M
MLBW
Guest
Our son never really would drink any water until about 2 weeks ago and he's a year old. So...our solution? We found he liked ice chips--probably for his teething--which he seems to have been doing constantly since birth. He didn't even like water flavored with a bit of orange juice--but if we freeze something--water, juice...anything, and give him a bit to suck on....he likes it. With breastfed babies...usually it's not "constipation" actually. Any lactation consultant will tell you that breastmilk is so easily absorbed by the body that some baby's bodies (even at 3 months) get very efficient at processing it to the point that they rarely have a bowel movement. In fact my US-based paediatrician said that in all his years in practice he has actually never encountered a truly constipated only breastfed baby--he said it just doesn't happen. Formula fed babies, however, get constipated a lot. I thought when I was breastfeeding that our son was constipated too--but it turned out to be a different issue altogether. I think it's odd that the doctor is telling you to give your breastfed-only 3-month old water--that will in effect reduce your wife's milk supply if the baby starts drinking water and the water (because breastmilk works on a supply-demand basis--and even adding a little bit of other liquid--water, juice, formula...the baby will not consume as much breastmilk and therefore the demand won't be as high and supply will drop) and water content in breastmilk is definitely more than adequate. I don't think the doctor has much experience with breastfeeding in this case--I would contact the LLL (La Leche League) people and listen to what they say. The majority of babies in HK are formula-fed so many doctors only have experience with that. I would ask for a second opinion--I don't think your child is constipated.
