How To Make Your Own Hydration Drinks for Breastfeeding Moms
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Looking for a natural way to stay hydrated while breastfeeding? Try making your own coconut water-based drinks with these easy recipes!
It’s a bit hard for me to believe that I’ve been breastfeeding and pumping for over 5 months now! With my first baby, we didn’t make it past 8 weeks until we needed to switch to formula full-time (mostly for my sanity). So I’ve been determined to find ways to continue to breastfeed and pump as long as possible with this baby until it doesn’t make sense anymore for us - and the older my baby gets, the less she prefers to nurse, which means I am pumping way more often and need to find ways to stay hydrated to keep up my milk supply!
It’s no surprise that I’m getting tons of ads for hydration drinks that promise to increase milk supply and also taste really good. But every time that I would click to browse one of those ads, I couldn’t get over how expensive these drinks end up being! So I finally did some digging - tried out a few - and realized that it’s really not that hard to just make my own hydration drinks, for a fraction of the cost! It appears the key to most of these drinks that promise to hydrate and increase milk supply consists of coconut water and salt (for the electrolytes). So after some research and having my husband test out some combinations for me until we got the drinks to my liking, I’m ready to share my basic ratio/recipe for hydration drinks and a few of my favorite drink combos as well!
Benefits of Hydration for Breastfeeding Moms
Breastfeeding can be a demanding and dehydrating experience for new mothers. Coconut water is a natural and nutritious way to stay hydrated while providing essential electrolytes and nutrients for both mother and baby. Here are some easy and delicious coconut water-based recipes to try at home.
Staying hydrated is crucial for breastfeeding moms as it helps to maintain milk supply and prevent dehydration. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and even decreased milk production. Drinking enough fluids also helps to flush out toxins and waste products from the body, which can improve overall health and well-being. Coconut water is a great choice for hydration as it is low in calories, high in electrolytes, and contains essential vitamins and minerals.
How To Make Your Own Hydration Drink
To make a basic hydration drink, start with a base of coconut water. Add in some sliced fruit, such as strawberries or watermelon, for flavor and additional nutrients. You can also add a pinch of salt for extra electrolytes. Mix everything together in a blender or simply stir it up in a pitcher. Chill in the fridge for a refreshing and hydrating drink that will keep you and your baby healthy and happy.
The basic ratio that my husband and I landed on for a hydration drink that I like the best consists of whatever fruit juice I’m in the mood for, some coconut water, and some Himalayan pink salt in the following basic ratio (if you're just pouring it into a glass):
2/3 juice of choice
1/3 coconut water
a pinch of salt
The salt is what helps to provide electrolytes that will keep you hydrated and staying hydrated is what helps to increase your milk supply! When my husband makes these hydration drinks for me in larger batches, he uses the following recipe:
2-liter pitcher (makes approx. 8 cups)
5 cups of juice
3 cups of coconut water
1/8 tsp of pink Himalayan salt
Obviously, those cups don’t have to be exact - we usually stick with the 2 parts juice to 1 part coconut water ratio and then add in. the salt, but I’m including those measurements in case it is more helpful for anyone!
Pick your favorite juice:
2. Top it off with some coconut water & salt:
3. Fill up your favorite glass and enjoy!
These beautiful can glasses from Heartland Lettering are new editions to my cabinets and I am just loving the “Mama” glasses for my hydration drinks, refreshing ice water, and even my iced lattes!
Coconut Water and Fruit Hydration Drink Recipes
If you would prefer to make your hydration drinks completely from scratch, here are a few recipes to give you some inspiration!
Grapefruit Twist (by Don't Mess with Mama)
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4 drops grapefruit essential oil (or 1/4 cup grapefruit juice)
2 cups water (filtered or raw coconut water)
2 tbsp raw honey
1/8 tsp Himalayan pink salt
Put all ingredients in a blender and pulse for about 30 seconds. Serve and drink immediately.
Hydrating Pink Drink Copycat (by A Clean Bake)
1/4 cup coconut water
1/2 cup hibiscus tea, (brewed strong)
1/3 cup coconut milk, (from a can) mixed well
1-2 Tablespoons honey, (or agave if vegan, optional)
1/3 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced, plus more for finishing
Add ice to two glasses. Set aside. Add the coconut water, tea, coconut milk, and honey to the jar of a blender, and blend for a few moments to combine. Add the strawberries, and blend for just a second (if you want them to remain chunky in the drink, like the original), or several seconds (if you want them to be pureed, more like a milkshake or smoothie) until you get the consistency you prefer. Divide the drink between the two prepared glasses. Garnish with additional strawberry slices, and enjoy!
Citrus & Ginger (by Saucy Kitchen)
4 cups of water (960 ml)
1-2 inch chunk ginger, smashed and roughly chopped
1/2 cup fresh orange juice (120ml)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (60 ml)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (30 ml)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey (see notes for alternatives)
Add the water, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and ginger to a medium-sized saucepan. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add the baking soda and salt to the pot. Stir to dissolve. The liquids will foam up after you add the baking soda, but the foaminess will reduce after a minute or so. Turn the heat down to medium-low and gently simmer for about 2 minutes. Turn off the stove and remove the pot from the heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey until fully dissolved. Place a fine mesh strainer over a large, heat-safe bowl. Pour the electrolyte drink into the bowl through the strainer to filter out the solid ginger pieces and citrus seeds. Taste and sweeten with more maple/honey if needed. Serve hot or cold. To serve cold, wait for the juice to cool fully before transferring it to refrigerator-friendly closed containers. Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days and enjoy or pour into ice cube molds and freeze. Electrolyte ice cubes can be added to water or juice for an extra boost of hydration.
Ready-to-Drink Hydration Drinks
If making drinks is not your thing or you want some easy options for on-the-go or to grab out of the fridge, here are some of my favorites from Target and Amazon!
