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Best Hydration Drink For Breastfeeding And 9 Other Options That Help

best hydration drink for breastfeeding

Fluid balance is essential for breastfeeding mothers.

If you’re breastfeeding, you may have never been thirstier. This is because your breast milk is mostly water. Your milk supply depends on you drinking enough fluids.

So, what are the best drinks for breastfeeding? Today, we will discuss the different beverages women should drink to support milk production. Keep reading for ideas on the best hydration drink for breastfeeding.

Best Hydration Drink For Breastfeeding

The #1 best drink for hydration while breastfeeding is water. This is because it’s affordable, sugar-free, and has no calories. Breastfeeding mothers should drink 128 ounces of hydrating fluids daily, or about 16 cups.

Now, it’s known that milk is more hydrating than water. However, it’s not recommended to drink a lot of milk daily. 

Drinking more than 3 cups of milk daily can lead to health complications. That’s why making water your main drink for hydration while breastfeeding is essential.

You can stay hydrated by drinking either flat or sparkling water. If you get bored of the taste, switch to naturally flavored or infused waters. Some of the best ways to infuse your water are with the following:

  • Lemon slices
  • Berries
  • Orange slices
  • Pineapple
  • Cucumbers
  • Ginger root

Electrolyte Drinks While Breastfeeding

Electrolyte drinks are an excellent way to stay hydrated while you’re breastfeeding. This is because electrolytes are essential for maintaining hydration. 

Good-quality electrolyte drinks include nutrients that are key for healthy breast milk production, such as:

  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Zinc
  • Magnesium
  • Riboflavin
  • Calcium
  • Folic acid
  • Niacin
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D
  • B vitamins

Not all electrolyte drinks are the same. Avoid beverages that contain a high level of added sugar, artificial ingredients, and artificial coloring. 

Sports drinks are the most common beverages that come to mind when people think of electrolyte-enhanced drinks. However, they often contain high sugar, so they should only be consumed in moderation.

A much better alternative to sports drinks is electrolyte drops that can infuse your water. Another great option is electrolyte tablets, which dissolve in your drink. 

Other drinks that contain natural electrolytes are watermelon juice, orange juice, tart cherry juice, coconut water, smoothies, and milk.

Best hydration drink for breastfeeding

Coconut Water For Breastfeeding

One of the best sources of natural electrolytes is coconut water. This is an excellent beverage for breastfeeding moms. 

Coconut water contains natural sugar, but it’s very low. A lot of good quality electrolyte drinks also include coconut water.

Many people enjoy this hydrating drink because it has a light tropical flavor. However, the taste isn’t a hit with everyone. If you don’t want the way coconut water tastes, try mixing it with other ingredients to create a delicious hydration drink.

One popular breastfeeding drink idea is mixing coconut water with organic coconut milk and fruit puree. Another way to enjoy it is by mixing 1 part coconut water with 1 part pineapple juice or other citrus fruit juices.

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Drinks To Try While Breastfeeding

Water may be the best beverage to drink while breastfeeding, but it’s not your only option for staying hydrated. 

Drinking 16 cups of water every day can get very boring. You should include other types of drinks to meet your daily hydration needs. 

Here are some of the best hydration drinks to consume.

1. Milk

In moderation, milk is one of the most efficient ways to stay hydrated. 

When you’re breastfeeding, it’s recommended to drink nut milk or other types of plant-based milk. This is because dairy could lead to digestive problems for the baby.

2. Smoothies

Smoothies are excellent naturally electrolyte-enhanced drinks. This is a great choice when you want to fill up and hydrate. It’s also an efficient way to give yourself a nutrient boost. 

We suggest making your own smoothies instead of buying premade smoothies from the store to avoid added sugars. Making your smoothies with real fruit can boost your body’s electrolytes and other key nutrients.

3. Real Fruit Juices

Fruit juice is a great way to hydrate while enjoying a flavorful beverage. You must choose real fruit juices and avoid drinking fruit-flavored beverages. Many fruit-flavored beverages have high added sugars and other artificial ingredients. 

4. Herbal Teas

There are many types of herbal teas that you can drink for hydration. This is an excellent option because they’re flavorful and don’t contain any sugars. Some of the best herbal teas for breastfeeding mothers include:

  • Lavender
  • Chamomile
  • Fruit teas
  • Ginseng
  • Licorice

You can enjoy herbal tea hot or pour it over ice for a refreshing cold beverage.

5. Lactation Coffee/Tea

Did you know that there are drinks formulated explicitly for breastfeeding mothers? Lactation coffee and mother’s milk tea are some of the most common choices. 

