How much water do you need?

Busted.  Sinead at Breastfeeding Mums (writing from Northern Ireland) passed on a challenge to take a picture of my trusty water container and write a post about it.  But the truth is that I don't drink a lot of water.  I tend to suddenly notice that I'm really thirsty and then drink a huge glass of water, maybe once a day. 

Anyway, here's the glass I'd probably use if I were a well-hydrated person.  Plus a bonus frog.

I figure that this is a good opportunity to talk about how much water a nursing mother needs to drink.  The answer is pretty simple:  Drink to thirst.  Many women are naturally thirsty during breastfeeding, so your body regulates this pretty well on its own.

There is no need to force yourself to drink.  In fact, the La Leche League Breastfeeding Answer Book says,

"It is not beneficial for the mother or her milk supply to force extra fluids.  Not only is forcing fluids uncomfortable, but one study found that mothers produced no more milk when they drank 25 percent more fluids than when they drank to thirst.  Research has yet to find a link between fluid intake and milk supply."

So there.  I now pass along this challenge to Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing, Micky at Mocha Milk, and half-way around the world to Karen at Cairo Mama.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Blog?  Subscribe here.