Feeling thirsty is incredibly common when you’re breastfeeding your little one. Why is that? Oxytocin — which is an essential lactation hormone that causes milk ejection, according to the National Library of Medicine — is released during breastfeeding. This is your body’s way of making sure you have plenty of water to produce breast milk, as it’s made up of about 90% water.
That means it’s crucial to ensure you’re staying hydrated throughout the day and providing your body with the fluids it needs to produce milk for your baby. How do you know if you’re hydrated enough? Verywell Family recommends checking the color of your urine. A darker color indicates that your urine isn’t being diluted by what you drink, so an ideal color would be something that’s pale yellow or almost clear.
How much water should you drink? There are two things to keep in mind:
- Experts recommend drinking half an ounce of water per pound that you weigh, at a minimum. If you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking at least 75 ounces of water per day.
- Additionally, you’ll need to drink an amount of water that’s equivalent to however much milk you feed your baby to replace the water. If your baby drinks four ounces of milk eight times per day, that totals 32 ounces, and you’ll need to add 32 ounces more into your water intake.
If you’re not used to drinking lots of water as it is, it may be difficult for you to get into the habit of doing so. Creekside Center for Women suggests the following tips to help make that happen:
- Using an app to track your water intake, motivating you to reach your daily goals
- Drinking your water with a straw, as you’re more likely to drink more water that way than if you’re just sipping it
- Adding fruit — such as cucumbers, lemons, or limes — to give your water flavor
Sometimes, turning it into a challenge and setting goals can encourage you to get to where you need to be!
Staying hydrated means it’s also important to know what not to drink, as there are some beverages that can dehydrate you. Creekside Center for Women recommends limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake.
Are you thinking about delicious beverages you can drink to help you quench your thirst? That’s where SOLMA comes in! Our ready-to-drink teas simultaneously quench your thirst and support lactation. Available in chamomile, lemon, and rooibos, you’re sure to find a flavor that satisfies any palate.
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SOLMA co-founder Daniela Procopio was a guest on the podcast Love Your Mom Life with Nikki Oden!
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Daniela also shares how she collaborates with her partner to gracefully tackle the challenges of being a "primary parent" and making it work together.
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Are you a new breastfeeding parent who is looking for a community who truly gets it? We’re here for you. Email us at any time with questions, comments, or concerns. Let SOLMA give you one less thing to worry about! 💜