They feature organic herbs and vitamins that provide your cells with fuel for breast milk production. You can also try lactation smoothies if you prefer to drink cold drinks.

Best hydration drink for breastfeeding

Hydrating Snacks

Staying hydrated can be easy when you choose the right snacks while breastfeeding. Many types of fruits and vegetables are mostly water.

Eating fresh produce can help you stay hydrated throughout the day. This can be helpful for mothers who find it difficult to drink 16 beverages daily.

Other food choices that help you stay hydrated include:

  • Soups and broths
  • Milk on your cereal
  • Popsicles
  • Oatmeal
  • Yogurt
  • Chia pudding

Drinks To Avoid While Breastfeeding

You’ll need more than just water when you’re trying to drink extra fluids while breastfeeding. 

Most hydration drinks are okay to have while breastfeeding. However, sugary drinks (like flavored beverages or chocolate milk) should only be consumed in moderation.

Certain beverages should be avoided. 

There’s a myth that alcohol or beer could boost lactation. However, this isn’t recommended because there’s a risk of contaminating your breast milk. Alcohol is also dehydrating, so it’s best to avoid it now.

Caffeine doesn’t have to be avoided, but it should only be consumed in moderation. Drinking more than 300 mg of caffeine per day is not recommended. So, limit yourself to one coffee, matcha, or soda daily.

When it comes to soda pop, it’s not the healthiest choice, but you don’t have to avoid it altogether. Occasionally drinking a soda won’t affect your breast milk supply.

Healthy & Popular Hydration Drinks For Breastfeeding Mothers

Breastfeeding mothers can get bored of drinking the same beverages over and over again. That’s why trying out new recipes for hydration drinks is a great idea. 

Below are some of our favorite hydrating beverage ideas.

1. Sparkling Refresher

Are you in the mood for something refreshing and flavorful? One of our favorite hydration drinks is the sparkling refresher. 

These are very easy to make at home. This is simply a combination of sparkling water, your favorite fruit juice, and fruit slices.

To make a sparkling refresher, mix:

  • 1 cup sparkling water
  • 1 cup fruit juice (any flavor)

Cut up fruit slices, such as lemon, berries, or melon. Place them in a glass over ice. Pour your drink into the glass and enjoy.

2. Herbal Tea Latte

Do you want to drink something warm and cozy? A herbal tea latte is the perfect choice for breastfeeding moms. 

There are many herbal and fruit teas that you can choose for your latte. We suggest avoiding teas with citrus or tart fruits because they can cause the milk in your latte to curdle.

You must choose the right milk to make a good tea latte. Whole milk is one of the best kinds for achieving a frothy texture. However, oat and cashew milk are the best choices for plant-based milk.

When you make your tea for the latte, aim to make it stronger than usual. Use less water and allow the tea to steep for longer. You should also heat the milk before you froth it.

Ideally, you should heat the milk to a temperature range of 135 to 150 F.

3. Green Tropical Smoothie

We discussed the benefits of smoothies above. When ready for a tasty and creamy treat, you can’t go wrong with a green tropical smoothie.

This drink can be made with fresh or frozen fruit. Here is what you need.

  • 1 cup kale (or spinach)
  • 1 cup pineapple
  • 1 cup mango
  • 1 whole banana or 1 cup frozen banana chunks
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • Honey or syrup for sweetness (optional)

Blend all of the ingredients until there are no visible fruit chunks.

 If you are having this smoothie for breakfast or as a snack, add one tablespoon of chia seeds and 1/2 cup of yogurt. This will make the smoothie more filling.

4. Butterfly Pea Arnold Palmer

Butterfly Pea is one of our favorite herbal tea for Arnold Palmers. 

We like to make a batch of butterfly pea tea to keep chilled in the refrigerator to drink on its own or use to make other fun hydration drinks. It’s an excellent drink for mixing because it has a mild flavor and stunning natural blue color.

One of the neat things about butterfly pea tea is that it turns purple when mixed with lemon. 

An Arnold Palmer drink is 1/2 lemonade with 1/2 iced tea. You can watch the colors change when you pour the chilled butterfly pea tea onto the lemonade.

Final Words

Breastfeeding mothers need to consume around 128 oz of hydration drinks for breastfeeding. The best beverage to drink is water, but you can also include healthy drinks into the mix so you don’t get bored.

 Avoid added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and other artificial ingredients when choosing breastfeeding drinks.

Which hydration drinks will you be trying while breastfeeding? Let us know in the comments below.

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