How much water should I drink while breastfeeding?

Last reviewed July 23, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineBreastfeeding raises fluid needs to around 3 litres (13 cups) a day, but the practical rule is to drink to your thirst and keep your urine pale straw-colored; having a glass with each feed naturally covers it. Water, milk, and water in food all count, while caffeine and sugary drinks should be limited. Drinking beyond thirst does not increase milk supply and can rarely be harmful, so frequent effective feeding matters more for supply than extra water.

There is no magic number, but breastfeeding raises your fluid needs, so a common guide is about 3 litres (13 cups) of fluids a day for breastfeeding women - roughly 700 ml more than usual. The simplest rule: drink to your thirst, and watch your urine stays pale.

A practical approach

• Drink to thirst. Breastfeeding often makes you thirsty, especially at let-down - keep a drink within reach during feeds.
• Use your urine as a gauge. Pale straw-colored urine means you're well hydrated; dark yellow means drink more.
• Have a glass with every feed. A newborn feeds 8-12 times a day, so a drink per feed naturally adds up.

What counts

Water is ideal, but milk, and the water in food all count. Limit caffeine (aim under about 200-300 mg a day) and avoid relying on sugary drinks.

Can you drink too much?

Yes - forcing large amounts of water beyond thirst doesn't boost milk supply and, in extreme cases, can be harmful. More fluid than your body wants is not better.

Hydration and supply

Being severely dehydrated can reduce supply, but drinking beyond thirst won't increase it. If supply is your worry, frequent effective feeding matters far more - see how to increase milk supply.

Femora helps you build simple postpartum routines like hydrating with each feed.