Breastfeeding Myths: for a woman to have enough milk to drink plenty of water

Most data we have about breastfeeding are relatively close in time, although it is the natural human power. The fact that during this century artificial milk came even be recommended by doctors made breastfeeding remained almost forgotten and that the investigation was also minimal.

This made ​​about breastfeeding knowledge were available to very few people and that such ignorance is still occurring today, persisting many of the truths we once knew and now have come to be regarded almost myths.

The problem of the myths of breastfeeding is not existed at the time (as I say in those days were true and had to treat them as such), but still exist now because health professionals and lore remain committed to prevent them from falling into oblivion.

It is for this reason that might be interesting to try some of the myths about breastfeeding more extended so as to know what the current scientific evidence and what the unfounded advice. To begin talk of a myth that is quite famous: for a woman to have enough milk to drink plenty of water.

"Drink well water and have more milk"

I do not know if you ever have heard, but I do, and not a few. It is believed that the mother needs to drink more water than your body asks for more milk. Something like "force yourself to drink a little more and your baby will thank you."

I say that there is a belief, because to date there is no study to support this theory . In fact, not even data to help prove that a woman who drinks little water will have little milk, so that a priori , advise drinking a lot or drink little seems to be supported by the same evidence: no.

A more water, less milk

A lack of evidence anyone can think, "Well, it is not known does not mean it's not true" and actually is right. What is not studied is not a lie, but nobody can prove it to be true (and usually not having studies can make a categorical statement). Then common sense seems to say that the more liquid having a woman in your body, the more liquid will generate and, as breast milk is a liquid produced by the body, the more milk you will have.

Well it could be but is not. What can not be said that more water is more milk because, as we say, there is no study to support this, however there are other studies that support the opposite, more water, less milk.

In a study conducted in 1985 found that breastfeeding women when mothers are forced to drink water decreased milk production , the difference was not considered significant, however this one was already studied in 1939 by Olsen , which in the conclusions of his work said "forced and excessive drinking is neither necessary nor beneficial in regards to breastfeeding, and could even be harmful".

In another study similar study with 210 women who had just given birth to their babies one group took the water he wanted, with an average of about 2 liters per day. The other group of women took an average of three liters, forcing intake above thirst sensation. The results were the same, since most women drinking water produced a smaller amount of milk and infants had more difficulty to increase their weight properly.

But common sense says otherwise, right?

We said a few paragraphs as common sense the more liquid having a woman in your body, the more liquid will generate and, as breast milk is a liquid produced by the body, the more milk you will have.

It seems to have some logic, however breast milk is not the only fluid that a woman produces and if we thought we would be giving little value to your urine, which offers the female body (and men) an impressive job and very valuable.

In all studies it can be observed that the more water the women drank more urinated. Similarly it was found that women who drank less water, urinating less without it affecting the production of milk.

Conclusion

The more water you drink a woman, the more it will have to go to the bathroom and, unfortunately,less milk for your baby will . This does not mean that a woman has now consciously reducing the amount of water to be taken, but must heed its physiological sensation of need, ie their thirst .Nothing more, nothing less.