HV advised me to add more water to feeds? Should I?

[Jayneypops]

Hi,

Our LO is on Gaviscon as has mild reflux and as a result she is a bit constipated. her poo's are hard and she is often in discomfort trying to pass them. My HV came the other day and said that until her poos soften up again, to add an extra 1/2 ounce of water to each bottle (so 6.5 oz water to 6 scoops of formula) but o9n the tin it advises to never alter the recommended amount of water?

Ive heard different theories about giving babies extra water, some people say its fatal? surely not?

What are peoples views on this? Surely my HV wouldnt risk my baby, and her job by advising something unsafe?

I've been giving her a tiny bit of cooled boiled water (2.5ml from a syringe) twice a day so far instead of altering feeds but its not helping

 

[donnarobinson]

I wouldn't put more water into feeds I've always been told its a big no no! I would just give baby some cooled boiled water, my hv told me its fine to give them water once they've got an established weight gain x

 

[AP]

Our HV said the same too. Done it a few times (its such a small addition of water) and it made no difference. Lactulose helped, however, on the recommendation of a paeditrician

We dropped the Gaviscon for SMA Staydown, and that made a difference.

 

[rihanna]

My 6month old has cmpi and reflux. When she was constipated at 7weeks before starting on new prescription milk we were
Told to add extra water by our dietician. Our health visitor wasn't happy but we did it as she was gaining weight well so it didn't affect her calorie intake. SHe is regular now and at 6months we still do it at EVERY feed. Only 1/2 ounce now per bottle x

 

[kirstybumx3]

My hv recommended an extra oz in 2 bottles a day for the same reason. And because rio's reflux was so bad he couldn't drink anything that wasn't thickened so giving it in his bottle was the only way. An ounce or 2 extra won't hurt your LO. But it probably won't help either, unfortunately. It didn't here.

 

[rihanna]

Just to add between 2months and 5 months she was getting 1oz extra water per feed. Only last month we decreased to 1/2 oz

 

[Feff]

I was told to do this by one HV and then to definitely not do it by another

 

[mummytobe_93]

It's only a tiny little bit of extra water so I can't imagine that would cause any harm. I Imagine she wouldn't just give out bad advice shes probably been to say this when asked x

 

[liz1985]

1/2 ounce wouldnt really dilute it much anyway. Some people do bottles in mls not ounces. You put 6oz formula in a 180ml bottle which is pretty much 6 1/2oz of water, so it's definitely not dangerous but it probably wont help much either. When ds was constipated as a baby they said to give cooled boiled water between feeds but it never helped.

 

[Mrs Doddy]

I wouldn't , I know cow and gate do a special reflux formula that may help ?

 

[Noo]

.

 

[Jayneypops]

Thanks for the replies ladies. Ive been adding the 1/2oz of water to a few of her bottles per day for a couple of days but its not made a difference to her constipation

Is there anything else I can try? My HV is on holiday for 2 weeks so cant get in touch. Should I give her more water in between feeds? Or can you get a baby constipation medicine?
I might call the gp as she is really straining to poop and they are firm

 

[Feff]

How long has it been since she's had a proper poo? My HV said I could try cooled boiled water with a teaspoon of freshly squeezed orange juice in it but that's if they haven't been for a while. Try looking for baby massage videos or go to a class? It DEFINITELY helps with pooing (witnessed it in baby massage the other day ) try a warm bath and massage her belly under the water? I know it's horrible when they're constipated, Elodie used to be terrible for it hope she gets better soon x

 

[Noodlebear]

If LO was constipated I'd give up to an ounce a little after a feed and see if it helped him along.

 

[MindUtopia]

You might try baby massage (there is a special tummy massage that I found to be really useful) or the tiger in a tree hold. That one in particular led to some amazing blowouts over here! It definitely works. Your LO may be too young still, not sure what the minimum age is, but my daughter was always constipated up until 6 months, strangely until we started solids then she was fine, and gripe water was a lifesaver. She would go 3-4 days between poos and then poo within about 6 hours of having the gripe water. Some people also swear by a teaspoon or two of fennel tea.

 

[liz1985]

We tried baby massage and that helped a little. Not sure what age they can have lactulose? My gp wouldnt prescribe lactulose till nearly one but ive heard people having it much sooner.