Can you water down breast milk

Drinking to thirst and checking your urine is the best way to get the right amount of water for you. Taking care of yourself by taking the time to stay hydrated will help ensure your little one has the nutrition they need to thrive.

Some ways to do this include:. Staying adequately hydrated will help you feel energized and help your body to produce enough milk. Use these tips to get the right amount of water you need each day to stay healthy. While being slightly dehydrated may not affect breast milk production, it can affect your general mood, amount of energy available and overall skin health. Balance is key.

There are a lot of ways to make sure you stay properly hydrated, like eating water-rich food and ensuring you always have a water bottle nearby. Some ways to do this include: Always make sure that you have a full water bottle by your favorite spot to nurse. There is nothing more frustrating than feeling thirsty when you are stuck in a chair nursing your little one for 45 minutes. Tuck a water bottle in your purse, in your drink holder in your car, stock your desk at work and keep some nearby your treadmill.

Making sure you always have water nearby will help remind you to drink it throughout the day. Set an alarm for every hour and try to sip a few ounces each time the alarm goes off. You will soon be in the habit of drinking water. It strikes a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, water and other nutrients. It's easily digested and absorbed, and its composition naturally changes as a baby's developmental needs change. But does what a mother eats or drinks impact the milk she breastfeeds her child?

While nursing babies are unlikely to develop a food allergy from breastfeeding, some foods may not agree with the infant. Some foods that may cause an infant to be fussy during feedings are: spicy foods or gas-producing vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli.

If this happens, avoid that particular temporarily and try it again when your baby is a little older. As a nursing mother, you need about 16 cups per day of water, which can come from food, beverages and drinking water, to compensate for the extra water that is used to make milk. One way to help you get the fluids you need is to drink a large glass of water each time you breastfeed your baby.

A mother who drinks small amounts of caffeine throughout the day is unlikely to affect her nursing newborn's sleep patterns; however, breastfeeding women should discuss their intake with a health care provider. Breastfeeding is one example of the best-laid plans not always panning out.

Whether you breastfeed, formula feed, or use a combination of the two, remember that making sure your baby is getting adequate nutrition is all that matters. As you find your way, check with your pediatrician if you have any questions. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter.

Nemours KidsHealth. Breastfeeding FAQs: Solids and supplementing. Updated June Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infant formula preparation and storage. Updated May 19, World Health Organization. Guidelines for the safe preparation, storage, and handling of powdered infant formula.

Ballard O, Morrow AL. Human milk composition: Nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr Clin North Am. ABM clinical protocol 3: supplementary feedings in the healthy term breastfed neonate, revised Breastfeed Med.

Elsevier Health Sciences. Maternal Child Nursing Care. Riordan J, Wambach K. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Fourth Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All.