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Question:Should I give my baby water as well as breastmilk?
Answer: This is an often-asked universal question and there is a simple concise answer: NO! Use your breastmilk. Breastmilk is a perfect food for your baby. It has all the right components. The right amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates AND water. The composition of your milk changes as your baby's needs change and grow. The baby who is fed around the clock, on demand and is thriving will need no other supplementation.
In the beginning when you have colostrum, sometimes it seems as though there isn't enough. But most of the time, it is the exact amount your baby needs to start his or her life outside of the womb. It is the perfect food to flush out their little kidneys, move the meconium plug, eliminate excess bilirubin and satiate your baby until your full supply of mature milk starts to come in. If the baby is unable to remove the colostrum or milk from the breast due to a sucking or latch problem, help is indicated. The best help would come from a dedicated lactation consultant who can take the time to show you how to hand express or pump the colostrum or milk and get it into the baby via a different method (syringe, finger, cup, eye-dropper or tube) until the suck latch issue gets resolved. Use your breastmilk and a lactation consultant! |
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Water is not recommended in cases of newborn jaundice. Water can increase the bilirubin by decreasing the urge to breastfeed. Because only 2% of a baby's bilirubin is eliminated through the urine, while 98% (LLLI Breastfeeding Answer book, 1997) is eliminated through his bowel movement, the baby needs food to make the bowels move and eliminate the bilirubin. Once again, breastmilk is the perfect food! All around the world, no matter where you live, sea level, high in the mountains, the arid deserts or the humid rainforests, breastmilk is best! A baby who is fed on demand around the clock, is thriving and has her or his nutritional needs met, is a well-hydrated, happy baby.
Annie VerSteeg is the proud mom of 2 breastfed children, Willie (12) and Kayli (10). She is a retired midwife and practicing board certified lactation consultant working in a private practice. She does in-home visits all over San Diego County. |
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Annie VerSteeg, IBCLC
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Lactation Counselor Certificate Training Program (CLC) -- Club Coronado - Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA, September 16-20, 2002. Offered by the Center for Breastfeeding, Massachusetts. For additional information: please call Joyce DiCicco, LCSW, at (619) 532-6528 for registration packets.The 5th Annual Breastfeeding Program "Overcoming
Challenges in Breastfeeding" -- Radisson Hotel Stockton, Stockton, CA, September 20, 2002.
Leadership Conference for Lactation Professionals (Part 1) -- University of California, Davis, CA, November 2, 2002.
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine 7th International Meeting -- Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 14 -18, 2002.
2003 California Childhood Obesity Conference -- Marriott Hotel & Marina, San Diego, CA, January 6-8, 2003.
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Volunteer Opportunities: If you want to join a motivated group and are interested in joining an active committee, the SDCBC needs you! Paid Opportunities: Are you IBCLC certified? Have experience teaching? We need presenters for our in-office lactation education program. ($50 honorarium/presentation)
Please contact the SDCBC office at (858) 966-5981 or email mmkennedy@chsd.org for more info. |
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