one time. You can feed the baby water several times and at regular intervals.

4. When the baby sweats a lot, cries without tears, has dry lips, and urinates less than 6 to 8 times a day, it means that the baby is lacking water. Parents can also simply look at the color of the baby's urine to replenish water. When the urine color is yellow, it means that the baby needs to be replenished with water. Generally, the normal color of the baby's urine is transparent or light yellow, which means that the body is not lacking water.

5. For example, if the baby has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or other diseases that easily lead to fluid loss and dehydration, oral rehydration salts need to be taken under the guidance of a doctor to prevent dehydration.