Water Intoxication

Did you know giving water to a baby could be deadly?

If not I want to share with you all how and why. If you are nursing your baby often and as long as baby wants, even in hot weather, they shouldn’t need water.

What is water intoxication? 

It is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by over-hydration (excessive water intake).

Symptoms and Treatment

The warning signs of hyponatremia look a lot like the symptoms of heatstroke and exhaustion. You might be hot, have a headache, and just feel crummy. Other early symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.If you don’t get help right away, the condition can quickly lead to swelling in the brain, seizures, and coma. Get to an emergency room as soon as you can. Doctors there can inject concentrated salt water to ease swelling and reverse problems.

Sources:

St. Louis Children KellyMom NCBI GOV