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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Gave water to my 4 week old baby HELP!!

16 replies

sades101 · 14/09/2012 19:57

Im really worried as I have just read about water intoxication, I gave my 4 week old about an oz and a half of water (sterile water obviously) because his soft spot was sunken and I was worried as I hadn't been drinking many fluid the last few days and thought maybe my breastmilk wasn't hydrating him enough. Have other parents given there babies this much before? He seems fine at the moment, but I don't know how long it would take if something bad were to happen to actually happen. I feel so stupid now, I just thought aslong as it's sterile that it's okay? I'm so scared I gave him too much

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Choufleur · 14/09/2012 19:58

It'll be fine - it's really not that much but if you are breastfeeding he should be getting enough from that

winnybella · 14/09/2012 20:01

An ounce and a half will be ok, don't worry, but as Choufleur says, he will be getting enough from your breastmilk.

Why do you worry he didn't have enough liquids? How often does he feed and for how long?

Rubirosa · 14/09/2012 20:03

It will be fine.

But dehydration and a sunken fontanelle is quite serious in a newborn. How often are you feeding? I think you need to see an HV or a breastfeeding counsellor quite urgently.

NatashaBee · 14/09/2012 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

sades101 · 14/09/2012 21:13

I was worried because he had been feeding but his soft spot was still sunken and also because I hadn't drunk many fluids in the last few days and read somewhere that you need to stay hydrated for your breastmilk- He feeds every 3-4 hours during the day and sometimes it'll take him 20-30 mins, sometimes it'll take him an hour if he's tired... It doesn't visibly look sunken in, just if I lightly run my hand over his head it feels slightly sunken, I rang and spoke to a doctor and they said its fairly normal and as long as he isn't showing any other signs like vomiting or diarrhea and he's still wetting nappies then he's fine. He isn't showing any other signs, I won't be giving water again (when I say sterile I meant boiled and cooled) ... It keeps going back to normal I think, there is just so much info on google and conflicting info from health advisors that I never know whats 'normal' - My health visitor is coming round on Tuesday, but if I am worried again before then I'll go to the doctors again (he had already seen a doctor today who said he seemed healthy and happy, don't know if i'm just being paranoid :/)

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Original poster

sades101 · 14/09/2012 21:14

Also i'm not feeding straight from the breast - its pumped and then bottle fed as he has a cleft lip and I want to make sure he is getting enough... xx

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Rubirosa · 14/09/2012 23:11

Keeping hydrated is just so that you don't get dizzy or headachy - it won't effect your milk unless you are seriously close to death! Milk is about 95% water or something.

TomDaleysTrunks · 14/09/2012 23:19

Is the slightly sunken spot you are feeling his fontanelle? There is a natural dip in their skull so it will feel slightly sunken.

If you are BF and your Dc is happy then they aren't dehydrated.
Hope that helps.

FeersumEndjinn · 14/09/2012 23:31

Don't worry, that amount of water is not going to do any harm at all. I know it's really difficult not to worry about everything in the early weeks, but you're OK. Talk to your health visitor next time you have a clinic but I'm sure everything is fine.

Rubirosa · 14/09/2012 23:34

Agree with Tom that a slight dip is just where the skin goes over the hole. If your baby is dehydrated the fontanelle will be depressed.

rubyrubyruby · 14/09/2012 23:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 14/09/2012 23:38

And you would be dangerously dehydrated before your milk changed- your body gives the baby what he needs before you're allowed to have anything. And lots of wet nappies is good!

But every 3-4 hours doesn't seem very often at 4 weeks. Could you offer more often and see if he'll take more?

Original poster

sades101 · 15/09/2012 07:17

My health visitor said because he is having 4oz each time it's fine to leave him that long, also he settles quite well and doesn't often display signs of hunger before around the 4 hour mark, if ever he does I give him more, but generally he seems full and content. But I see my health visitor on Tuesday so will discuss it again with her. He takes up to an hour to take that feed so he generally seems quite full and happy. Thanks for replies guys xx

OP posts:

Rubirosa · 15/09/2012 14:10

Breastfed babies tend to take about 25oz of milk a day, and this stays quite stable with age (unlike formula where you have to increase the amounts as they get older), so 6 or 7 4oz feeds a day sounds about right. I'm sure he will let you know if he needs more, eg. during a growth spurt.

MiauMau · 17/10/2012 20:42

sades101 the best way to see if your baby is dehydrated is to just look at his nappies. Is he wetting them regularly? There's another way but, he is far too young for that and that is the production of saliva.
A gp told me that most doctors can't properly diagnose a dehydrated baby by looking at his/her fontanelle.
So, wet nappies equal a well hydrated baby :)

PoppyScarer · 17/10/2012 20:46

I was worried about my DS being dehydrated as a baby due to his fontanelle but the doctor was much more concerned about his skin, did it bounce back once pinched. She said that was a much more reliable test. FWIW!

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