How much water should i drink a day when breastfeeding

Being a mom isn’t easy. From taking care of your baby to getting used to motherhood, it can be difficult to monitor your water intake. However, like pregnant women, breastfeeding moms need to drink more water than the average person to stay hydrated.

How much water each person needs can vary based on factors such as weight and activity level. While it’s natural to just drink water when you feel thirsty, it's recommended that breastfeeding mothers drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. This may seem like a lot, but keep in mind that you are not only drinking water to create ample milk supply, you need water to maintain your own body.

In addition to drinking enough water, nursing mothers also need to be aware of signs of dehydration. Keeping an eye for signs such as thirst, dry mouth, headaches, and dark yellow urine can help you identify how much water you should be drinking while breastfeeding. In this blog, we will discuss why nursing mothers should drink more water, signs of dehydration, and tips on how to stay hydrated while breastfeeding.

Why Do Nursing Mothers Need to Drink More Water?

One of the top reasons nursing mothers feel thirsty more often is because milk production requires a lot of water. Breast milk is composed of 90% water. To produce enough milk for your baby, the amount of fluids your body needs increases dramatically.

At six months, breastfeeding mothers produce roughly 750 milliliters per day of breast milk[i]. This number can vary dramatically depending on the needs of the new baby (or babies). For instance, a mother nursing twins may produce up to 2 liters or more[ii]. On the other hand, a newborn may need less than 750 milliliters.

Conditions that Increase Your Risk for Dehydration

Due to the body’s increased need for water while nursing, it's important to be aware of conditions that speed up the loss of fluids. They can make you more vulnerable to becoming dehydrated. Some conditions include:

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Excessive sweating due to fever or exercise

• Chronic diseases

• Cold or influenza

The symptoms of these illnesses accelerate your body’s loss of fluids and electrolytes. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may need to consume more water and electrolytes to stay hydrated

Signs of Dehydration

Since breastfeeding demands more water from your body, it's important to be mindful of common signs of dehydration, such as:

• Dry skin

• Muscle cramps

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Dry mouth and lips

• Dizziness

• Dark urine

By identifying common signs of dehydration, you can be better at listening to your body and providing it the fluid and electrolyte it needs.

How to Stay Hydrated While Breastfeeding

Staying hydrated while you’re breastfeeding can be a challenge. However, it's much easier when you understand how much water you need to drink while breastfeeding and know how to spot the signs of dehydration.

When your body is dehydrated, you need to replenish your body’s supply of water and electrolytes. Designed to help you rehydrate quickly and effectively, DripDrop is a unique formula that is scientifically proven to rehydrate faster than drinking water. Great tasting and full of vitamins, they are perfect for adding a flavor and essential electrolytes to your water.

Get started with our most popular multi-flavor pouch of electrolyte powder for dehydration relief fast. Or, learn more about how you can save up to 25% on every purchase when you subscribe.

[ii] Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Science. Nutrition during lactation. The National Academies Press, Washington DC, 1991.

Sorry, but there’s no specific number to stick to. Just drink to thirst. Breastfeeding does make you thirsty, and as long as you’re drinking enough to satisfy that thirst, you’re fine. The amount of water needed varies from mom-to-mom and day-to-day; you’ll probably drink more on a hot day or when you’re extremely active. One way to tell if you’re adequately hydrated: check your pee. If your urine is pale yellow, you’re taking in enough fluids. If it’s darker, drink some extra fluid.

Of course, remembering to actually drink water can be a bit of a challenge when you’re focused on a newborn. So keep a glass or bottle of water handy. Place one near the glider or chair where you breastfeed most and another in your baby’s room, or wherever else you frequently spend time. Drink some water every time you sit down to nurse your baby.

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Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

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