Will not drinking enough water really limit my milk supply? The only things I drink are water, milk, juice and (1) beer (to help with my supply). How much water should I be drinking a day to help with my supply? I am thinking that this maybe my problem.
Thanks
Definitely stay hydrated, also keep stress low (if possible), hot liquids, like hot tea can help and lots of leafy green vegetables.
As the other moms have said staying hydrated is the key. I know this wasn't your question, but I just wanted to let you know that a beer will not help your supply, that's a myth. Recent research has shown it can actually cause your supply to go down (http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-3/230-234.htm). So I'd stick with non alcoholic beverages to keep yourself hydrated and your supply up.
Yes, not drinking enough water can cause you to become dehydrated and therefore limit your milk supply. You should be drinking at least 6 regular sized glasses of water a day, but drinking up to 8 glasses of water a day is the norm. Also keep drinking milk and juice. Nix the beer.
Absolutely that could be the issue. I struggled with supply with my son, but haven't had any problems with my daughter. Except a couple of days ago, I had to fast for a medical test, and by that night, my milk supply had dwindled down to what it was with my son! Fortunately, by drinking a lot of water and going back to eating regularly, it was able to recover.
My OB nurse said to drink an 8 oz glass every time after I nurse. It isn't that much, really. I think the steady flow of liquid (even at night ) is what's important.
I struggled for a while with my second DD in making enough milk for her. For me it definitely wasn't not getting enough water-I usually drink a gallon a day! But she was just drinking so much that she was drinking me dry. My doc recommended a supplement called fenugreek, which helped tremendously-I noticed a difference right away. You can get it at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. I started with 2 capsules (610mg) 3 times a day to get my supply replenished and now just take it one or two times a day just to make sure I've got enough for her. It definitely is very important to stay hydrated though, no matter if your nursing or not. The general rule is 8 8oz glasses a day. Definitely if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. I think the idea of drinking a glass of water each time you nurse is a pretty good rule of thumb to follow. Good luck!
Eight 8oz glasses a day is a good general number when it comes to water. Some will say that your milk and juice can be part of that number. As far as drinking to thirst is concerned, I've read that if you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. (Elderly people often become dehydrated because their brains are no longer efficient at telling them they're thirsty.) My alternative doc says we need water--and not carbonated water--to keep our joints lubricated. Google your question and read several sources to help you decide what's best for a nursing mother.
I am also a nursing mother and googled the beer idea. What I found is that it use to be a recommendation but no longer is. "Researchers" say it does not increase your milk supply and can cause problems for your child.
http://www.breastfeed.com/expertqa/foods-and-alcohol/does...
Someone mentioned Fenugreek. I was also told to use this when my supply went down with my first. It did not work for me--maybe I wasn't taking enough.
I've heard eating Oatmeal will help.
I drank 0 water while nursing (can't stand the taste). It's not water in and of itself... it's staying hydrated. People just say water because it's easy.
But being dehydrated (if your pee has any color to it, or you're thirsty -thirst is actually a sign of dehydration... if you're thirsty, you're not drinking enough) will tank your supply faster than anything. Your body takes care of you first, then reproductive needs.
There's no "set amount" of liquid to be consumed by each person per day. In the desert I can drink a gallon an hour, and still be dehydrated. In other climates a mere fraction of that. It depends on climate, exercise level, & individual bodies (as in a woman who is 6 feet and 180lbs typically needs more fluid than a woman who is 5 feet and 80lbs). So go by pee color and thirst.
((There's something called "water drunk" which is from having drunk too much water - gets your electrolytes out of balance and leads to seizures/ etc... but it's almost impossible to do on accident, and you know you've started to get there when you actually start FEELING drunk/ dizzy/ disoriented. Ironically, that's also a sign of severe dehydration -again, electrolytes get out of balance. BUT someone who is water drunk will also start throwing up water like crazy, as well as wetting themselves. A person typically has to slam several gallons of water in one sitting to become water drunk. So it's not something to be overly concerned about. It's super easy to get dehydrated, by very very difficult to become over hydrated.))
It can. Just depends on how sensitive your system is. With my second, i wasn't eating or drinking enough and she was getting plenty of milk but my body was just drained and I was almost blacking out! Once I got on board with making sure I was eating and drinking right I felt so much better!
I didn't read all of this but it had some amounts for you:
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/breastfeeding/a/nursingd...
When I had my son over 3 years ago they said to drink more water than normal while breastfeeding. I'm currently pregnant with baby #2 and I read that you don't necessarily need to drink more than normal. Now they say to just "drink to thirst."
As long as you aren't dehydrated I think your supply should be okay. Usually your body will tell you when it starts to get dehydrated (as soon as you feel thirsty). If I were you, every time you nurse you should keep a bottle of water handy just in case.
Different liquids do are processed differently in the body. Some 'liquids' actually cause dehydration. These include soda, coffee, black teas, and anything containing alcohol. All alcohol should be entirely avoided while nursing.
Any food or beverage that is high in sugar will also have a dehydrating effect. A little fruit juice can be good, but keep in mind that some fruit cocktails or fruit punch drinks use concentrations of juice or add high fructose corn syrup. So, read the labels and be aware of the sugar levels in the juices you drink. I would also still avoid high fructose corn syrup, no matter what the corn growers' association would like us to believe. You can read the scientific facts about this in a variety of articles on the subject on Dr. Mercola's website. You can also read more at http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2008/10/high-fruc....
