As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, you get to help clients meet short- and long-term breastfeeding goals. One of the reasons we encourage parents to breastfeed is for the reduced risk and severity of illness during infancy. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of dehydration during illness, making breastfeeding extremely beneficial.
When an infant becomes ill, whether from a virus, fever, or gastrointestinal issue, one of the primary concerns for parents and healthcare providers is preventing dehydration. Dehydration can escalate quickly in infants and lead to complications, including hospitalization.
For breastfeeding families, one of the most effective tools to prevent and combat dehydration is continued breastfeeding. As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC), you can play a critical role in educating families on how breastfeeding acts as a natural defense against dehydration in sick infants.
Breast Milk Provides Hydration and Nutrition
As you learned in your training, breast milk is uniquely designed to meet an infant’s nutritional and hydration needs. It contains the perfect balance of water, electrolytes, and nutrients, making it an ideal source of hydration when an infant is sick.
When a baby is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, their body loses fluids quickly. Continued breastfeeding ensures they receive a steady intake of fluids that are easily absorbed, helping to replenish lost fluids and prevent dehydration. Breast milk is often absorbed faster than formula and solids, allowing some hydration to occur even with GI symptoms.
Additionally, the composition of breast milk changes in response to the baby’s needs. When an infant is sick, breast milk often increases its concentration of antibodies and immune-boosting properties, providing both hydration and immune support.
Breastfeeding Is Easier to Digest
During illness, infants may struggle to keep down formula or other fluids, leading to increased fluid loss and higher dehydration risk. Breast milk, however, is easily digestible and more likely to stay down, even when a baby is vomiting. Its composition is designed to be gentle on an infant’s stomach, reducing the risk of further gastrointestinal upset.
For our most at risk infants, such as those under 6 months, formerly premature, etc., access to breast milk can be vital for fighting dehydration.
Moreover, breast milk contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can soothe a baby’s digestive tract, making it easier for them to tolerate feedings. Frequent, small feedings can help a sick infant gradually replenish fluids without overwhelming their system.
Frequent Nursing Maintains Fluid Intake
When infants are sick, they may nurse more frequently but for shorter durations. This behavior is beneficial because it allows the baby to receive small, frequent doses of hydration without straining their energy levels. As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, you can encourage parents to follow their baby’s cues and offer the breast as often as the baby desires, even if the duration of each feeding seems shorter than usual. We often teach families to feed on demand, we can emphasize the importance of that during illness. We can also balance that with reminding them to offer more often if baby isn’t cuing as frequently.
In cases of fever, increased fluid intake through breast milk helps regulate the baby’s body temperature and replace fluids lost through sweating. This process supports faster recovery by keeping the infant hydrated and comfortable.
Reduced Risk of Severe Dehydration
The composition of breast milk includes vital electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, which help maintain the infant’s fluid balance. This natural rehydration property makes breast milk comparable to oral rehydration solutions, providing both hydration and nutrition simultaneously.
In many cases, continuing to breastfeed during illness can prevent the need for hospitalization due to severe dehydration. Oral rehydration solutions can have a role in short term rehydration. However, they lack nutrition like breast milk which is why continued breastfeeding is important.
As a CBC, you can help parents understand that even if their baby is refusing solid foods or other liquids, breast milk alone is often sufficient to sustain the baby during mild to moderate illness. Encouraging breastfeeding as a first-line defense against dehydration can prevent unnecessary medical interventions and promote faster recovery.
Practical Tips for Parents During Infant Illness
You can share the following practical tips with parents to help them use breastfeeding to prevent dehydration during their baby’s illness:
- Offer the breast frequently – Allow the baby to nurse on demand, even if feedings are brief or more frequent.
- Monitor diaper output – Encourage parents to keep track of wet diapers to ensure their baby is staying hydrated.
- Continue skin-to-skin contact – Skin-to-skin can comfort a sick infant and encourage them to nurse more frequently. It can also aid in temperature regulation.
- Seek medical care when needed – Remind parents that if their baby shows signs of severe dehydration (such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, or lethargy), they should seek immediate medical attention.
As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, you have the unique opportunity to empower parents with knowledge about the incredible benefits of breastfeeding during illness. By emphasizing how breast milk naturally prevents dehydration and supports a baby’s recovery, you can help families feel confident in their ability to care for their sick infant.
Not already a CBC? You can get started today to help support families throughout their breastfeeding journey, including when their baby is sick.