Becoming a parent can be an extremely difficult experience. Everything is new to you and most parents are just learning everything on the way. It’s very difficult and expensive. Sometimes mothers cannot provide enough breast milk so they’re forced to buy expensive formula for their newborn, but sometimes they just can’t afford it.
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Just recently a woman by the name of Lauren Fristid wasn’t able to produce enough breast milk, so instead of purchasing baby formula, she diluted her breast milk with water. Sadly the newborn died of water intoxication.
According to Johns Hopkins Children Center, too much water dilutes sodium in the blood and flushes it out of the body, altering brain activity, which can lead to seizures. In addition, the baby’s developing kidneys cannot flush out excess water fast enough, so it causes a dangerous buildup of water in the body. Unfortunately the parents lack of knowledge not only cost them to lose their precious baby, but now they’re facing a trial for the murder of their child.
ALSO: Paid Maternity Leave is the Norm in Latin America, NOT The U.S.
What Can You Do?
There are many things you can do if you’re not producing enough breastmilk. First of all contact your doctor and tell him what you’re experiencing. Talk to a lactation consultant, they can weigh the baby and give you tips on how to boost your milk supply. Typically your baby will gain an ounce a day in the first 3 months and half an ounce a day from age 3 to 6 months. Just know that babies will normally lose some of their birth weight during the first few days before gaining it back.
There are other things you can do like feed your baby more often. Frequent nursing stimulates your body to produce more milk. Also, stimulate your body by pumping between nursings. Store any milk as a backup, just in case your milk supply decreases. Make sure you’re drinking at least 8 ounces of water between every feeding. Check your thyroid because a low thyroid level is known to reduce milk supply. There are also herbs and specific foods that can increase milk production, and while nursing you should not consume less than 1500-1800 calories per day. Losing too much weight, more than 1.5 per week or 6 pounds per week can also affect your milk supply.
Make sure you talk to your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing problems. Get all the help you need, especially if you’re a first time mom. If you can’t afford to buy formula, there are programs like Women, Infants and Children (WIC) that can give you formula for free. Take care of yourself and your new baby.