Adding Water to Breastmilk

MrsStutler

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My little boy is 5 and a half months old, we are still EBF. I have recently returned to school where I am away from my son for quite awhile (6:30am to 1:30pm) and usually my mother watches him during this time. I give her frozen breastmilk for him while I'm away, however she has now twice added water to my sons bottles to stretch out the length of time in between feedings. I have a hard time pumping enough milk for him so I understand that she wants to use it as efficiently as possible, but I have told her I don't want her to give him water and obviously she didn't listen. Is this a safety concern since its a small amount twice a week? Or am I just getting riled up over nothing?
 
Too much water in formula can completely mess up achild. Something about sodium I think. Not sure about BM though.
 
breastmilk is like drinking water and your child should be getting enough from you. But since your little one is almost six months, thats the age people usually start solids (like cereal which water is added)
 
Until he is on solids he doesn't need water and if you can't pump enough milk for him then it is better to give him a small amount of formula to add to his feeds rather than fill him up with water which has no nutritional content. He needs the calories. So if you can't pump enough to satisfy his hunger, you either need to add solids or add formula. At 5 and a half months I would be thinking adding solids and seeing if that is enough to satisfy him.
 
My biggest concern would be that your mother is doing something against your wishes. If you let that continue she will continue to do things she "thinks" are best. I don't think water ruins BM but I'd still be concerned that someone else is making a decision you're not comfortable with.
 
I would suggest giving water separately rather than mixing with the milk. Since the baby is almost 6 months, giving some water should be fine. But I would rather not mix it with the milk.
 

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