Dealing with Vomiting and Diarrhea in the Baby and/or Mother

My tip on how to make your own Pedialyte-type oral rehydration solution comes from my recent experience with rotavirus (if you don’t know what rotavirus is and how to treat it, then you probably don’t have a preschooler)! (Note that if you are breastfeeding and your nursling has vomiting and/or diarrhea, then the best thing to do is to continue breastfeeding! Of course watch your baby for signs of dehydration and consult your pediatrician for medical advice).

If you or your child (who is not nursing) is losing fluids and could benefit from an electrolyte solution, one cost-effective option is to make your own Pedialyte-type fluid replacer. A one-quart bottle of Pedialyte costs approximately $6, whereas you can make your own at home for much less. (And a bonus for breastfeeding advocates: Pedialyte is made by a formula manufacturer, so by making your own you are choosing not to support any form of breast milk substitutes.)

Homemade Electrolyte Solution Recipe

2 quarts water
1 teaspoon baking soda
7 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh-squeezed or bottled orange juice

Options:

Add a squeeze of lemon juice or more orange juice to each serving if desired for flavor (but just enough for flavor because juice has a lot of sugar and can make diarrhea worse).

Instead of the cup of orange juice (which provides some potassium for the electrolyte solution) and regular salt, you can instead add 1 (1/4 ounce) packet unsweetened Kool-Aid powdered drink mix and 1/2 teaspoon salt substitute (read the warning label on salt substitutes and consult your doctor).

Directions:

Stir all the ingredients in the water until they are completely dissolved. The solution can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, or for a treat to tempt a child it can be made into popsicles (an ice cube tray and toothpicks work well if you don’t have a popsicle mold).

Other Money-Saving Tips (stay tuned as more entries are added throughout the day):

Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog: Home remedies for breastfeeding problems
Blacktating: Do It Yourself: nursing cover, hands-free bra substitute, and hand-expression
BreastfeedingMums: Alternative money-saving uses for breast milk
Mamas Worldwide: How to make a regular bra into a nursing bra
Hobo Mama: Money-saving breastfeeding ideas
Milk Act: How breastfeeding taught me to be more frugal
ZenMommy: Musings on nursing and saving money

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

5 Alternatives to Regular Nursing Clothing

While it’s great if you can afford nursing clothing (see Where to Find Nursing Clothes) and can find styles that you like, there are other options.

1. Layer a button-down blouse over a tank top. When you lift up (or pull down) the tank top to nurse, the sides of the open blouse will offer coverage.

2. Layer a regular shirt over a loose-necked tank top. To nurse, lift the shirt up, pull the neck of the tank top down to expose the breast, and your belly will remain covered by the tank top. Or instead of pulling down the tank top, you could cut slits in the tank top to provide openings for nursing. These methods are especially helpful in cold weather!

3. Use a sling or nursing cover! I have free patterns for sewing a ring sling and “Hooter Hider” type nursing cover.

4. Repurpose a pregnancy belly band under your shirt to keep your belly covered, or buy a special nursing belly band. Here’s a great free video showing how to breastfeed in public with a pregnancy belly band!

5. Sew your own nursing clothing. If you are really handy, you can even knit your own nursing tank top!

Your Experience

Do you have something that helps you feel more comfortable nursing in public? Leave a comment!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3