DRINKING WATER FOR MOM & BABY IN BREASTFEEDING PERIOD

Whenever a mother is pregnant, she has to eat for two, i.e. herself and expecting a baby. She continues even after delivery up to breastfeeding. A mother needs enough food and drink to keep herself and her baby healthy.

It’s important to get extra fluids when you’re breastfeeding. Although breast milk is packed with nutrients and factors that help your baby build a strong immune system, it is still 90% water. If your baby consumes 28-32 ounces of breast milk a day, you’ll need to take in an additional quart of water to replace those lost fluids.

On average, a pregnant woman needs approximately 10 cups (2.3 Liters) of fluid per day. This includes three to four glasses of milk or calcium-fortified soy beverage. One or two glass fluid requirements can be fulfilled by fruit or vegetable juice, herbal tea, rice drink or other non-alcoholic refreshment. Coffee and tea covers this fluid requirement but is careful about its quantity due to caffeine. Drinking water either bottled or tap water is a great way to rehydrate during or between meals. So water should be pure not only for them but also for babies.

It is assumed that more fluid intake will increase the quantity of breast milk which is not significantly proven. The reason is that the body prioritizes the production of breast milk over other functions. But enough drinking keeps you from becoming dehydration – which is important for during pregnancy and breastfeeding period. Dehydration causes a headache, , Sunken eyes, Extreme thirst, Sleepiness or tiredness, Muscle cramps, Minimal urine, Dizziness or lightheadedness, constipation, fatigue, etc.