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Bf babies and water
Sorry, I know this has been done a million time before but Search just brings up random irrelevant stuff.
Maddie is 13 weeks old and quite sicky, and I have noticed that this is worse on hot days. She feeds more then as I presume she's thirsty, so I suppose this is why she's sick more. She is also harder to settle, maybe because she has stomach ache from all the extra milk.
Anyway, my question is: shall I give her some cooled boiled water? I have always been led to believe that an exclusively bf baby doesn't need water, but MIL and a few others whose opinions I value swear by it to give their tummies a break from the rich milk whilst still hydrating them (or something like that). Those bf mummies that do give water, what are your reasons for doing so and if they're the same as mine did you notice a difference?
I never had this prob with Lily as she was a winter baby!
Maddie is 13 weeks old and quite sicky, and I have noticed that this is worse on hot days. She feeds more then as I presume she's thirsty, so I suppose this is why she's sick more. She is also harder to settle, maybe because she has stomach ache from all the extra milk.
Anyway, my question is: shall I give her some cooled boiled water? I have always been led to believe that an exclusively bf baby doesn't need water, but MIL and a few others whose opinions I value swear by it to give their tummies a break from the rich milk whilst still hydrating them (or something like that). Those bf mummies that do give water, what are your reasons for doing so and if they're the same as mine did you notice a difference?
I never had this prob with Lily as she was a winter baby!
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Jugs xxxxxxxxxxxx
The advice used to be to give cooled boiled water so i dont see what harm it could do. As long as it doesnt replace a normal feed i am sure it would be fine.
Lx
Does Maddie have a bit of reflux or is it just posseting? Just as you say she is quite sicky...
they say milk lines the stomach and eases stomach aches, but they also say to cut down on dairy when the lo's have a bug because it can irritate the stomach...
sorry about my waffling!
I'd say if she will take a couple of sips then let her, it might have the desired effect, or it might come up like the milk does (although water is thinner so easier to eject).
Sorry, not much help there!
xxx
Good luck x
The reason you don't need to give water also is that you're milk supply will automatically adapt to ensure lo is getting enough fluids to keep her hydrated, it's clever like that I didn't give my lo water until i started weaning, and he was fine through last years hot spring/summer.
However, if it is really bothering you and you are worrying about it, it won't do any harm to give lo some water. Just make sure she is also still getting her regular feeds and not getting a full tummy of water and missing a meal.
HTH!
It's so hard not to compare your babies, isn't it! Lily just used to get put on the boob every time she cried and was never sick, whereas I'm beginning to consider being a bit stricter about how often I feed Maddie because of this sick issue (obv she will still be offered the breast regularly, but perhaps I'll try other methods of settling her first rather than the default setting of boob )
How much water should I offer do you think, 1-2oz?
wth regards to the reflux, I spent 2 months listening to professionals who told me MJ was just being sick because she was eating too much, until it didnt stop and we eventually got her on ranitidine and domperidone which did seem to stop it, from almost the second she had the ranitidine...
if she does suffer a lil bit would there be any harm in giving her a half dose of gaviscon to see if that helped at all? It might be enough to stop the sick- i-ness and give her tum a bit of a breather... (would work well alongside the water )
I know what you mean about comparing - Ollie was a big bubs who took to bf like a dream with rarely a complaint (from me at least) but Mj was much harder with her reflux and I could never seem to get it right for her (
Hopefully the water will help and soothe a bit.
xx