‘Stretching’ breast milk or formula by adding water poses threat to babies: experts

A recent extreme case in the U.S. shows just how dangerous watering down breast milk or infant formula can be.

A 10-week-old girl died in Georgia after her parents allegedly fed her breast milk diluted with water, according to a report by 11Alive. The parents were recently charged with killing their daughter, according to the report.

While this case, now winding its way through the justice system, is highly unusual, medical experts say “stretching” milk or formula can have very serious short- and long-term effects on children.

Diluting breast milk or formula with water has the same effect: By diluting either you can destroy the electrolyte balance, said Dr. Mary Carol Burkhardt, a pediatrician in Cincinnati, in a phone interview with Yahoo Canada News.

Dr. Burkhardt was the lead author on a 2012 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center study conducted at urban pediatric clinics that found some parents resort to “stretching” when they cannot afford formula.

Diluting formula with water can impact the growth of the baby and the lack of proper nutrition could lead to cognitive and neurological issues later in life, said Dr. Burkhardt.

Dr. Jack Newman, one of Canada’s leading breastfeeding experts, agrees watering down breast milk is “potentially dangerous.”

“If it’s done regularly, the baby is getting, essentially, watered-down breast milk with decreased calories and other nutrients,” said Dr. Newman in an e-mail interview. “If the milk is diluted, say, 50:50 with water, then the baby gets half the calories, half the protein, half the carbohydrate and half the fat, as well as any other nutrient. The same would happen if the baby got diluted formula, homogenized milk or any other milk."

Health Canada recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, giving the infant no other food or liquid, not even water.

For mothers who are struggling to breast feed or having issues paying for formula there are options.

Canadian mothers who need to supplement should consider getting breast milk via the Human Milk 4 Human Babies Facebook page, advises Dr. Newman.

“They connect with a mother who will donate the milk for free,” said the breastfeeding expert. “Mothers should not get milk from mothers who are selling milk (they can get diluted breast milk or even breast milk cut with homogenized milk or formula). The profit motive often results in ‘shortcuts.’“

Dr. Newman says his clinic, The Newman Breastfeeding Clinic at the International Breastfeeding Centre in Toronto, frequently “helps mothers resolve problems with milk supply issues, sore nipples and babies not latching on. And frequently we can make it so that the mother doesn’t have to give other milk.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Burkhardt acknowledges the immense pressure put on mothers to breastfeed these days. She says a mixed approach of providing free formula to families in need and providing free education on breastfeeding can help reduce the practice of “stretching.”

If you are having issues breastfeeding and/or trouble paying for formula for your baby, speak to your family doctor immediately to get help. If you don’t have a family doctor, your local public health agency can likely give you some advice and point you in the direction of where to go for more assistance.

Follow Melissa on Twitter: @Melissa_Dunne33