Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding thirst

11 replies

Starwatcher123 · 04/12/2020 09:30

How much do other breastfeeding mums drink?

My daughter is 9 months and I am drinking 3.5-4 litres per day, and feel that's still not enough. (I would drink more but it's actually hard to find the time...). My skin and lips are permanently dry and last night I woke up at 2 AM DYING for water, I got up and drank a whole litre at once.

I've been accepting it as part of the breastfeeding life, but my husband is saying that it can't be normal to be so thirsty all the time...and I'm wondering if he's right.

What do you think? How much thirst is normal?

OP posts:
Pinkroses87 · 04/12/2020 09:35

I was like a parched camel heading for an oasis at all times. I think normal!

HickoryDickoryDot · 04/12/2020 09:37

Totally normal! Never been so thirsty in my life. Coming to the end of breastfeeding my toddler now and still happily have 4+ litres a day. I feel headachey otherwise.

Corner13 · 04/12/2020 09:39

Hi, nurse here. It’s probably worth speaking to your GP. They’ll likely want to test your HbA1c level to rule out diabetes

Megan2018 · 04/12/2020 09:41

Probably normal-I drank a full water bottle with each feed roughly (750ml) in the first months. Gradually got less but I still drink more than normal now at 15 months.
I would say though that if it doesn’t change at all it might be worth a blood test just in case it could be something else (type 2 diabetes being one). I had to have a blood test as I’d had GD in pregnancy, no type 2 found but I did have post partum thyroiditits (which resolved itself).

EllyNC · 04/12/2020 09:41

I still feel completely parched and like
I need to down a pint of water everytime I feed. I remember when DS was younger I couldn’t quite believe the insatiable thirst!!

olderthanyouthink · 04/12/2020 09:42

That's sounds like a lot, maybe get checked just in case and if it's nothing get a camelbak!

Dowermouse · 04/12/2020 09:49

Normally at the start, it eases. You can also get that fluid from fruit, ice lollies etc obviously. As for the dryness, I was like a reptiles shedding it's skin after mine were born, I think it's the like pregnancy hair, your body is producing lots and lots and then after birth it all starts dropping out/sloughing off. Exfoliating felt amazing, and, I mention it just in case anyone else found this, it shifted that post partum BO that some women notice.

Original poster
Starwatcher123 · 04/12/2020 09:52

@Corner13

Hi, nurse here. It’s probably worth speaking to your GP. They’ll likely want to test your HbA1c level to rule out diabetes
Thanks - if I'm not weeing more than usual, do you think diabetes is still a concern? I'll go to GP if I must but I'd prefer not to with these Covid numbers...
OP posts:
NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 04/12/2020 11:56

I used to drink a pint of water at bedtime, then have two more on the bedside table. I would drink both over night and would need more by breakfast time

Original poster
Starwatcher123 · 15/12/2020 16:28

In case anyone reads this in future: turns out excessive thirst is a symptom of iron deficiency. Started on tablets and it got better within days...

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 15/12/2020 16:30

@Starwatcher123

In case anyone reads this in future: turns out excessive thirst is a symptom of iron deficiency. Started on tablets and it got better within days...
Interesting! Thanks for the update.

When I was breastfeeding I was super thirsty and easily drank a litre overnight. 3.5-4 felt a little much though. Glad you got sorted.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page