Should we give our little one water??

[Neev]

I was adviced that newborns dont need water for quite some time because they get their thirst quenched from breastmilk

Recently a MW suggested we give our LO water (boiled and cooled) - 100 ml a day. Is this right? I am so confused but she said because of lack of water they get cramps in their tummy and that causes pain and trapped wind...

 

[kelsey]

if ur bf then you l/o should be fine - the foremilk is the thirst quenching milk then comes hind milk which is feeding and packed with calories. Your milk can change with each feed to so sometimes baby will get more or less fore/hind milk than the last feed. Imo you dont need to give water xx

 

[-Kelly-]

I didn't give Oliver water until he was 6 months and starting solids, and even now it's only offered with meals - they get everything they need from breastmilk and the foremilk is very watery I did give him a little bit of cooled boiled water to help with constipation once actually I think, but nothing other than that, and I can't say I ever particularly noticed him suffering from trapped wind or stomach pain.

 

[Sherlock]

If BF then no, not really. Maybe in summer if very hot but this time of year its not needed. Your foremilk is the thirst quenching part as has been said. Usually takes the first minute or two of the feed for that to come out.

Only when weaning from the breast do you need to offer water.

 

[Neev]

Thanks ladies. Yes I am breastfeeding.

WHat happens when I offer him expressed milk? I have been expressing for a week because I was filling my breasts up very quickly and so MW said not to wait for 6 weeks but to start it at 4 weeks. The expressed milk would have a mixture of both foremilk and hind milk. Even then I presume his thirst will be taken care of?

Thanks

 

[Sherlock]

Thanks ladies. Yes I am breastfeeding.

WHat happens when I offer him expressed milk? I have been expressing for a week because I was filling my breasts up very quickly and so MW said not to wait for 6 weeks but to start it at 4 weeks. The expressed milk would have a mixture of both foremilk and hind milk. Even then I presume his thirst will be taken care of?

Thanks

 

[kalia]

Expressed breast milk is a mixture of fore and hind milk so there is still no need to give your baby water. I checked with the doctor at our 6 week check up as it was so hot at the time (and DD is only on expressed breast milk) and she said if I wanted to I could offer water between feeds because of the heat but it was not necessary. We did it once but she wasn't interested.

 

[Laur_250]

My HV mentioned giving cooled boiled water when Reg was little but it was to help with colic which may be why yours suggested it? If baby doesnt have colic then i wouldnt bother.xx

 

[Neev]

Thanks girls..

Reggies...baby isnt colic but has silent reflux. I am now wondering if this is why she suggested it because this too builds up stomach aches/cramps..

Sherlock I keep EBM in fridge and give it to him during one feed at night but during that time express it again for the feed for the next night, so am not disturbing the cycle of feed but it gives my sore nipples a rest...