Re-boiling water in a tea urn

[Pushonregardless]

I'm pregnant and just been told that I'm 'very brave' by a fussy older woman in the office for using the tea urn. It's one of those big water boiler things that gives us hot water on tap for hot drinks.

She says re-boiling the water concentrates chemicals in it and that I shouldn't drink it - hence why you can only use once-boiled water to sterilise baby bottles.

I've just made myself a peppermint tea :(

Is this a genuine concern or is it just another silly, paranoia inducing, scare story for pregnant ladies to worry about?

A quick google was a bit inconclusive.

Sometime I wish people would keep their advice to themselves.

Ridiculous lady, your peppermint is fine it's true that you shouldn't make formula with reboiled water, but that's because they are teeny tiny and very delicate. We are less so! It's the same as a new baby can't have unboiled water or even water at all, let alone food... Some people love to create drama and fear, ignore her and enjoy your tea!!

No, it's just bonkers.

Just because a baby can't have something doesn't mean it's an issue for a pregnant woman. You wouldn't feed a newborn a banana and a smoothie either, but I'm pretty sure my breakfast was safe .

Think of the unsolicited advice as practice for parenthood!

Phew. Thank you.

It's insane, I have measured the risk of eating runny eggs and cooked goats cheese etc. I am an intelligent woman who can make sensible choices but people send you into a tail spin over water!

With a tea urn the steam will collect on the lid then condense back into water inside the urn whereas with a kettle the steam is released into the atmosphere; therefore while a little steam will escape from the tea urn and the chemical composition will change minutely it will be nowhere near as much as the composition change in a kettle.

Anyway, as Custard says babies are delicate and so the change in chemical dilution may affect them but its not a concern for adults.

Insane!

I don't think people realise how much worry they can cause with throwaway comments.

If you boil water right down, you might get higher mineral content but even then harmless (or they'd ban volvic and evian). And a tea urn won't boil down like that.

Baby's kidneys can't cope with high levels of salt (it's also why they shouldn't have cows milk*).

An adult's (pregnant or not) are not worried at all by the levels of salt and other minerals in tap water, reboiled or not.

In any case our tap water has a far higher mineral content than my parents very soft water after several weeks of reboiling.

*actually I believe babies reaction to salt is very variable. In the days before formula many did survive on cows milk, but sadly some didn't. Clearly today it's a risk that's easily avoided.

Thanks ladies.

I shall get back to my tea now :)

Throwaway comments are silly and people don't realise the consequences.

I've been OK about what to cut out this far (14 weeks). In fact, it was a joy at a recent family meal, where my SIL (who always insists on ordering starters for everyone) asked for baked camembert and chicken liver parfait for the whole table. Normally we all just have to go along with her, (so controlling!) but this time I took great joy in saying 'actually, I can't eat any of that. You mind if I order my own food?'. It started a rebellion and MIL broke free and ordered scallops for herself too!