Dr says I should give ebf DS water because of 'sunken' soft spot...

[CyrilSneers]

Went to doctor for something unrelated to this today and she said my 16wo's soft spot was sunken and this meant he needed 'more fluids' and should give him some water. However she said he wasn't dehydrated because he was dribbling lots! She just kept saying 'give more fluids' and didn't really seem interested in how often he fed etc (6 times last night actually...) Should I be worried about this? Don't really want to give water as I've read it's not necessary. Have been trying to increase his feeds, but he feeds at least every 2 hours as it is!

Dr is talking out of arse.

Yes a sunken soft spot can be a sign of dehydration. But a normal soft spot tends to look a little sunken anyway. Signs of dehydration are things like reduced wees, dry lips and so on. Then, when your baby is really very poorly and needs to go to hospital, a sign of really very severe dehydration is a sunken soft spot (actually sunken not just a little dip like a normal soft spot).

Indith is right BUT, it wouldnt do any harm in my very uninformed opinion to offer some water in a bottle, because while you are right, there is no need for water just now he is getting what he needs from you, when you stop breast feeding you want him to like the taste of water. My DD was ebf and then mixed FF BF until about nine months. Because i never offered water, when i did, it actually took her ages to get get to "like" it. So whilst its not necessary now, it wouldnt hurt for the future, if that makes sense. Others may disagree of course - but before anyone says water doesn't taste of anything, it so does!! :)

Don't give your DS water, just feed him more! Your milk will dilute if he needs to drink more fluids.

Also, go with your gut reaction, if it never occured to you that your DS was dehydrated e.g. if he sleeps through the night without a feed, then presume the Dr was talking out of her bottom and carry on as you are.

That's what I thought Indith. No other signs of dehydration and I haven't noticed it looking anymore sunken than usual, but Fire, he has started waking LOTS in the night for feeds. 5-6 times over the last 3 weeks whereas before it was only once or twice a night. Could this suggest dehydration? His feeds have also become really short (5-10mins max) in the day time. Worrying now!

Cyril he is having shorter feeds because as he gets bigger he gets better at feeding. He has started feeding lots at night because you have reached the 16 week growth spurt! It will pass. Probably. Eventually.

Giving water can be harmful. Everything a baby needs is in breast milk and your body is a finely tuned thing that produces exactly what the baby needs and varies according to demand, weather etc. Giving water can screw all that up. You fill the baby's tummy with water then he doesn't demand a feed and doesn't get the nutrients he needs. Your body misses the signals to make milk because baby doesn't feed so makes less milk and so and so forth.

It is dangerous advice actually, you ought to complain to the practice manager. Following the gps advice could lead to water toxicity.

Google water intoxication and you will see why you should complain.

A few sips of water at 16 weeks isn't the end of the world. Feeding a lot of water at this age is potentially harmful. As someone said up thread, a few sips can be helpful in dc 'liking' water