Hydration While Breastfeeding, Provided by Tahoe Forest Registered Dietitians

glass of water with lemon slices

Breastfeeding can use around 25 ounces of water per day.

Fluid intake recommendations

During warm summer months, aim to drink 1/2 your weight (pounds) in ounces. So if you weigh 150lbs, try to drink 75 ounces minimum. It’s true, if you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Signs of dehydration: fatigue, headaches, low mood, constipation, dry lips, muscle cramps.

Quick hydration test without counting ounces

  1. You aren’t thirsty
  2. Your urine is pale yellow throughout the day

Tips to stay hydrated

  • Drink a glass of water first thing when you wake up.
  • Keep a water bottle where you breastfeed and next to your bed.
  • Keep it interesting - make “spa water.”
  • Get a water bottle you like, a flip-top straw can help you use it one handed.
  • Include hydrating “gel water” foods.
  • Make smoothies a regular rotation.
  • Almost all liquids count towards hydration, variety can keep you drinking more. Try tea, sparkling waters, milk, fruit or vegetable juice coconut water, even decaf coffee.
  • Limit caffeine to less then 200mg per day, alcohol and high sugar drinks.

Gel water foods: H3O2

  • Oranges
  • Cucumbers
  • Melon
  • Berries
  • Tomatoes
  • Jicama
  • Bell peppers
  • Pears
  • Kiwi
  • Grapes
  • Celery
  • Iceberg lettuce
  • Cauliflower soup/broth
  • Soaked chia seeds

Winning spa water combos

  • Lemon, strawberry and basil
  • Orange and blueberry
  • Watermelon and mint
  • Pineapple, coconut, lime
  • Rosemary and lemon or orange
  • Cucumber and citrus

Homemade electrolyte drink

Next time you need to replace electrolytes, save money and avoid the neon food dyes and high fructose corn syrup, make your own sports drink.

Ingredients

  • 1 quart liquid such as water, herbal tea or coconut water
  • ⅛ – ¼ tsp high quality salt
  • 1 tsp calcium magnesium powder
  • ¼ cup of 100% juice (optional)
  • 1-2 TBSP sweetener such as sugar, honey or maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Brew tea if using, or slightly warm base liquid.
  2. Add sea salt and calcium magnesium and mix.
  3. Add juice and or sweetener. Mix and shake well until ingredients are dissolved.
  4. Cool and store in refrigerator.
  5. Will last up to four days in refrigerator.

Electrolyte Supplement Recommendations

  • Skratch Labs Hydration Everyday
  • Tailwind Rapid Hydration
  • Liquid IV (stevia)
  • Recharge (sugar)
  • Ultima (stevia)
  • Nuun Sport (stevia)
  • Note: watch for too high sodium (aim for 200-400mg per serving) & added sugar/sweeteners (depends on activity, but none is needed just for hydration).

Hydration While Breastfeeding (PDF)

August 20, 2024