Giving water to drink?

cath · Mar 16th, 2010, 05:16 AM

Charlotte has been really suffering with trapped wind & yesterday I took her for some cranial osteopathy. Amongst the advice the osteopath gave was to give her small amounts of warm water to drink as it would help move the bubbles of trapped air. Is this ok to do? I was under the impression that breast milk was nutritionally complete & BF babies shouldnt be given anything else.

MrsQ · Mar 16th, 2010, 05:56 AM

i was told not to give bf babies water but then was told by my dr to give it to him when his oft spot dips?
x

anothersquish · Mar 16th, 2010, 06:02 AM

I, personally, would not give water on advise of an osteopath. Water can inhibit the absorption of nutrients from breastmilk (or formula) and can make the baby feel full even when they 'need' milk.
ONLY give water on the advise of a paediatrician.

MrsQ · Mar 16th, 2010, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cath

Charlotte has been really suffering with trapped wind & yesterday I took her for some cranial osteopathy. Amongst the advice the osteopath gave was to give her small amounts of warm water to drink as it would help move the bubbles of trapped air. Is this ok to do? I was under the impression that breast milk was nutritionally complete & BF babies shouldnt be given anything else.

do u use a dummy? we sometimes do and it helps his wind or bouncing him up and down?

pip holder · Mar 16th, 2010, 06:38 AM

My baby has suffered from terrible trapped wind since birth (not as bad as colic but close)
We often give VERY small amounts of cooled boiled water which does work a treat but try and do it when we know LO is full of milk- like Squish says, the worst thing to do for BF babies is fill them up with water so they won't feed properly.

LO also had fennel tea from two weeks for the same on advice of the HV which is MAGNIFICENT - if you aren't comfortable giving it to the baby try it yourself as it's really good for digestion and passes well through breastmilk

Leesie · Mar 16th, 2010, 08:38 AM

definitely agree with pip holder's advice. if you give water make sure it's boiled then cooled and fennel tea works brilliantly. we mix a few tablespoons of cooled tea in with some EBM and give it to LO like that before bedtime, sorts out any uncomfy gas.

lottie7 · Mar 16th, 2010, 09:15 AM

I didn't realise that you shouldn't give water to a bf baby..............thanks for the knowledge.

JayDee · Mar 16th, 2010, 09:26 AM

My doctor suggested that I should give him some cooled boiled water between feeds to help his digestion. I always thought you shouldn't before that but I know our parents did and we turned out ok. We've been putting in a tiny bit of gripe water to give it some taste. Doesn't seem to have affected how much/frequently he eats either but do what you feel comfortable with though cos all babies are different.

cath · Mar 16th, 2010, 09:37 AM

Thanks everyone for your replies. I didnt try the water as I wasnt sure & wanted to check before I did. I might go & get some fennel tea though & take it myself to see if that helps

anothersquish · Mar 16th, 2010, 09:39 AM

Please dont give any sort of water/fennel tea etc without at least consulting your GP first.

Mar 16th, 2010, 05:16 AM	#1
cath Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lancashire Posts: 3,743	Giving water to drink? Charlotte has been really suffering with trapped wind & yesterday I took her for some cranial osteopathy. Amongst the advice the osteopath gave was to give her small amounts of warm water to drink as it would help move the bubbles of trapped air. Is this ok to do? I was under the impression that breast milk was nutritionally complete & BF babies shouldnt be given anything else.

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Mar 16th, 2010, 05:56 AM	#2
MrsQ Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Redhill, surrey Posts: 4,687	i was told not to give bf babies water but then was told by my dr to give it to him when his oft spot dips? x

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Mar 16th, 2010, 06:02 AM	#3
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	I, personally, would not give water on advise of an osteopath. Water can inhibit the absorption of nutrients from breastmilk (or formula) and can make the baby feel full even when they 'need' milk. ONLY give water on the advise of a paediatrician.

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Mar 16th, 2010, 06:38 AM	#5
pip holder Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,908	My baby has suffered from terrible trapped wind since birth (not as bad as colic but close) We often give VERY small amounts of cooled boiled water which does work a treat but try and do it when we know LO is full of milk- like Squish says, the worst thing to do for BF babies is fill them up with water so they won't feed properly. LO also had fennel tea from two weeks for the same on advice of the HV which is MAGNIFICENT - if you aren't comfortable giving it to the baby try it yourself as it's really good for digestion and passes well through breastmilk

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 08:38 AM	#6
Leesie Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 487	definitely agree with pip holder's advice. if you give water make sure it's boiled then cooled and fennel tea works brilliantly. we mix a few tablespoons of cooled tea in with some EBM and give it to LO like that before bedtime, sorts out any uncomfy gas.

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 09:15 AM	#7
lottie7 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 411	I didn't realise that you shouldn't give water to a bf baby..............thanks for the knowledge.

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 09:26 AM	#8
JayDee Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,625	My doctor suggested that I should give him some cooled boiled water between feeds to help his digestion. I always thought you shouldn't before that but I know our parents did and we turned out ok. We've been putting in a tiny bit of gripe water to give it some taste. Doesn't seem to have affected how much/frequently he eats either but do what you feel comfortable with though cos all babies are different.

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 09:37 AM	#9
cath Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lancashire Posts: 3,743	Thanks everyone for your replies. I didnt try the water as I wasnt sure & wanted to check before I did. I might go & get some fennel tea though & take it myself to see if that helps

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2010, 09:39 AM	#10
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	Please dont give any sort of water/fennel tea etc without at least consulting your GP first.

Status: Offline

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