Doctors who have treated several babies suffering severe dehydration say that breast-feeding mothers need more support to ensure their children are getting sufficient milk.
Information is now being gathered across Ireland and the UK about the number of newborns readmitted to hospital with severe hypernatraemic dehydration, a rare but potentially fatal condition. It occurs when babies fail to take in sufficient quantities of milk in the first days of life. The levels of sodium in their blood rise dramatically and, if untreated, the condition can lead to kidney failure, blood clotting, seizures, brain damage and, in the worst cases, death.
If spotted early enough, the effects are easy to reverse with a steady process of rehydration. It is not always easy to detect, however, as babies can look pink and alert while being on the verge of becoming critically ill.
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