US couple charged with killing their 10-month-old baby after diluting breast milk with water.
While moms are advised to follow the dosages of industrial formula, you should also be aware that adding water to breastmilk can be just as dangerous.
A terrible truth that a couple of parents learned the hard way after the death of their little girl.
Electrolytes from breast milk diluted with water caused the baby's brain to swell and he died. Although the original article does not specify the specific circumstances of this tragedy, it seems that the parents received donations of breast milk or bought breast milk to give to their baby.
Diluting breast milk with water will actually increase the volume of the bottle. This may be useful if you think you don't have enough milk to feed baby.
But what these parents have discovered is that not only is it not an ideal solution, but above all it is extremely dangerous.
Dr. Ashanti Woods, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Marynland (USA), explains that parents should never dilute breast milk or infant formula.
"Babies' electrolyte sits at a specific level and doesn't adapt well to change." “If there is a change in the electrolyte level in a baby, it can lead to lethargy, convulsions or even death,” he says.
Rachelle Lesteshen, a breastfeeding consultant in the USA, agrees:"Breast milk contains the perfect amount of nutrients for baby's growth," she says. “Increasing the volume of breastmilk by adding water will dilute the amount of nutrients needed, which can cause serious health hazards to baby, such as excessive weight loss.”
According to Kellymon magazine, breastmilk provides baby with everything it needs (even in high outside temperatures), as long as breastfeeding is on baby's command.
Dr. Woods also stresses that parents should not be tempted to dilute baby formula.
He reminds that the nursing staff must always carefully read the instructions on the back of the boxes, because the instructions can change according to the type and brand of the preparation in question.
“Naturally, some parents might be tempted to add less powdered milk to their baby's bottle if they realize that they are going to run out of powdered milk.
But the consequence is that the composition of the milk changes. And in the end, the baby bottle looks more like a bottle of water rather than a bottle of milk,” he remarks.
“Many pediatricians agree that babies should not drink water until they are 9 months old. Babies need nutrients (fat, calories) that are in milk, not water. »
It is easy to stigmatize this small family. But it is likely that she did not have the necessary information to keep baby healthy.
"If you don't have enough milk for your baby, consult your pediatrician or a lactation consultant for appropriate advice on safe alternatives," Rachelle tells us.
If in doubt you can contact La Leche League nearest to you.
If you have questions about breastfeeding, there are comprehensive books that can provide answers.
