Voluntary and therapeutic causes of water intoxication and hypertonic dehydration: perinatal risks in mother and offspring

Abstract

Owing to the attitude that a high intake of fluid enhances beauty, young women may drink far more water than they need. This behaviour may have serious consequences for the mother and her offspring during delivery because of a risk of severe hyponatraemia. In contrast, hypernatraemic dehydration in the newborn infant may be considered when exclusively breast-fed infants postnatally lose 10% or more of their birth weight. This previously rather neglected condition should particularly be taken into account in preterm infants.